
The future of green technology may depend on copper, one of the least glamorous metals in the periodic table. A recent breakthrough from the University of Oklahoma has led to the development of smart luminescent materials that can change their light emissions based on different environments. According to a report from University of Oklahoma News, these materials could have wide applications in fields like radiation detection and LED lighting at a low cost.
The research team, led by Associate Professor Bayram Saparov, focused on metal halides, a more affordable and abundant alternative to the rare elements usually used in high-tech materials. "These materials are exciting because they’re inexpensive and don’t contain rare elements from the Earth’s crust. That means thy can be processed much cheaper than other materials that require either costly rare elements or expensive processing conditions, such as high temperatures or vacuum processing," Saparov said in the University of Oklahoma News article. Saparov's work primarily involves copper halides, which have unique optical properties and cost efficiency that could impact a variety of technologies.
The study, published in the journal Aggregate, highlights the work of graduate student Dilruba Popy, who synthesized two new copper halides that emit almost pure orange and green light. Popy’s research into the electronic and atomic structures of these compounds provides both theoretical and practical insights, allowing for the conversion of high-energy radiation into visible light.
Popy's discovery also includes the demonstration of photoluminescence at room temperature, a significant improvement over traditional materials that require extremely low temperatures to glow. This development increases the potential uses for copper halides, including anti-counterfeiting applications where patterns are visible only under specific UV light.
Additionally, these copper halides are stable in open air and can be processed under conditions that would normally damage similar materials. This suggests potential for use in consumer electronics displays and eco-friendly LED lighting.