Compound Semiconductor Technologies
University of Glasgow

Adam is developing a method of reliably ‘growing’ compound semiconductors in a way that is compatible with standard silicon electronics. This could pave the way for consumer silicon photonics and integrated III-V photonic devices, and lead to the high-speed data infrastructure required to meet the future demands of society.

Current electronics are based on silicon and physical electrical connections, a paradigm which is fast becoming unsuitable for high-speed data transfer. To tackle this issue, electrical connections will need to be replaced with light based connections (such as those used in fibre optics). Due to its structure however, silicon does not emit light efficiently enough to be an independent source; a problem not shared by compound semiconductors.

Adam is a final year MSci student at the University of Glasgow where he studies Chemical Physics and has been working for CST since 2015. His undergraduate research was conducted between the Schools of Chemistry and Physics where he explored growth and characterisation of semiconducting materials.