New room-temperature process could lead to less expensive
solar cells and other electronic devices.
Silicon, the material of high-tech devices from computer
chips to solar cells, requires a surface coating before use in these
applications. The coating “passivates” the material, tying up loose atomic
bonds to prevent oxidation that would ruin its electrical properties. But this
passivation process consumes a lot of heat and energy, making it costly and
limiting the kinds of materials that can be added to the devices.