Superionic Conductor Repetitive Opening Switches for Advanced Pulse Power.
Abstract
The initial phase of investigation has been completed to analyze an unusual photo-electric effect in the superionic conductor silver iodide tungstate (Ag13I9W208). This material exhibits a sharp decrease in electrical conductivity upon illumination with laser light (in contrast to the increase observed for all other known materials), which suggests its potential use as a very fast, repetitive opening switch. Our work this year reveals a previously unknown aging process that may preclude commercial development of such an opening switch. This was independently discovered by Suthanthiraraj this year (Bull. Electrochem. 2, 553 (1986). In the dark, the power drops by 84% after 125 days, when utilized as a battery; similar degradation occurs for use as a switch. The presence of laser light greatly accelerates the aging. A very fast all-operational-amplifier circuit has been designed and fabricated to measure optical response of this material; however, the need to use fresh samples for reproducible results complicates the program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 30, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA182919
Entities
People
- J. F. Scott
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder