Purdue News
Purdue NewsJerry M. Woodall, the Charles William Harrison Distinguished Professor of Microelectronics, will receive the Eta Kappa Nu Vladimir Karapetoff Eminent Members' award for 1997. The award recognizes inventions or discoveries that have had significant impact on society and have enhanced public welfare.
Woodall will receive the award, and a $2,500 honorarium, at a May 5 awards banquet in New Jersey. Eta Kappa Nu is the national honor society for electrical engineers.
Woodall's electronic components are called heterostructures or compound semiconductors because they are made from more than one type of material. Previously, semiconductors were made from all one material, such as silicon.
Woodall pioneered the use of a technique called liquid phase epitaxy to invent and fabricate semiconductors using gallium arsenide, and heterostructures using gallium arsenide and gallium aluminum arsenide. The technique allows researchers and manufacturers to build such devices one thin layer at a time.
At least half of the estimated $4 billion compound semiconductor market is based on fabrication methods and devices invented by Woodall.
Woodall said these types of semiconductors play a central role in lasers, light-emitting diodes and state-of-the-art solar cells. They also are the basis for cellular phones and consumer electronics such as compact disc and laser disc entertainment technology and optical storage technology. The semiconductors also are used in infrared remote control and signaling devices that not only change TV channels, but also allow data transfer in notebook and laptop computers.
CONTACT: Woodall, (765) 494-0732.
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
