Commodity Online
NEW DELHI: Soon, the role of gold and platinum in making diodes may be restricted with the discovery of some Japanese scientists that ruthenium is a better replacement.

According to media reports, a new power diode has been developed in Japan which could provide a boost in the drive to make hybrid cars more efficient.

The device, which was developed by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, is designed to be used in power semiconductor systems.

Traditionally, diodes of this type have been made from gold or platinum electrodes on a diamond substrate. However, the new addition has been constructed from ruthenium.

The metal is viewed as an improvement — although the device can only handle a current of one ampere at present — as gold and platinum tend to react with the substrate and peel off, rendering diodes unusable.

The new diode is capable of operating for a total of 1,500 hours at a temperature of 400 degree Celsius - an improvement on the previous requirement to cool it down to 250 degree Celsius.

It is hoped that, following further tests to increase their performance, the diodes could be placed in the engines of hybrid vehicles, thus eliminating the need to install a cooling system.