Optoelectronics is the study and application of electronic devices that emit or detect light. These devices include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, photodetectors, and solar cells. Optoelectronic devices are used in a variety of applications, including telecommunications, computing, lighting, sensing, and medicine.
The term “optoelectronics” was coined in 1959 by Japanese physicist Akio Yasui, who proposed that semiconductor devices could be used to both generate and detect electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum. The field of optoelectronics emerged in the 1960s with the development of LEDs and laser diodes. Today, optoelectronic devices are essential components of a wide range of consumer and industrial products.
LEDs are perhaps the most widely used optoelectronic device. They are found in a variety of applications, including televisions, computers, automobiles, traffic lights, and holiday decorations. LED technology has also revolutionized lighting; LEDs are more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last for years with proper care. In addition to their use as general purpose lighting sources, LEDs are also used in specialized applications such as grow lights for plants and infrared illumination for night vision cameras.
Laser diodes are another type of optoelectronic device with numerous applications. Laser pointers, barcode scanners, CD/DVD players all make use of laser diodes. Lasers are also used in medical procedures such as LASIK eye surgery and cancer treatment. Industrial lasers are used for cutting and welding metals and for engraving designs on wood or glass.
Photodetectors convert light into electricity and are used in a variety tasks such as automatic door openers (photobeams), optical fiber communications (photodetectors), or measuring light intensity (photodiode). Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity; they power everything from small calculators to large spacecraft like NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars