Carving a new niche

Professor Hendrik Swart, head of the department of physics at the University of the Free State, is the recipient of this award for his significant contribution to the development of students in nanophysics.

Swart leads a research niche area at the University of the Free State studying the degradation of phosphors for field emission displays. He is also key in the development of processes to synthesise and deposit thin films of various types of semiconductor nano-particles which will enhance the colour, luminescent intensity and life-time of these displays.

Swart began his research in 1995 when he visited the University of Florida in the United States.

“In those days we were trying to test traditional forms of phosphors to see if they could be used in flat panel displays and plasma screens, which use phosphors to generate the red, blue and green light used to reproduce colour,” says Swart.

“With the advent of nano-technology, we are now in the process of synthesising our own phosphors in order to improve the efficiency and to get phosphors which don’t degrade,” he says.

Swart says that his research team is now testing the phosphors for a range of other applications besides their use in plasma and flat screen displays.

“We are also looking at their afterglow properties,” he says.

“Phosphors with good afterglow are prime for use in road signs and markings, especially at night, as they absorb sunlight during the day and emit soft luminescence after dark.”

According to Swart, the next decade of research will refine phosphors for organic light-emitting diodes which can be used to make a television screen which looks like a piece of glass.

“The possibilities for future applications are endless and when you see how far plasma screens have come in the last 10 years, I am excited at the prospect of the next generation of television screens which will look like a plain piece of glass mounted on a wall and yet provide all of the properties of the current high-definition plasma screens.”