Understanding and explaining the mysteries of nature was Vanya Darakchieva’s dream during her childhood in Bulgaria. At the time, she was mostly interested in astronomy and chemistry. As a teenager, she was a member of an association called “Young Scientists.”
“We met every day after school in a laboratory where we could experiment and discuss science,” says Vanya Darakchieva.
She was also active in her hometown observatory, and in the ninth grade, she was selected to represent Bulgaria in an astronomy competition for young scientists in Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia).
Moved to Sweden
Behind the Iron Curtain, Vanya Darakchieva’s opportunities for greater international exchange were limited, but things changed after 1990. In the early 2000s, she was accepted as a doctoral student in Linköping, and 20 years later, she came to Lund University. She is now a professor of solid-state physics at LTH.
The driving force behind her research comes from a desire to contribute smart and sustainable solutions to society.
“Growing up, my mum told me she liked that I wanted to understand the universe, but that I should also use that interest to make the world a better place. Those words made me think and are one of the reasons why I conduct research,” explains Vanya Darakchieva.
Now Vanya Darakchieva is contributing to society through her research on semiconductors. This small component is found in almost every electronic device we use and depend on, such as mobile phones, cars, airplanes, and payment cards.
Semiconductors are materials customised to act as switches, either conducting current or not – a function that is essential for electronics to work. One of the materials used today is silicon.
Investigating novel semiconductor materials
In her research, Vanya Darakchieva is investigating other semiconductor materials that provide faster and more efficient electronic components. Her semiconductors are based on metal oxides and metal nitrides – materials that have ultra-wide bandgaps. Bandgaps concern how electrons move in a material, and ultra-wide bandgaps allow semiconductors to handle higher voltages and store energy longer than other semiconductor materials.
“These materials have great potential to pave the way for the next generation of environmentally friendly electronics that perform better, cost less to manufacture and are easier to produce on a large scale. This could revolutionise the management of electricity, which in turn could contribute to lower carbon emissions,” says Vanya Darakchieva.
The research requires a lot of time, advanced laboratory equipment and the involvement of many different people. Vanya Darakchieva repeatedly refers to the important contribution of her team to the development of the novel materials. One of them is doctoral student Andri Dhora, who is researching growth methods for gallium oxide.
“This is where the magic happens”
At the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) device, Vanya Darakchieva peeks into the chamber with Andri Dhora. This is where semiconductor materials are developed and refined. Or as Andri Dhora puts it:
“This is where the magic happens.”
For a lay person, working with semiconductor materials is somewhat abstract, but when Vanya Darakchieva describes the process in cooking terms, it becomes easier.
“You could say that we professionalise the recipe for semiconductor materials, add ingredients, refine the mixture and grow it further.”
Vanya Darakchieva is now aiming to develop the ultimate recipe – and she is well on her way.