The new solar structure consists of n-type nanocones made of zinc oxide surrounded by a p-type semiconductor matrix made of polycrystalline cadmium telluride.

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For the past eight years at Tohoku he has been working on a new type of silicon semiconductor that has a three-dimensional design (see diagram, below).

FORBES: Magazine Article

Four months after he joined Toshiba in 1971, Masuoka, who had just received a doctorate from Tohoku University, invented a type of memory known as SAMOS. After five years at Toshiba, he invented another type and was moved to the semiconductor production division, where he developed a 1-megabit DRAM.

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At first glance, having that type of department might seem a little odd for a semiconductor manufacturer.

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