Gallium Arsenide is an interesting compound in that it directly transforms electricity into light.

If we made a Gallium-Arsenide paint and painted it over a wall with electrodes, the walls would glow at the flip of a switch.

Gallium Arsenide is toxic, so we would need to paint over the walls with sealant and add a simple warning saying:

"Do not eat the walls!"

You would never have to replace a lightbulb again!
-- DesertFox, Jan 28 2005

Gallium Arsenide http://en.wikipedia...ki/Gallium_arsenide
Stuff about it [DesertFox, Jan 28 2005]

Indeed . . . lead-based paint would now be replaced with a material "considered highly toxic and carcinogenic." [-wikipedia] Maybe you could laminate it. [+] How's the game going?
-- contracts, Jan 28 2005


It works the other way too - GaAs semiconductor crystals are sometimes used as gamma spectroscopy detectors.
-- Detly, Jan 28 2005


And solar cells.
-- FarmerJohn, Jan 28 2005


And poison.

But if you've got the sign... [+]
-- shapu, Jan 28 2005


"Do not stick in eye."
-- Detly, Jan 28 2005


Too bad galluim is three times the price of silver.
-- Aq_Bi, Jan 28 2005


Game's coming nicely.
-- DesertFox, Jan 28 2005


Hell, we've painted with lead and insulated with asbestos, why not!
-- cuckoointherye, Jan 28 2005


It should be pointed out that the light-producing effect of gallium asenide only occurs in monocrystalline forms, and that crack and crystal boundaries give ample opportunity for current to return without effect. Making either thin films or monocrystals is going to raise the price some...
-- humanbean, Jan 04 2006



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