History
While working to develop voice transmission, Reginald Fessenden realised that the radio detectors available would not be suitable for his purpose. Although they worked well for receiving the on-off signals of spark gap transmitters, the coherer and related types of detectors were not, in today's terms, fast enough for receiving audio signals.
In 1902 Fessenden developed what he called a barretter detector that would work to receive AM signals, but it was not very sensitive. The barretter used a fine platinum wire, called Wollaston wire, manufactured as a platinum core in a silver sheath that had to be stripped off with acid. In the process of stripping some Wollaston wire, Fessenden left it immersed in acid too long, until only a tip remained in contact with the solution; he noted that it responded well to radio signals being generated nearby, and could be used as new type of detector.
This story was disputed at the time, with credit for the discovery also given to Michael I. Pupin, W. Schloemilch, Hugo Gernsback and others. However, it is apparent that Fessenden was the first to put the device to practical use.
Read more about this topic: Electrolytic Detector
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