Thin films may have applications in sensors and computing

e14news — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 23:23:36 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by e14news on 10/6/2021 11:23:36 PM

Researchers in Switzerland have discovered a way to create thin films with controllable electronic properties, which has implications for the future of sensors and computing.

A team at the Swiss Nanoscience Institute has developed a substance which, after heating on a copper surface, exhibits a two-dimensional network with nanometre-sized pores.

The electrons underneath the network are pushed into the pores to form small bunches of electrons called quantum dots.

Lead researcher Dr Meike Stohr commented: "The interaction of the network structure with the electron gas on the metal surface confines the electrons giving rise to a characteristic electron wave structure of the new material."

Pore networks such as these may be used as new meta-materials, which have specific optical and electronic properties which do not occur naturally.

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer institute in Switzerland recently announced a breakthrough in coupled superconductivity and magnetism in the material Cerium-Cobalt-Indium.