Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a new method to create ultra-thin crystals of bismuth, a material with unique electronic properties. The team, led by assistant professor Javier Sanchez-Yamagishi and Ph.D. candidates Laisi Chen and Amy Wu, used a process similar to a tortilla press to create the thin sheets. The bismuth crystals exhibit quantum oscillations, a phenomenon important for the performance of electronics. This discovery could aid in the manufacturing of affordable, flexible electronics and quantum devices. The research was primarily funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
Innovative Crystal Production Method for Quantum Electronics
In a recent study published in Nature Materials, a team of researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) has developed a novel method for producing ultra-thin crystals of bismuth. This breakthrough could potentially revolutionize the manufacturing of affordable flexible electronics.
Bismuth, an element with a low melting point and unique electronic properties, has intrigued scientists for over a century. The UC Irvine team’s new method has not only enabled the production of extremely thin bismuth crystals but also unveiled previously hidden electronic behaviors of the metal’s surfaces. The bismuth sheets produced are only a few nanometers thick, and theorists have predicted that these sheets contain special electronic states that could become magnetic when electricity flows through them. This property is crucial for quantum electronic devices that operate based on the magnetic spin of electrons.
Quantum Oscillations in Bismuth Crystals
One of the hidden behaviors observed by the UC Irvine team is the so-called quantum oscillations originating from the surfaces of the crystals. Quantum oscillations, first discovered in bismuth in the 1930s, arise from the motion of an electron in a magnetic field. If an electron can complete a full orbit around a magnetic field, it can exhibit effects that are significant for the performance of electronics. However, these quantum oscillations have never been observed in nanometer-thin bismuth crystals until now.
The “Tortilla Press” Method
The team’s new method of producing ultra-thin bismuth sheets is likened to a tortilla press. The process involves squishing bismuth between two hot plates. To achieve the desired flatness, the team used molding plates that are perfectly smooth at the atomic level, devoid of any microscopic divots or other imperfections. The result is a kind of “quesadilla” or “panini” where the bismuth serves as the filling and the atomically flat surfaces are the tortillas.
Potential Applications and Future Research
The team’s method could potentially be applied to other materials with low melting points, such as tin, selenium, tellurium, and related alloys. This could open up new possibilities for the production of future flexible electronic circuits. The team is now keen on exploring other ways in which compression and injection molding methods can be used to manufacture the next generation of computer chips for phones or tablets.
The researchers are also working on new techniques to gain further control over the shape and thickness of the grown bismuth crystals. This could simplify the fabrication of devices and bring the technology one step closer to mass production. The research team included collaborators from UC Irvine, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan. The research was primarily funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, with partial support from the UC Irvine Center for Complex and Active Materials Seed Program, a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center under the National Science Foundation.
About the University of California, Irvine
Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation, and anteater mascot. UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.
External Link: Click Here For More