Think about how much you use your smartphone, your computer, or your gaming console.
All these gadgets depend on tiny computer chips to work, and making those chips better could make your electronics more powerful and use less energy.
A group of scientists at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities has just made a big step toward that goal.
First, let’s talk about what computer chips are made of. They’re made from materials called semiconductors.
While they do a good job, scientists always want to make things even better, and they’re looking for new materials to do just that.
The researchers from Minnesota have been studying a group of materials called topological semimetals, which are part of a broader category known as quantum materials.
The electrons in these materials act in unique ways that aren’t seen in the typical materials used in our gadgets today. This makes them really interesting for use in a kind of technology called spintronics.
Unlike traditional electronics that use the electrical charge of electrons, spintronics takes advantage of the spin of electrons to store and process data.
In their study, the scientists were able to create a thin film from one of these topological semimetals. And they proved that it can give high performance while using less energy – that’s a big win!
Professor Jian-Ping Wang, one of the lead authors of the study, said, “This research shows for the first time that you can transition from a weak topological insulator to a topological semimetal using a magnetic doping strategy.”
In simpler terms, they’ve found a way to change a quantum material into a different state by using magnetism, making it potentially more useful for electronics.
But what makes their work even more exciting is how they did it. They used a special process that is compatible with how things are made in the electronics industry. That means it will be easier for companies to adopt this technology and use it in real devices.
Every electronic device we use, from our phones to our kitchen appliances, uses energy. “The question is, how do we minimize that energy consumption?
This research is a step in that direction. We are coming up with a new class of materials with similar or often better performance, but using much less energy,” said Professor Andre Mkhoyan, another senior author of the paper.
What’s more, because they made such a high-quality material, the scientists could take a close look at what makes it special.
They discovered that when a magnetic field is applied, this material behaves in an unusual way, showing negative resistance – that means its resistance actually decreases, which is not what normally happens!
The work of these researchers could lead to a new generation of electronic devices that are more powerful and use less energy, which is great news for everyone who loves their gadgets!
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