In an exciting breakthrough, a team of scientists from Beijing Normal University, led by Professor Sun Qing-Feng and Professor He Lin, has achieved something never done before:
They have successfully mimicked a key atomic process—orbital hybridization—using graphene quantum dots.
Their study, published in the prestigious journal Nature, opens up new possibilities in both quantum physics and materials science.
It brings scientists closer to creating artificial systems that behave just like real atoms.
What are quantum dots?
Quantum dots are tiny, man-made structures often called “artificial atoms” because they can trap and control electrons in ways similar to how real atoms do. In the past, researchers have used quantum dots to simulate some atomic features, like bonding and antibonding states.
However, they had not yet been able to simulate orbital hybridization—a fundamental process in real atoms where different types of electron orbitals (like s and d orbitals) combine to form new shapes.
To achieve this, the team used graphene, a super-thin and strong material made of carbon atoms. They created graphene quantum dots and changed their shape from circular to elliptical.
This change in shape altered the way electrons were confined inside the dots—a concept known as anisotropic confinement (meaning the forces are different in different directions).
By carefully designing these elliptical potentials, the researchers were able to force different types of orbitals—specifically s and d orbitals—to hybridize, or mix together. This resulted in new, hybrid electron states with interesting shapes that looked like the Greek letter θ (theta) and a rotated version of it.
The team confirmed their findings by performing detailed experiments.
They observed how electrons behaved inside various graphene quantum dots and found results that matched their theoretical predictions.
In particular, they detected signs of unusual behaviors such as atomic collapse states (a concept from high-energy physics) and whispering gallery modes (a wave phenomenon also seen in sound and light).
Why it matters
This discovery is a big step forward in creating artificial atoms that truly mimic the behavior of real atoms. It could lead to new technologies in quantum computing, nanoelectronics, and advanced materials.
In short, scientists are now closer than ever to designing “atoms” from scratch—and making them behave just like those found in nature.
Source: Peking University.
