Semiconductors just one atom thick are no longer science fiction, but reality, although not yet embodied in certain devices. A physicist from the University of Bayreuth (Germany), Dr. Axel Enders, in collaboration with scientists from Poland and the United States, developed a replacement for graphene, a two-dimensional material capable of taking electronics to a new level. Due to its semiconductor properties, this material may be more suitable for use in electronics than graphene.
It should be remembered that graphene was developed in 2004 and is considered an important step made by science. The new material, in addition to carbon, also contains boron and nitrogen. Its chemical name is “Hexagonal Boron-Carbon-Nitrogen” (“Hexagonal Boron-Carbon-Nitrogen”, h-BCN). The results of this important high-tech research were published by the scientific publication ACS Nano .
Professor Enders believes that the results of his research together with other scientists may be the starting point for a new generation of electronic transistors, microchips and sensors that will become much smaller and more flexible than the elements that are used in electronics today. It is also likely that a significant reduction in energy consumption will be achieved.
Professor Enders notes that the CMOS technology now dominant in the electronics industry is characterized by obvious limitations that prevent its further miniaturization. In this case, the researcher notes that h-BCN is more suitable for overcoming these limitations material than graphene.
It should be remembered that graphene is a two-dimensional "lattice", entirely composed of graphene atoms. Its thickness is just one atom. Once scientists began to study these structures more thoughtfully, their remarkable properties aroused enthusiasm all over the world. After all, graphene is stronger than steel by 100-300 times. However, it is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Electrons can freely pass through it at any applied voltage, since there are no specific provisions "on" and "off".
For this reason, notes Professor Enders, graphene is not sufficiently suited for most electronic devices. After all, semiconductors are required to ensure that they switch between the “on” and “off” positions. So the scientist had an idea to replace in graphene some carbon atoms with boron and nitrogen. The result of this project was a two-dimensional "lattice", possessing the properties of a semiconductor. In the embodiment of this idea he was assisted by a team of scientists from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The study was carried out in partnership with scientists from Krakow University, State University of New York, Boston College and Tufts University.
Based on sciencedaily.com
The article is based on materials .
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