All articles tagged with #electrical conductivity
Physicists have identified polarons—quasiparticles formed by electrons and atoms—as the cause behind the loss of electrical conductivity in certain quantum materials, specifically in a thulium-based compound. This discovery, made through detailed measurements and modeling, could advance the development of new materials like room-temperature superconductors.
Researchers, including Professor Jong Han, have published a study in Nature Communications exploring the physics behind insulator-to-metal transitions. They propose that a relatively small electric field can collapse the gap between energy bands in materials, creating a quantum pathway for electrons to transition freely. This insight into the behavior of novel nanomaterials at low temperatures could have implications for future microelectronic technologies, such as compact memories for data-intensive applications like artificial intelligence. Further research is needed to understand the precise conditions required for this quantum avalanche phenomenon to occur.
Physicists have observed electricity flowing like a fluid in a group of metals known as "strange metals," contradicting the traditional understanding of how metals conduct electricity. Strange metals exhibit unusual properties, such as defying electrical resistance and becoming superconductors at relatively high temperatures. The researchers created nano-sized wires from a blend of strange metals and observed that the current flowed continuously rather than in discrete clumps, challenging the prevailing theory of clumped quasiparticles. This discovery could lead to a reevaluation of how electrical charge is carried and provide insights into the nature of strange metals and their ability to achieve superconductivity.
Researchers have discovered that tin selenide undergoes atomic-level structural changes when heated, allowing it to conduct electricity but not heat. This finding could lead to advancements in technologies such as refrigeration and waste heat recovery. The compound's high thermoelectric coefficient at elevated temperatures is attributed to a dynamic partial disorder of the tin atoms, resulting in reduced heat conductivity. Understanding these atomic-scale changes can help optimize thermoelectric devices for improved energy conversion.
Researchers have created a state in a crystalline material that exhibits characteristics of both liquid and crystalline states. By bombarding a layered crystal with ultrashort laser flashes, the crystal's distortion changes orientation, resulting in a highly disordered state similar to liquid crystals. This hexatic state is volatile and lasts only for fractions of a nanosecond. The study was made possible by the use of an ultrafast electron microscope, providing insights into the complex dynamics of these layered crystals and their potential applications in quantum materials.
Researchers have deformed lanthanum trihydride to create a superionic conductor, which could be used in solid-state batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. The deformed material showed high hydrogen ion conductivity, and the researchers found that the deformation created grain boundaries that acted as barriers to electron transport, leading to high electrical conductivity. The findings could pave the way for the development of new materials for energy storage and conversion.