A research team led by physicists Ming Yi and Emilia Morosan from Rice University has developed a new material with unique electronic properties that could enable more powerful and energy-efficient electronic devices.
The material, known as a Kramers nodal line metal, was produced by introducing a small amount of indium into a layered compound based on tantalum and sulfur. The addition of indium changes the symmetry of the crystal structure, and the result promotes the novel physical properties associated with the Kramers nodal line behavior. The research, published in Nature Communications, represents a step toward low-energy-loss electronics and paves the way for more sustainable technologies.
"Our work provides a clear path for discovering and designing new quantum materials with desirable properties for future electronics," said Yi, associate professor of physics and astronomy.
The researchers discovered that when they added tiny amounts of indium to tantalum disulfide (TaS₂), the material's underlying crystalline symmetry changed, leading to a uniquely protected pattern where electrons that spin up and spin down follow different pathways in momentum space, much like cars going in opposite directions on a highway. This happens until the two paths merge at the Kramers nodal line.
This new material also demonstrated the ability to carry electricity without energy loss, displaying superconducting properties. This dual characteristic could enable the development of topological superconductors, which may enhance power systems and computing technologies.
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