| Posted: Oct 29, 2015 |
Scientists predict behaviour of charge currents in graphene
(Nanowerk News) Until now scientists believed that in two-dimensional materials electrons always “localised” - in other words suddenly stopped as they scatter from impurities in the crystal structure.
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Now research, led by Dr Aires Ferreira from the University’s Department of Physics, has shown that in a certain type of graphene “electron localisation” can be overcome ("Critical Delocalization of Chiral Zero Energy Modes in Graphene").
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Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb-shaped lattice and is extremely strong. It is considered a super material and scientists worldwide are researching whether it could be used in advanced circuitry and other electronic devices.
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Dr Ferreira said the new method, which is able to assess the impact of billions of atoms for the first time, could help pave the way for faster, more efficient devices.
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He said: “It is a game changer and has implications beyond physics. This new method could be beneficial in designing new materials, tailoring them for applications in ‘greener’ computing devices".
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“Since it can be applied to study the electrical response of real-size crystal structures, it can help scientists tailor materials for faster and more efficient processing of information in the future.”
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“Although we don’t know what materials will be used in next-generation devices we now have a method capable of simulating what will happen to electric signals in complex materials.”
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He added: “If we can predict how currents propagate we can build better circuitry and faster processors; it could revolutionise computers.”
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