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Superconductivity switches on and off in 'magic-angle' graphene

Introduction

Superconductivity is a phenomenon where certain materials can conduct electricity with zero resistance. This property has the potential to revolutionize the way we store and transmit energy. Recently, researchers have discovered that superconductivity can be switched on and off in 'magic-angle' graphene, a material made up of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice.

What is 'magic-angle' graphene?

'Magic-angle' graphene is created by stacking two layers of graphene on top of each other at a specific angle of 1.1 degrees. This creates a moiré pattern, which changes the electronic properties of the material. At this angle, the electrons in the two layers become correlated, leading to the emergence of new electronic states.

The discovery

Researchers at MIT and Harvard University have discovered that 'magic-angle' graphene can exhibit superconductivity when cooled to very low temperatures. They found that by applying an electric field perpendicular to the layers, they could switch the superconductivity on and off. This is significant because it means that superconductivity can be controlled and manipulated in this material.

How does it work?

The researchers believe that the electric field disrupts the delicate balance between different electronic states in the material, causing it to switch from a superconductor to an insulator. When the electric field is removed, the material returns to its superconducting state.

Potential applications

The ability to switch superconductivity on and off in 'magic-angle' graphene has potential applications in quantum computing and energy storage. Quantum computers rely on superconducting circuits to perform calculations, so being able to control superconductivity could lead to more efficient and powerful quantum computers. Energy storage systems based on superconductors could also be more efficient than traditional batteries.

Challenges

There are still many challenges that need to be overcome before 'magic-angle' graphene can be used in practical applications. The material needs to be cooled to very low temperatures, which is expensive and difficult to achieve. It also needs to be scaled up from the small samples used in the laboratory to larger sizes that can be used in real-world applications.

Conclusion

The discovery that superconductivity can be switched on and off in 'magic-angle' graphene is an exciting development in the field of materials science. It opens up new possibilities for controlling and manipulating superconductivity, which could lead to breakthroughs in quantum computing and energy storage. While there are still many challenges to overcome, this discovery has the potential to revolutionize the way we store and transmit energy.

FAQs

What is superconductivity?

Superconductivity is a phenomenon where certain materials can conduct electricity with zero resistance.

What is 'magic-angle' graphene?

'Magic-angle' graphene is created by stacking two layers of graphene on top of each other at a specific angle of 1.1 degrees.

How does switching superconductivity on and off work?

By applying an electric field perpendicular to the layers, researchers can disrupt the delicate balance between different electronic states in the material, causing it to switch from a superconductor to an insulator.

What are the potential applications of this discovery?

The ability to switch superconductivity on and off in 'magic-angle' graphene has potential applications in quantum computing and energy storage.

What are some challenges that need to be overcome?

The material needs to be cooled to very low temperatures, which is expensive and difficult to achieve. It also needs to be scaled up from the small samples used in the laboratory to larger sizes that can be used in real-world applications.

This abstract is presented as an informational news item only and has not been reviewed by a subject matter professional. This abstract should not be considered medical advice. This abstract might have been generated by an artificial intelligence program. See TOS for details.

Most frequent words in this abstract:
graphene (5), superconductivity (3)