New 2D materials may lead to transfer data faster, and smaller electronic devices

Manipulation of 2D materials such as graphene could make electronic and photonic devices faster, smaller and efficient.

Manipulation of 2D materials such as graphene could make modern day electronic and photonic devices faster, smaller and efficient, a new study suggests. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are a class of nanomaterials that are only a few atoms in thickness. Electrons in these materials are free to move in the two-dimensional plane, but their restricted motion in the third direction is governed by quantum mechanics.

They analysed how polaritons, a class of quasiparticles formed through the coupling of photons with electric charge dipoles in solid, allow researchers to marry the speed of photon light particles and the small size of electrons.

“With our devices, we want speed, efficiency and we want small. Polaritons could offer the answer,” said Tony Low, a University of Minnesota electrical and computer engineering assistant professor and lead author of the study.

For example, an atomic layer material like graphene extends the field of plasmonics to the infrared and terahertz regions of the electromagnetic spectrum allowing unique applications ranging from sensing and fingerprinting minute amounts of biomolecules, to applications in optical communications, energy harvesting and security imaging,” said Avoruris.

The study also examined the possibilities of combining 2D materials. Researchers point out that every 2D material has advantages and disadvantages. Combining these materials create new materials that may have the best qualities of both. The findings were published in the journal Nature Materials.