In a major technological breakthrough, scientists from the Chinese mainland have discovered a new way to mass-produce a high-performance material that could power the next generation of electronic devices. The material, known as indium selenide and nicknamed the “golden semiconductor,” offers performance superior to the silicon chips currently used in everything from smartphones to supercomputers.
Researchers from Peking University and Renmin University of China have published their findings in the prestigious journal Science, detailing how they overcame longstanding challenges in producing high-quality indium selenide at scale.
As silicon-based chips approach their physical performance limits, there’s a global push to find new materials that can deliver faster speeds and greater energy efficiency. Indium selenide has been a promising candidate, but manufacturing it consistently and in large quantities has been a significant hurdle.
“Maintaining the perfect balance of indium and selenium atoms during production has been the main challenge,” said Professor Liu Kaihui from Peking University’s School of Physics. “Our method ensures this precise atomic ratio, allowing for high-quality crystal growth.”
The team achieved this by heating a thin film of indium selenide along with solid indium in a sealed environment. This process created a vapor of indium atoms that formed a liquid layer at the edge of the film, leading to the growth of indium selenide crystals with perfect atomic arrangements.
“We were able to produce wafers up to 5 centimeters in diameter and build large arrays of high-performance transistors,” said researcher Qiu Chengguang from Peking University’s School of Electronics. “These are suitable for direct use in integrated chip devices.”
This innovation not only represents a significant step forward in materials science but also has the potential to revolutionize industries reliant on advanced electronics. Applications could span from artificial intelligence and self-driving cars to the latest smart gadgets.
Reviewers of the study praised it as “an advancement in crystal growth,” highlighting its importance to the future of semiconductor technology.
With this breakthrough, the Chinese mainland is poised to play a leading role in the development of next-generation chips that are more powerful and energy-efficient, addressing the growing demands of modern technology while also promoting sustainability.
