"We're just beginning to understand what these hybrid materials can do," says Julie Miller, a physics PhD student at WSU. Researchers at Washington State University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte have discovered a squishy, layered material that dramatically transforms under pressure. This breakthrough, announced in Pullman, Washington, promises to revolutionize data storage.
The hybrid zinc telluride-based material, called β-ZnTe(en)₀.₅, undergoes surprising structural changes when squeezed. These changes make it a strong candidate for phase change memory. This type of ultra-fast, long-lasting data storage doesn't need a constant power source.
The material consists of alternating layers of zinc telluride and ethylenediamine. Matt McCluskey, a professor of physics at WSU, compares its structure to a sandwich. "Imagine layers of ceramic and plastic stacked over and over," he said. "When you apply pressure, the soft parts collapse more than the stiff ones."
Using a diamond anvil cell and a new X-ray system, researchers observed two phase transitions at relatively low pressures. The structure changed dramatically, shrinking by up to 8%. These transitions can dramatically alter a material's physical properties.
Julie Miller explains that a phase transition is when a material changes its structure at the atomic level. Because different structural phases often have different electrical and optical characteristics, scientists think they could be used to encode digital information. This is a principle behind phase change memory.
The material's directional sensitivity and layered structure make it more tunable. In addition to memory, the material could find applications in photonics. It could also be useful in fiber optics or optical computing.
Next, the team plans to study how the material responds to temperature changes. They will also explore what happens when both pressure and heat are applied. This will build a more complete map of its behaviors and possibilities.