Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Indian Institute of Science, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have made a significant advancement in material science, published in Nature on November 11, 2024. They have discovered a method to modify the internal structure of materials, akin to a micro-earthquake, using minimal energy. This breakthrough has implications for data storage in smartphones and computers.
The team, led by Gaurav Modi, has successfully transformed the structure of indium selenide, a semiconductor, into an amorphous state—where molecules are randomly distributed like in liquids but remain stationary. Traditionally, creating such amorphous materials required substantial energy, but this new technique utilizes only a billionth of the energy previously needed.
By employing advanced microscopy tools developed in their research, the scientists likened the process to an avalanche or earthquake. Initially, tiny sections of the material, measuring billionths of a meter, become amorphous as electric current deforms them. As the structure becomes unstable, the current generates further deformation, leading to a critical point where the change spreads throughout the material. This results in sound waves traveling through the material, similar to seismic waves during an earthquake, which in turn causes even greater deformation, akin to an avalanche gaining momentum.
This innovative approach not only reduces energy consumption in the production of amorphous materials but also opens new avenues for efficient data storage solutions, potentially enhancing the performance and sustainability of electronic devices.