For years, researchers have sought to design semiconductor materials that can also act as superconductors, thereby dramatically improving the performance and efficiency of technologies such as computer chips and solar cells. Combining the two properties could open the door to faster, energy-saving devices and help power next-generation quantum systems.
Turning this vision into reality has proven difficult. Materials such as silicon and germanium, the foundation of today’s electronics, have resisted efforts to achieve superconductivity because maintaining the precise atomic structure required for seamless electron movement is exceptionally challenging.
A team of international scientists has now taken a major step forward. In a recent Nature Nanotechnology study, they report creating a version of germanium that behaves as a superconductor. The material can carry electric current without any resistance, allowing electricity to circulate endlessly with no energy loss. This breakthrough could pave the way for faster, more efficient electronics that consume far less power.
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