A revolutionary discovery has just been made by physicists at Tel Aviv University, paving the way for a new era in materials design. By manipulating layers of atoms like microscopic Lego bricks, they managed to create materials with extraordinary properties, revealed theTel Aviv University.
This scientific feat, published in the prestigious journal Nature Review Physics, is the fruit of the work of doctoral students Maayan Vizner Stern and Simon Salleh Atri, under the direction of Professor Moshe Ben-Shalom. Their ingenious approach is inspired by an everyday object: graphite, found in our simple pencils.
The analogy with Lego is not accidental: just as these famous building bricks can be assembled in multiple ways, researchers have discovered that it is possible to rearrange the atomic layers of graphite to create materials with radically different properties. . The key lies in the weak bonds, called van der Waals, which hold these layers together.
The potential of this discovery is dizzying: with just five layers of atoms, it becomes possible to create no less than 45 different materials! Even more fascinating, scientists can change the properties of these materials at will, simply by applying electrical voltage or mechanical pressure, even at room temperature.
-Tel Aviv University
This advance could revolutionize many technological fields. Imagine more powerful computers, more efficient communication systems, or even innovative energy solutions, all thanks to these “transformative” materials. Professor Ben-Shalom goes even further by suggesting the possibility of transforming graphite into a superconducting material, a prospect that could revolutionize our approach to electronics.
This discovery perfectly illustrates how the most fundamental science can lead to concrete and promising applications. By playing “Atomic Legos”, Tel Aviv physicists are opening the doors to a future where materials can be tailor-made, atom by atom, to meet the technological challenges of tomorrow.
