A team of researchers at Tel Aviv University has made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the way we store and process information in electronic devices. They have found a way to convert graphite, the material used in pencil leads, into diamonds using a unique technique called “slidetronics.”
The process involves reconfiguring the atomic layers of graphite by shifting them against weak van der Waals forces. This requires extreme temperatures and pressures, but not as much as traditional diamond-making methods.
According to Prof. Moshe Ben Shalom, head of the Quantum Layered Matter Group at TAU, this technique could be ready for production in just a few years. The resulting material could serve as tiny electronic memory units, known as memory chips, which are in high demand worldwide.
The team has also been exploring how different numbers of layers influence the properties of materials. They have discovered that by switching between configurations, researchers can control optical, electrical, and magnetic parameters, and rearrange them into six different crystalline forms with distinct electrical conductivities and superconducting properties.
While this technology won’t create diamonds for industrial use, it could offer a more efficient and controlled way to store information. The ability to manipulate atomic layers with precision is opening doors to a new era in materials science, where everyday elements may hold the key to innovation.
The company established by TAU researchers aims to produce memory chips using this technology, which could have a significant impact on the tech industry. With continued research, sliding materials could revolutionize technology and offer faster, more efficient storage solutions and unprecedented control over material properties.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/science/article-842252