Oh Wow material

[clarencebunsen]

Will 2-D Tin Be the Next Super Material?

Nov. 21, 2013 — A single layer of tin atoms could be the world's first material to conduct electricity with 100 percent efficiency at the temperatures that computer chips operate, according to a team of theoretical physicists led by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131121135635.htm

I realize this is strictly theoretical but it could be a very exciting material.

[dave]

CB, wouldn't it be easier to apply a single layer of atoms on a non-interacting substrate rather than try to manufacture a material that is one layer thick?

[clarencebunsen]

I don't know. It's not a trivial problem. Deposition processes (plating, vapor deposition, chemical deposition ... ) are not easy to control to that degree of uniformity and precision. There has been progress in developing equipment and processes to make usable amounts of graphene. I have no idea if any of that research would apply to a material like tin.