Stanford Researchers Develop Moly-Tellurium Graphene Alternative

Gigaom reported that Stanford University researchers have come up with a graphene alternative that solves a key issue with the so-called “wonder material.” That problem is that graphene “constantly conducts electricity” when “[e]lectronics need to be able to turn the flow on and off.”

As quoted in the market news:

The material is made from an atom-thick layer of molybdenum, a metal, sandwiched between a tin-like chemical known as tellurium that is already used in solar panels.

The two materials form a crystal, which, when pulled apart, forms an insulator to block electricity from flowing. When it is pushed back together, it becomes a semiconductor.

The Stanford team did not make the crystal. So far, it has only been modeled on a computer. But its members hope their work will inspire other scientists to pursue developing it.

Click here to read the full Gigaom report.