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May 26, 2023

Interface between semimetal and 2D semiconductor

In this illustration, at the interface between the semimetal bismuth and the 2D semiconductor molybdenum disulfide, there is no energy barrier for an electron to go through, leading to an ultralow contact resistance between them. Researchers discovered that the semimetal, whose electronic properties fall between those of metals and semiconductors, promises a more viable alternative to silicon, which is found in most modern-day transistor technologies.

[Research supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grant DMR 1807233.]

Learn more in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology news release Advance may enable ā€œ2Dā€ transistors for tinier microchip components. (Date of image: May 2023; date originally posted to NSF Multimedia Gallery: May 26, 2023)

Credit: Massachusetts Institute of Technology


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