Scientists have created a "nanosandwich" material with super-strength and superior optical properties

A team of researchers from Rice University, led by materials scientist Rouzbeh Shahsavari, has come up with a new recipe for making a “nanosandwich,” a nanoscale multilayer material with super strength and a number of excellent optoelectronic properties. The work done by the scientists is the result of the most complex computer modeling carried out by them, the purpose of which was to search for new materials for the technologies of chemical analysis, catalysis and optical electronics.

The impetus for these studies was the success of other scientists who, using the forces of Van der Waals, managed to combine various molecular components enclosed in a common shell. The work of scientists from Rice University served as another test of the theory, allowing to determine in advance the electronic, optical, chemical and physical properties of complex composite materials. And in this case, such a material was a layer of magnet oxide, enclosed between two layers of graphene.

Let us remind our readers that graphene lacks the concept of an electronic band gap, which makes some other materials semiconductors. However, the new hybrid material has a band gap, and its width can be adjusted depending on the parameters of the constituent parts of the material. In addition, the optical properties of the material are subject to the same flexible adjustment, which makes it extremely useful for applications in optical electronics.

“A single layer of magnesium oxide can only absorb light in a narrow wavelength range. But when such a material is trapped between two layers of graphene, it becomes capable of absorbing light in a wider spectrum “- says Routsbe Sasavari,” and this makes it ideal for making a photosensitive element of various photodetectors. “

“Now in the world there is no single miracle material with which you can close all technical problems in the world” – says Sasavari, – “And, as practice shows, the best results in each area are given by hybrid materials consisting of components of different natures” …

The theoretical mathematical models developed by the Sasawari group can work equally well with other 2D materials, such as hexagonal boron nitride, silicene, and the like. In addition, you can use the molecular filling of these nanosandwiches of any type. “My group is currently working on a variety of hybrid materials, changing the components used in them and their structure,” says Sasawari. “And we hope that these materials will solve some of the difficult problems that cannot be dealt with using more traditional methods and approaches “.

Source: http://www.dailytechinfo.org