The development of a new, super-thin semiconductor material could allow the implementation of solar panels and data storage in the combat fatigues of frontline troops.
The super-thin semiconductor material is called molybdenum di-telluride, and was developed as a result of research into magnetic field sensors. The layer-structured material can be thinned down to the thickness of only a few atoms, making it almost two-dimensional, and builds upon a growing interest in 2D materials that was generated by the discovery of graphene.
The material was funded by the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and developed by Nicola Townsend, a PhD researcher, and Dr Iddo Amit, both from the University of Exeter.
What are the advantages and potential applications of the material?
The new material could have a particularly strong impact on wearable technology. Many consumer electronics products are currently based on silicon, but because of its rigid structure, it is unsuitable for wearable technology or other flexible electronics applications.
The new, super-thin semiconductor material could provide a vital alternative; for example, it could be used to develop flexible solar panels which are integrated into clothes. This could have a great number of potential applications for defence, because the panels themselves would not add any weight if integrated into combat fatigues.
In addition, the material could facilitate infrared sensing in cameras, allowing them to be used in smoke or other adverse weather conditions, or to sense organic chemical signatures; and finally, for data storage integrated into clothing. Each of these applications could have clear benefits for the defence sector.
What have the researchers said about the discovery?
Townsend explained her approach to the development of the new material, and offered a contextual insight into how her discovery fits into the wider context of smart materials research that is currently underway.
She said: “Graphene was only successfully isolated and measured 14 years ago, and by this sparked global interest in 2D materials. We’re only now starting to scratch the surface by looking into finding and exploiting these new materials. We’re working our way to mass production, but we can already see that this area has a huge potential.”
