World's Thinnest Superconductor Is Two Atoms Thick

Experts at the University of Texas in Austin have recently announced the creation of the world's thinnest stretch of superconducting material. Made entirely out of lead, the sheet measures only two atoms in thickness, a true achievement, given the physical and chemical properties of the metal. In charge of the research team behind the accomplishment was Dr. Ken Shih, a professor at the University, who was also the author of a new paper detailing the finds, published in the June 5th issue of the journal Science.

What makes superconductors so special as materials is the fact that they can hold on to an electrical charge even if no power source is present, which makes them an obvious choice in applications such as quantum interference, particle accelerators, MRI machines, or other such devices, where a steady input of electrical current, in vast amounts, is needed for operation. Recently, however, advancements in this field of research have stagnated, but Shih believes that the new material has the potential to open up new avenues of study in superconducting materials.

The scientist, who is also the Jane and Roland Blumberg Professor in Physics at the Texas University, says that, “To be able to control this material – to shape it into new geometries – and explore what happens is very exciting. My hope is that this superconductive surface will enable one to build devices and study new properties of superconductivity.” He adds that, “We can make this film, and it has perfect crystalline structure – more perfect than most thin films made of other materials.”

The team uses very complex processes to deposit the two atomic layers on top of each other, employing a thin silicone surface as a background. One of the most exquisite properties that lead has is that it's able to keep a steady flow of electricity running through it despite the fact that electrons are confined in it to moving in just two dimensions. In other superconductors, limiting these movements would have severely disrupted their abilities to conduct and maintain current.