Intercrystals

Intercrystals Latest News

Researchers at Rutgers University–New Brunswick have discovered a new class of materials called intercrystals, which possess unique electronic properties that could drive future technologies.

What are Intercrystals?

• Intercrystals are created by stacking two layers of twisted graphene atop hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), resulting in moiré patterns that significantly alter electron behaviour.
• The material is based on the principle of “twistronics”, where ultrathin atomic layers are rotated at small angles to form moiré superlattices.
• The misalignment of layers causes new electronic phases, not found in regular crystals.
• This approach builds upon earlier work by the same team, who in 2009 first showed that twisted graphene displays unusual electronic properties.

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Structural Properties of Intercrystals

• Regular crystals possess repeating atomic arrangements and show symmetry under specific translations or rotations.
• Quasicrystals, discovered in 1982, are ordered but non-repeating, defying traditional crystallography.
• Intercrystals combine traits of both:
  • They exhibit non-repeating atomic patterns (like quasicrystals),
  • But retain certain crystalline symmetries.
• The structure creates geometric frustration, enabling new quantum phases.

Unique Electronic Characteristics

• In intercrystals, electronic properties change dramatically with minor structural variations, unlike conventional materials.
• These materials exhibit novel quantum behaviours, including: Superconductivity (zero-resistance current), Magnetism, and other quantum electronic states.

Intercrystals FAQs

Q1: What are Intercrystals?
Ans: Intercrystals refer to structures formed between individual crystals in solid-state materials, often affecting their mechanical and optical properties.

Q2: In which fields are Intercrystals significant?
Ans: They are important in materials science, mineralogy, semiconductor physics, and nanotechnology.

Source: PHY