A recent study published in the scientific journal Nature has examined the remarkable properties of phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs). These atom-thin ribbons made of phosphorus exhibit both magnetic and semiconductor properties at room temperature, making them promising candidates for future electronic applications and paving the way for a new generation of energy-efficient technologies. The study was conducted by an international research team from the University of Cambridge, University College London (UCL), Freie Universität Berlin, the European High Magnetic Field Lab in Nijmegen, and the University of Warwick, and can be read at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08563-x
Unlike their carbon analogue graphene, phosphorene nanoribbons possess a tunable electronic structure, making them ideal for energy-efficient transistors. This study shows that, remarkably, PNRs exhibit ferromagnetic behavior in thin films at room temperature, similar to classic magnetic metals such as iron and nickel. In liquid solution, the nanoribbons align along weak magnetic fields – comparable to iron filings around a magnet.
“Phosphorene nanoribbons are truly fascinating materials because they enable the coupling of optical and intrinsic magnetic properties along their one-dimensional edge – even at room temperature. They offer enormous potential for practical applications and groundbreaking technologies while also serving as an exciting platform for exploring fundamental physics,” explains Naitik Panjwani, co-author of the study and researcher at the Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin. The coupling of magnetic and electronic states could enable ultra-energy-efficient circuits, faster optical data storage, and flexible, next-generation electronics. Using state-of-the-art methods such as ultrafast magneto-optical spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, the study successfully provided the first experimental proof of these extraordinary material properties. These results could pave the way for innovative new storage technologies that use light to control magnetic states.“ This study fundamentally changes our understanding of magnetic semiconductors and could play a crucial role in pioneering technologies such as quantum computers and spintronics, ” emphasizes Freie Universität Berlin physicist Naitik Panjwani.
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