Quantum material is promising ‘ion conductor’ for research, new technologiesRese
Quantum material is promising ‘ion conductor’ for research, new technologiesResearchers have shown how to shuttle lithium ions back and forth into the crystal structure of a quantum material, representing a new avenue for research and potential applications in batteries, “smart windows” and brain-inspired computers containing artificial synapses.The research centers on a material called samarium nickelate, which is a quantum material, meaning its performance taps into quantum mechanical interactions. Samarium nickelate is in a class of quantum materials called strongly correlated electron systems, which have exotic electronic and magnetic properties.The researchers “doped” the material with lithium ions, meaning the ions were added to the material’s crystal structure.The addition of lithium ions causes the crystal to expand and increases the material’s conduction of the ions. The researchers also learned that the effect works with other types of ions, particularly sodium ions, pointing to potential applications in energy storage.Read more. -- source link
#materials science#science#quantum mechanics#ion conductivity#lithium#samarium nickelate#samarium#nickel#sodium#purdue university#mott transition