US scientists discover material that switches quantum states on demand

Key Points:

• Scientists at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory discovered a rare quantum material, KxNi4S2, which can switch between two distinct electronic states on demand, potentially enabling faster computer chips and adaptive sensors.
• The material’s structure features nickel and sulfur layers sandwiched between potassium layers, with tunable potassium content that allows reversible switching between quantum states known as Dirac cones and flat bands, controlling electron speed and behavior.
• This dual quantum state capability acts as an electron traffic controller, offering precise tuning of electron flow, which is highly desirable for improving performance and efficiency in electronics like high-speed processors and smart sensors.
• The discovery was confirmed through advanced electronic structure calculations and observations at DOE user facilities, and it could simplify device design by enabling a single material to dynamically adjust its electronic properties in real time.
• Researchers aim to generalize their synthesis method to find more materials with similar switchable quantum phases, advancing the design of quantum materials and published their findings in the journal Matter.