Gentle Squeeze Turns Atom-Thin Bismuth Into Metal, Enabling Rewritable Nanoelectronics
Researchers have demonstrated that applying gentle pressure can transform atomically thin bismuth from a semiconductor into a metal. This breakthrough enables the creation of electronic circuits that can be rewired on demand using electric fields rather than physical connections.
The Pressure Principle
Sometimes the most dramatic technological breakthroughs come from the gentlest touches. According to recent research from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), applying subtle pressure to atom-thin bismuth can completely transform its electrical personality from semiconductor to metal. This discovery, detailed in Nano Letters, represents what analysts are calling a significant step toward truly reconfigurable electronics that could be rewired on the fly.