Semiconductors are essential materials in modern technology, found in devices like smartphones and solar cells. They control electricity flow and are defined by their electronic bandgap, which is the energy needed to move an electron to a state where it can conduct electricity. Semiconductors with large bandgaps are valuable for devices that need to work at high voltages or temperatures, but they are hard to make. Recently, researchers led by Steele reported in Nature that they have created a semiconductor with the largest bandgap ever recorded, over 7 electronvolts. This breakthrough moves semiconductors into a range previously thought to be only for insulators, potentially leading to new technological advancements.
QUESTION: How might the development of semiconductors with larger bandgaps impact the future of technology and the devices you use every day?
Semiconductors pushed into insulator territory
