gallium arsenide

Graphene hogs all the headlines about two-dimensional materials, but it might just be the beginning. Researchers have now isolated a 2D form of the soft metal gallium, dubbed "gallenene," which could make for efficient, thin metal contacts in electronic devices.

A germanium-tin laser created by scientists in Switzerland promises greater compatibility and efficiencies with silicon-based semiconductors and hold potential for light-based data transmission within computer chips, thereby negating copper wire connections and vastly increasing processing speeds.