Energy storage and electronic devices all benefit! International team breaks through material limitation to ＂generate＂ high-quality film for the first time.

　　Cailian News Agency, August 1st (Editor Huang Junzhi) According to media reports, the international research team from Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics in Germany, Cambridge University in England and University of Pennsylvania in the United States realized the single crystal T-Nb2O5 thin film with two-dimensional (2D) vertical ion transport channel for the first time, and realized the rapid and huge insulator-metal transition by embedding lithium ions into the 2D channel.

　　Since the 1940s, scientists have been exploring the use of niobium oxide, especially a kind of niobium oxide called T-Nb2O5, to make more efficient batteries. This unique material is famous for its ability to allow lithium ions to move rapidly in it. The faster these lithium ions move, the faster the battery will charge.

　　However, the practical application of this material has been facing some adjustments. For example, this niobium oxide material is "grown" into a thin and flat layer or a "thin film" with sufficient quality. This problem stems from the complex structure of T-Nb2O5 and the existence of many similar forms or polymorphs of niobium oxide.

　　In the above research, the team successfully demonstrated the growth of high-quality single crystal thin films of T-Nb2O5, which are arranged in such a way that lithium ions can move faster along the vertical ion transport channel. The latest research results have recently been published in the journal Natural Materials.

　　It is reported that the group has realized the growth of single crystal T-Nb2O5 thin films and demonstrated how lithium ion insertion can significantly improve its conductivity. With the change of lithium ion concentration, they found many previously unknown transformations in the material structure. These transformations change the electronic characteristics of the material, allowing it to change from an insulator to a metal, which means it changes from blocking current to conducting.

　　Then, the researchers found reasonable reasons for the multiphase transformations they observed and how these transformations are related to the concentration of lithium ions and their arrangement in the crystal structure.

　　The researchers said that the electrical properties of T-Nb2O5 thin film changed significantly in the early stage when lithium was inserted into the initial insulating film. This is a dramatic change-the resistivity of the material has decreased by 100 billion times. By changing the chemical composition of the "gate" electrode, they further demonstrated the tunability and low voltage operation of thin film devices, and expanded the potential applications. The "gate" electrode is a component that controls the ion flow in the device.

　　"Using the potential of T-Nb2O5 to make a huge insulator-metal transition, we have opened up an exciting way to explore the next generation of electronic and energy storage solutions," said Hyeon Han, the first author of Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics.

　　The researchers also said, "What we have done is to find a way to move lithium ions without destroying the crystal structure of the T-Nb2O5 thin film, which means that ions can move significantly faster. This huge change has made a series of potential applications possible, from high-speed computing to energy-saving lighting. "

　　"Our understanding of T-Nb2O5 and similar complex materials has been greatly enhanced, and we hope to achieve a more sustainable and efficient future." They added.

　　(Cailian Huang Junzhi)