For the first time, a team at BESSY II has succeeded in demonstrating the one-dimensional electronic properties of a material through a highly refined experimental process. The samples consisted of short chains of phosphorus atoms that self-organise at specific angles on a silver substrate. Through sophisticated analysis, the team was able to disentangle the contributions of these differently aligned chains. This revealed that the electronic properties of each chain are indeed one-dimensional. Calculations predict an exciting phase transition to be expected as soon as these chains are more closely packed. While material consisting of individual chains with longer distances is semiconducting, a very dense chain structure would be metallic.
The material world consists of atoms that combine to manifold different substances. As a rule, atoms bond with each other both in one plane and perpendicular to it. However, some atoms such as carbon can also form graphene, a two dimensional (2D) hexagonal network in which they are connected only in one plane. Also, the element phosphorus can form stable 2D networks. 2D materials are an exciting area of research due to their amazing electronic and optical properties. Theoretical considerations suggest that the electro-optical properties of one-dimensional structures could be even more extraordinary.
Read more on the HZB website
Image: The image taken with the scanning tunnelling microscope shows the phosphorus atoms arranged in short chains on a silver substrate.
Credit: © HZB/Small Structures (2025)/10.1002/sstr.202500458