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Move over graphene! Scientists forge bismuthene and host of atoms-thick metals

Tiny anvil squeezes metal atoms into super-thin sheets with strange properties.
By
  1. Katherine Bourzac

Taking inspiration from ancient techniques, researchers have forged relatively large sheets of metal that are just atoms thick, enabling them to more readily study the weird properties of these materials in the laboratory. The method can be applied to any metal with a low melting point, and the team has used it to make 2D sheets of bismuth, gallium, indium, lead and tin. The feat was reported today in Nature1.

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Nature 639, 553 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-00763-3

Read the related News & Views: ‘Metals squeezed to thickness of two atoms’

Also, listen to a related Nature podcast ‘Sapphire anvils squeeze metals atomically-thin’

References

  1. Zhao, J. et al. Nature 639, 354–359 (2025).

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  2. Novoselov, K. S. et al. Science 306, 666–669 (2004).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kashiwaya, S. et al. Nature Synth. 3, 744–751 (2024).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhu, F.-f. et al. Nature Mater. 14, 1020–1025 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

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