ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 5 RESEARCH TRACKS Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn., launched its Neutron Nexus pilot program with Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University and Florida State University. The program aims to broaden the scientific user community with outreach to universities and colleges to increase both collaboration and scientific advancement. ornl.gov. BRIEF DECODING COPPER DEPOSIT FORMATION A research consortium that includes The University of Western Australia (UWA), the University of Bristol, natural resources company BHP, and others is making progress on its “High Grade Hypogene Copper” initiative. The work proposes a new model for the formation of large copper deposits by decoding the metal’s origins, a discovery that could determine the future of copper mining and help meet surging global demand. Tony Kemp, associate professor at UWA, says researchers focused on the formation of copper deposits beneath volcanic chains where tectonic plates converge, a process known as flat slab subduction. “This phenomenon causes the sinking plate to heat up and release fluids, which then percolate into the overlying plate, melting it and channeling copper and other metals upwards to form ore deposits,” he explains. “Recognizing areas where flat slab subduction has occurred in the past is crucial for discovering new copper resources.” The study also highlighted the importance of precise dating of copper deposits using a radiometric laser- based technique developed by UWA research fellow Dan Bevan while he was at the University of Bristol. The method, which is now being implemented at UWA, allows researchers to link copper deposits to specific geological events, providing a clearer understanding of their formation. www.uwa.edu.au. SPECIAL TRANSISTORS LISTEN FOR DEFECTS A research team led by NYU Tandon School of Engineering and KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) developed a new technique to identify and characterize atomic-scale defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a 2D material often called “white graphene” due to its impressive properties. The team believes this advance could accelerate de- velopment of next- generation electronics and quantum technologies. The researchers report they A new technique is able to characterize atomic-scale defects in hBN. Courtesy of ACS Nano, doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c06929. were able to detect the presence of individual carbon atoms replacing boron atoms in hBN crystals, a discovery made possible by listening to the electronic noise in specially designed transistors. “In this project, we essentially created a stethoscope for 2D materials,” explains NYU’s Davood Shahrjerdi. “By analyzing the tiny and rhythmic fluctuations in electrical current, we can ‘perceive’ the behavior of single atomic defects.” The NYU team built a transistor using a few-layer thin molybdenum disulfide sandwiched between layers of hBN. By cooling this device to cryogenic temperatures and applying precise electrical voltages, researchers were able to observe discrete jumps in the current flowing through the transistor. By carefully analyzing these signals at different temperatures and voltages, the team was able to determine the energy levels and spatial locations of the defects. The KAIST team then used advanced computer simulations to clarify the atomistic origins of the experimental observations. nyu.edu. Dan Bevan developed a radiometric laser-based technique for precise dating of copper deposits. Courtesy of UWA.
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