They are 50,000 times thinner than a human hair and
just a few atoms thick: two-dimensional materials are the thinnest
substances it is possible to make today. They have completely new
properties and are regarded as the next major step in modern
semiconductor technology. In the future they could be used instead
of silicon in computer chips, light-emitting diodes and solar
cells. Until now, the development of new two-dimensional materials
has been limited to structures with layers of rigid chemical bonds
in two spatial directions—like a sheet of paper in a stack. Now for
the first time, a research team from the universities of Marburg,
Giessen and Paderborn, led by Dr. Johanna Heine (Inorganic
Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg) has overcome this
limitation by using an innovative concept. The researchers
developed an organic-inorganic hybrid crystal which consists of
chains in a single direction, yet still forms two-dimensional
layers in spite of this. This makes it possible to combine
different material components, like pieces in a construction set,
to create tailored materials with innovative
properties.