Latest Inventions on Science & Technology
Moiré Materials- superconductivity
What is super conductors ?
▪ Definition: Superconductors are materials that can conduct electricity with zero resistance below a certain temperature.
▪ Critical Temperature (Tc): The specific temperature at which a superconductor’s resistance drops to zero.
▪ Zero Resistance: Below the critical temperature, superconductors conduct electricity without any resistance.
▪ Low Energy State: Most materials must be in an incredibly low energy state (very cold) to become superconductive.
▪ Cooling Process: Currently, a significant amount of energy is required to cool materials to achieve superconductivity, making it uneconomical and inefficient.
▪ Research and Development: Studies are ongoing to design compounds that can become superconductive at higher temperatures, aiming to make superconductors more practical and cost-effective.
▪ Moiré Materials: Created by stacking two layers of the same material (e.g., graphene) and twisting one layer slightly, resulting in a unique moiré pattern.
▪ Superconductivity: Moiré materials made from semiconductors, like tungsten diselenide (tWSe₂), not just graphene ,This can also exhibit superconductivity, .
▪ Flat Bands: The twist in moiré materials leads to the formation of flat energy bands, causing electrons to move slowly and interact strongly.
▪ Cooper Pairs: Strong electron-electron interactions in flat bands lead to the formation of Cooper pairs, essential for superconductivity and zero resistance.
Recent Study: tWSe₂ with a twist angle of 3.65º showed superconductivity at a transition temperature of around –272.93º C when electronic states were half-filled.
▪ Stability: tWSe₂’s superconducting state is robust and more stable than graphene-based moiré materials, driven by electron-electron interactions and half-band filling.
▪ Insulating State: The moiré material can transition to an insulating state by altering its electronic properties.
Palpares contrarius
▪ Researchers identified Palpares contrarius on the Madras Christian College (MCC) campus, a new species of antlion in Tamil Nadu, which marks addition to the region’s biodiversity.
Identification Features
▪ Palpares contrarius resembles a dragonfly, which has distinct antennae and a unique fluttering flight.
▪ Antennal structure helps differentiate it from similar insects. Adults are elusive and primarily nocturnal.
Habitat and Distribution
▪ Antlions are prevalent in several countries.
▪ They are found in Africa, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. In India, they inhabit states like Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh.
▪ The discovery of this species in Tamil Nadu is unprecedented.
Research and Publication
▪ Anita Pearline Esther, an entomologist at MCC, documented this finding.
▪ The research was published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.
▪ The specimen has been preserved at the Zoological Survey of India in Chennai.
