University of Wollongong Researchers Develop New Method for Energy-Efficient Quantum Electronics

A research team from the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM), led by Distinguished Professor Xiaolin Wang and Dr. M Nadeem, with PhD candidate Syeda Amina Shabbir and Dr. Frank Fei Yun, has developed a new approach to achieve the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect, addressing a 40-year-old quantum physics challenge. The study, published in Advanced Materials, introduces a technique called entropy engineering to design a one-atom-thick magnetic material for energy-efficient electronic devices.
The team used entropy engineering to mix four types of metal atoms, creating a random atomic arrangement that altered the material’s electronic structure. This process opened a topological bandgap, enabling electricity to flow along the material’s edges without energy loss or interference. The method supports applications in quantum computers, energy-efficient electronics, medical imaging, and power systems.
The discovery builds on Professor Wang’s work in spin-gapless semiconductors and provides a new tool for designing quantum materials with stable topological properties. Dr. Nadeem, who conducted the theoretical modeling, noted that the entropy-driven design ensures stable edge-state conduction, critical for practical quantum applications.
The study, titled “Tailor Robust Quantum Anomal...