Applications of Nanomaterials Beyond the Boundaries of Symmetry

Dear Colleagues,

Next-generation electronic gadgets will be made from nanomaterials with unique and unprecedented electrical and magnetic properties that arise from the symmetry of the nano-structured materials. Spherical symmetry, which corresponds to the highest degree of geometrical symmetry, is naturally present in atoms. A high degree of degeneracy, a property of quantum energy levels wherein a particular energy level can simultaneously correspond to two or more distinct states in a quantum system, is a fascinating phenomenon that frequently results from symmetry. The maximum geometrical symmetry is seen in spherical atoms, which also exhibit a high number of quantum states, or degeneracy. It has long been thought that geometrical restrictions prevent any polyatomic species from growing larger than a sphere. An inflated tetrahedron, however, displays an unusual degeneracy that surpasses that of spherical atoms. It is possible to create nanomaterials with a higher degree of symmetry than spherical atoms. This dynamical symmetry produces super-degenerate quantum states that could be used to create new materials with unheard-of conductivity or magnetic properties, ushering in the next generation of electronic devices.

Prof. Dr. Sung-Chul Yi
Dr. Bradha Madhavanh
Guest Editors

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• nanomaterials
• symmetry
• structural studies
• sub-atomic level
• microstructure