Brian Stephenson, an Argonne distinguished fellow in the Materials Science division. “Gallium nitride has a more complicated crystal structure than silicon, the typical crystalline material in electronics,” said G. The steps at the edges of each atomic layer have alternating structures (A or B). Schematic of surface structures that form during gallium nitride growth processes (evaporation and deposition). Such information transfer can be more precise, faster and more secure than current capabilities.īecause of these diverse applications, scientists worldwide have been working to improve the process for growing gallium nitride crystals. And it could find use in optical communications, where lasers transmit information. The same technology could also make individual homes more energy efficient. Quite often when we use such probes to study processes like synthesis, we find the story to be more complex than we originally thought and counter to conventional wisdom.” - Matt Highland, X-ray Sciences division, Argonne National Laboratory “This work is a great example of the importance and power of probing a material while a process is underway.

The use of such “smart grids,” which could better balance high power within the overall system, might prevent people from losing power in severe storms. They might also be applied to form transistors for high-power switching electronics to make electric grids more energy efficient and smarter. Gallium nitride crystals are already in wide use in light-emitting diodes, better known as LEDs. Department of Energy’s ( DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, along with three universities, have revealed new insights into the mechanism behind how gallium nitride crystals grow at the atomic scale. Understanding how best to grow such crystals is key to further advances. Some crystals are also wonders of science, with transformative applications in electronics and optics. With brilliant colors and picturesque shapes, many crystals are wonders of nature.

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