China has achieved a major golden semiconductor breakthrough that could reshape the future of chip manufacturing. A team of researchers from Peking University and Renmin University developed a new method to produce high-quality indium selenide at scale. The findings were published Friday in the journal Science.
Indium selenide is often called a golden semiconductor because of its exceptional electronic properties. However, mass production has long been a challenge for researchers. Scientists struggled to maintain a precise 1:1 atomic ratio of indium and selenium during production. Consequently, this imbalance hindered its practical use in integrated circuits.
Liu Kaihui, a professor at Peking University, explained the problem. He said that keeping this ratio stable was key to forming high-quality crystals. To overcome this, the team developed a new technique. They heated an amorphous indium selenide film with solid indium in sealed conditions. As a result, this created an indium-rich liquid at the film’s edge.
Eventually, high-quality indium selenide crystals began to form. These crystals had a consistent atomic structure and excellent purity. Liu confirmed that this method ensures the right atomic balance and overcomes a critical bottleneck in production.
Researchers successfully created indium selenide wafers with a diameter of 5 centimeters. They then used the wafers to build a large array of high-performance transistors. Furthermore, Qiu Chengguang, a researcher at Peking University’s School of Electronics, said the team can directly integrate these transistors into chip devices.
Overall, the golden semiconductor breakthrough opens new opportunities for chip innovation. Experts believe this material could lead to faster, more efficient, and low-power chips. These chips may soon power AI systems, autonomous vehicles, and smart devices.
Meanwhile, global demand for alternatives to silicon continues to grow. As silicon nears its performance limits, researchers are exploring next-generation semiconductor materials. Indium selenide stands out for its speed, flexibility, and energy efficiency.
Reviewers from the journal Science called the research an advancement in crystal growth. They praised the work for moving the golden semiconductor breakthrough from lab testing toward real-world applications.
With this progress, China has taken a step forward in the global race for advanced chip technology. Looking ahead, future developments may bring even larger-scale production and broader commercial use.
