Nature Portfolio’s Communications Engineering publication designated a technical article authored by a team led by key NETL researchers for editor’s choice. The article, which discusses a process for using coal as a manufacturing feedstock for high-tech products like computer microelectronics, was one of only 14 selections for the recognition.

The publication annually highlights research articles as “stories of insight and engineering from across numerous research disciplines.” 

The article, “Ultrathin quasi-2D amorphous carbon dielectric prepared from solution precursor for nanoelectronics,” was authored by a team of researchers led by NETL that also included experts from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

According to Congjun Wang, a research scientist at NETL, the article describes a versatile solution-deposited approach to creating dielectrics, which can help reduce energy consumption of computer microelectronics by five-to-twentyfold and double the speed potential. Dielectrics are insulators that help separate positive and negative charges.

“The approach highlights NETL's expertise in advanced carbon materials from unconventional feedstocks,” Wang said.

The research team created a thin carbon material that can be used to fabricate a memory device called a “memristor,” which stores data and can act as a field effect transistor, which processes data in computers.

Memristor computer memory will enable machine learning and artificial intelligence by making data storage and processing devices smaller, faster and more energy efficient. 

“The unique arrangement of atoms in the carbon material is what makes these devices perform so well,” said Wang. “It’s really exciting to manufacture a material with such extraordinary properties and ultrahigh purity from a feedstock that cannot be more ordinary: coal.”

Christopher Matranga, who leads NETL’s carbon materials research portfolio, added that currently, the best way to make this carbon material is by using a coal-based feedstock.

“Who would have ever guessed coal could be used inside a computer?” he asked.

The Communications Engineering publication that designated the article as an editors’ choice is part of Nature Portfolio and is a selective open access journal publishing high-quality research, reviews and commentary in all areas of engineering. Research papers that the journal publishes represent significant advances for a specialized area of research and development. Every month, 9 million people read news, analysis and commentary on nature.com.

In addition to Wang and Matranga, NETL researchers listed as co-authors of the article include Viet Hung Pham, Junseok Lee, Jennifer Weidman and Sittichai Natesakhawat.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that drives innovation to deliver solutions for a secure energy future. Through its expertise and research facilities, NETL is advancing technologies to unleash America’s affordable, reliable and secure domestic energy and natural resources.