I will discuss whether 2D semiconductors and topological semimetals could play a role in future electronics. Their ultrathin nature provides some advantages for flexible electronics [1],light-weight solar cells [2], nanoscale transistors [3], and interconnects [4], but they are not ideal where conventional materials work sufficiently well. I will dive deeper into monolayer 2D semiconductors as energy-efficient transistors[5-8], discuss the effects of strain on their operation [8,9], and outline fundamental challenges that remain. I will also describe ultrathin chalcogenides for phase-change memory [10] and ultrathin topological semimetals as future interconnects [4]. If time permits, I will discuss potential thermal management advances using 2D materials [12,13] and nitrides with good thermal conductivity[14]. Combined, these studies reveal some fundamental limits and practical applications of emerging materials for future electronics.
[1] A. Daus et al., Nat. Elec. (2021). [2] K.N. Nazif, et al., Comm. Phys. (2023). [3] C. English et al., IEDM (2016). [4] A.I. Khan et al.Science (2025). [5] C. McClellan et al. ACS Nano (2021). [6] R.Bennett & E. Pop, Nano Lett. (2023). [7] J.-S. Ko et al., IEEE-TED(2025). [8] I. Datye et al., Nano Lett. (2022). [9] M. Jaikissoon et al., Nat. Elec. (2024). [10] X.Wu et al. Nat. Comm. (2024). [12] S.Vaziri et al., Science Adv. (2019). [13] M. Chen et al., 2D Mat. (2021). [14] C. Koroglu& E. Pop, EDL (2023).
Eric Pop is the Pease-Ye Professor of Electrical Engineering (EE) and, by courtesy, of Materials Science & Engineering and Applied Physics at Stanford and SLAC. He is also the faculty co-lead of the SystemX Alliance and a Senior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. Prior to Stanford, he spent several years on the faculty of UIUC, and in industry at Intel and IBM. His research interests include semiconductors, nanoelectronics, data storage, and energy. He received his PhD in EE from Stanford (2005) and three degrees from MIT (MEng and BS in EE, BS in Physics). His honors include the Intel Outstanding Researcher Award, the PECASE from the White House (highest honor given by the US government to early-career scientists & engineers), Young Investigator Awards from the Navy, Air Force, NSF CAREER, DARPA, and several best-paper awards with his students. He is an APS and IEEE Fellow, a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, he was Chair of the IEEE Device Research Conference (DRC) and the IEEE Non-Volatile Memory Technology Symposium (NVMTS), and he has also served on committees of the APS, MRS, IEDM, and VLSI conferences. In his spare time he tries to avoid injuries while snowboarding, and in a past life he was a college radio DJ at KZSU 90.1. More information about the Pop Lab is at https://poplab.stanford.edu