Stanene[1][2][3] is a
topological insulator, which may display dissipationless currents at its edges near
room temperature. It is composed of
tin atoms arranged in a single layer, in a manner similar to
graphene.[4] Stanene got its name by combining stannum (the
Latin name for tin) with the
suffix-ene used by graphene.[5] Research is ongoing in Germany and China, as well as at laboratories at Stanford and UCLA.[6]
The addition of
fluorine atoms to the tin lattice could extend the
critical temperature up to 100 °C.[7] This would make it practical for use in
integrated circuits to make smaller, faster and more energy efficient computers.
^Garcia, J. C.; de Lima, D. B.; Assali, L. V. C.; Justo, J. F. (2011). "Group IV Graphene- and Graphane-Like Nanosheets". J. Phys. Chem. C. 115: 13242.
arXiv:1204.2875.
doi:
10.1021/jp203657w.