New nanocrystals could make faster, smarter computers

(JANUARY 31, 2025) Scientists have discovered tiny crystals that can be controlled using light. They are called "nanocrystals." These crystals might help make computers and memory devices that work faster and use less energy.  

The crystals are special because they can switch between "on" and "off" using light. “The amazing switching and memory abilities of these nanocrystals could be very important for optical computing,” said Artiom Skripka. He is a scientist at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Optical computing is a way to process and store information using light, which travels faster than anything else.  

The research shows that these nanocrystals can change from dark to bright with a small amount of light energy. The crystals are made from potassium, chlorine, lead, and neodymium. Neodymium helps the crystals handle light better. It could make them useful for things like lasers, medical tools, and technology that sends information using light.  

Skripka explained, “Usually, materials glow when light shines on them and stay dark when there’s no light. But our crystals can be bright or dark even under the same light. It’s like they have two lives.”  

This ability is called optical bistability. The crystals need more energy to start glowing, but once they do, they can stay bright with less energy. “It’s like riding a bike,” Skripka said. “You need to push hard to start, but once you’re moving, it’s easier to keep going.”  

These crystals could help save energy in things like artificial intelligence, data centers, and electronics. They could also make devices in areas like telecommunications and medical imaging work better.  

However, more research is needed to make the crystals easy to use in real-world technology. Skripka said, “This discovery is exciting, but we still have work to do to solve challenges."