Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Types of Semiconductors01:20

Types of Semiconductors

871
Intrinsic semiconductors are highly pure materials with no impurities. At absolute zero, these semiconductors behave as perfect insulators because all the valence electrons are bound, and the conduction band is empty, disallowing electrical conduction. The Fermi level is a concept used to describe the probability of occupancy of energy levels by electrons at thermal equilibrium. In intrinsic semiconductors, the Fermi level is positioned at the midpoint of the energy gap at absolute zero. When...
871
Network Covalent Solids02:18

Network Covalent Solids

13.7K
Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...
13.7K
Van der Waals Interactions01:24

Van der Waals Interactions

64.7K
Atoms and molecules interact with each other through intermolecular forces. These electrostatic forces arise from attractive or repulsive interactions between particles with permanent, partial, or temporary charges. The intermolecular forces between neutral atoms and molecules are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, and dispersion forces, collectively known as van der Waals forces.
64.7K
Van der Waals Equation01:10

Van der Waals Equation

4.4K
The ideal gas law is an approximation that works well at high temperatures and low pressures. The van der Waals equation of state (named after the Dutch physicist Johannes van der Waals, 1837−1923) improves it by considering two factors.
First, the attractive forces between molecules, which are stronger at higher densities and reduce the pressure, are considered by adding to the pressure a term equal to the square of the molar density multiplied by a positive coefficient a. Second, the volume...
4.4K
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

3.0K
Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
3.0K
Metallic Solids02:37

Metallic Solids

18.6K
Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
18.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Materials Nanoarchitectonics from Intrinsic Underwater Self-Healing Polymers for Soft Nanorobotics.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same author

Analysis of molecular weight of mixed poly (lactide-co-glycolide) in Risperidone microspheres based on separation method.

Journal of pharmaceutical sciences·2026
Same author

Immunogenicity remodeling in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms and translational strategies.

Therapeutic advances in medical oncology·2026
Same author

From reporting gaps to hospital cost drivers to enhance digital health decision making: A machine learning-assisted analysis of national hospital data.

Digital health·2026
Same author

Resolving Airborne Bacterial Viability in Megacity Beijing: Temperature-Linked Human-Associated Potential Pathogens in the Intact Fraction.

Environmental science & technology·2026
Same author

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Anti-Diabetic Effects of Astragaloside IV: A Focus on Signaling Pathways.

Drug design, development and therapy·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Fabricating van der Waals Heterostructures with Precise Rotational Alignment
09:25

Fabricating van der Waals Heterostructures with Precise Rotational Alignment

Published on: July 5, 2019

9.6K

Polymer-like Inorganic Double Helical van der Waals Semiconductor.

Jiangbin Wu1, Nan Wang2, Ya-Ru Xie3

  • 1Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California90089, United States.

Nano Letters
|November 2, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered tin indium phosphate, a novel inorganic semiconductor with a double helical structure. This material exhibits unprecedented flexibility and deformability, paving the way for advanced flexible electronics.

Keywords:
DeformabilityInorganic double helixSnIPYoung’s modulusvan der Waals crystal

More Related Videos

Ultrahigh Density Array of Vertically Aligned Small-molecular Organic Nanowires on Arbitrary Substrates
08:07

Ultrahigh Density Array of Vertically Aligned Small-molecular Organic Nanowires on Arbitrary Substrates

Published on: June 18, 2013

15.1K
Probe Type II Band Alignment in One-Dimensional Van Der Waals Heterostructures Using First-Principles Calculations
13:56

Probe Type II Band Alignment in One-Dimensional Van Der Waals Heterostructures Using First-Principles Calculations

Published on: October 12, 2019

7.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Fabricating van der Waals Heterostructures with Precise Rotational Alignment
09:25

Fabricating van der Waals Heterostructures with Precise Rotational Alignment

Published on: July 5, 2019

9.6K
Ultrahigh Density Array of Vertically Aligned Small-molecular Organic Nanowires on Arbitrary Substrates
08:07

Ultrahigh Density Array of Vertically Aligned Small-molecular Organic Nanowires on Arbitrary Substrates

Published on: June 18, 2013

15.1K
Probe Type II Band Alignment in One-Dimensional Van Der Waals Heterostructures Using First-Principles Calculations
13:56

Probe Type II Band Alignment in One-Dimensional Van Der Waals Heterostructures Using First-Principles Calculations

Published on: October 12, 2019

7.7K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Solid-State Physics
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Flexible and stretchable electronics require novel semiconductor materials.
  • Conventional inorganic semiconductors are rigid and brittle, posing fabrication challenges.
  • Geometric deformation and elastomeric integration are current, complex solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the discovery of a new inorganic semiconductor with exceptional mechanical properties.
  • To investigate the unique properties of the double helical tin indium phosphate.
  • To explore potential applications in flexible electronics and nanomechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis and characterization of the novel tin indium phosphate material.
  • Mechanical testing to determine Young's modulus and bending strain limits.
  • Analysis of crystal structure and interatomic interactions (van der Waals forces).

Main Results:

  • Discovery of tin indium phosphate, a double helical inorganic semiconductor.
  • Lowest Young's modulus (13.6 GPa) among stable inorganic materials.
  • Exceptional elastic (>27%) and plastic (>60%) bending strains observed.
  • Mechanism attributed to van der Waals interactions enabling helix slippage.

Conclusions:

  • Tin indium phosphate possesses unique polymer-like mechanical properties.
  • The material's flexibility and deformability are superior to known semiconducting materials.
  • This discovery lays the groundwork for next-generation flexible electronic devices and nanomechanical systems.