A team of Ohio State researchers recently discovered a new material that simplifies how electronics use electrons. An electron has a negative charge, while a hole — or the absence of an electron — has a positive charge. Electronics move electrons and holes to conduct electricity. Historically, two materials — an electron holder and a hole holder — were needed to make the process work. The new material, a crystal that can be hold both holes and electrons called NaSn2As2, could potentially simplify electronics and make them more efficient. The findings were recently published in the journal Nature Materials by co-authors Joseph Heremans, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Ohio Eminent Scholar in Nanotechnology and professor of physics; Wolfgang Windl, professor of materials science and engineering and physics; and Joshua Goldberger, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

https://news.osu.edu/researchers-discover-new-material-to-help-power-electronics/