---
title: "Groundbreaking Discovery Made on Quantum Properties in Graphene"
url: https://newscentral.site/groundbreaking-discovery-made-on-quantum-properties-in-graphene/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Science"
published: 2026-10-17T12:00:06.000Z
updated: 2026-10-17T23:50:52.447Z
id: e44afefc-3878-4952-aef5-27846714c1d7
source: "Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-10-electrical-graphene-magnetic-states.html"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/groundbreaking-discovery-made-on-quantum-properties-in-graphene/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Groundbreaking Discovery Made on Quantum Properties in Graphene

Researchers at Cornell University have successfully switched ultrathin graphene between distinct magnetic states using an electric current.

Researchers at Cornell University have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize our understanding of quantum properties in two-dimensional materials. By applying an electric current to ultrathin graphene, scientists were able to switch the material between distinct magnetic states.

This innovative technique involves sliding the layers of graphene using voltage, allowing the material to alternate between nonmagnetic and magnetic states. The study found that even after the voltage is removed, these magnetic states persist, opening up new possibilities for controlling quantum properties.

The arrangement of atoms in a material plays a crucial role in determining its physical properties. Graphite and diamond are two examples of materials made from the same atoms but with vastly different electronic structures between their atoms, resulting in distinct physical characteristics such as color, strength, transparency, and conductivity.

The ability to change a material's structure is often limited by the need to break strong chemical bonds and reconfigure them into a new arrangement. This process can be time-consuming and requires high pressure and temperature. However, the Cornell researchers' discovery suggests that this may not always be necessary.

The researchers aimed to find an alternative method to change the structure of materials in a more efficient way, with potential technological applications.

To achieve this goal, they focused on a specific configuration made up of four layers of graphene, a one-atom-thick material composed of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal layout. Graphene's unique properties make it an attractive material for various applications, and understanding how to manipulate its structure is crucial for unlocking its full potential.

By targeting the weaker bonds between the layers, known as van der Waals bonds, the team was able to reconfigure the crystal structure of the graphene. This was achieved through the application of voltage, which allowed them to shift the alignment of the layers and change how they were stacked.

The most common pattern of layering in graphene corresponds to a nonmagnetic state, while applying voltage transformed it into a less stable but more exotic configuration associated with magnetism, superconductivity, and other unusual quantum phenomena. This transformation is known as the rhombohedral configuration.

The team's discovery has significant implications for the development of memory storage devices, as the sliding technique creates a reliable memory source that persists over time and can be consistently switched between states.

The researchers' breakthrough discovery has significant implications for the development of materials whose properties can be rewritten on demand.

This achievement is a result of the team's ability to reversibly change a material's structure with voltage, which could provide a new way to design materials that can be tailored to specific needs by altering their magnetic states.

The potential applications of this discovery are vast, as it may enable the creation of reconfigurable quantum materials and nonvolatile memory devices. The researchers' findings have sparked excitement in the scientific community about the possibilities for manipulating matter at the molecular level.

This innovative approach could lead to significant advancements in fields such as electronics and computing, where memory storage devices with improved performance and reliability are highly sought after.

---
Source: [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-10-electrical-graphene-magnetic-states.html)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/groundbreaking-discovery-made-on-quantum-properties-in-graphene/