This caught my attention. I wonder at the potential applications... ;)
Researchers open path to finding rare, polarized metals
(http://cdn.phys.org/newman/gfx/news/2014/drexelresear.jpg)
These metals are considered rare because of their unusual atomic and chemical structure, specifically, an imbalanced distribution of electrons in a material with metal cations and oxygen. Most metallic materials have an even or symmetric distribution of electrons, in other words it does not have positively and negatively charged poles. But these asymmetric polar metals, appear to be an exception to the rule.
More than half a century later, Rondinelli and Puggioni were able to examine the crystal structure of these known polar metals, and show that the geometric arrangement of atoms is key to understanding their asymmetric charge distribution. This information, in turn, will make it possible for materials scientists to discover more compounds.
While it's too early to predict what applications these materials are ideally suited for, other materials in this class of polar metals are superconducting—they are able to conduct electricity with zero resistance—so they could find use in a variety of advanced electronic and thermal devices.
http://phys.org/news/2014-04-path-rare-polarized-metals.html#jCp
Asymmetric charge distribution, potential for superconductivity, the result of the geometric arrangement of atoms...geometry.
I would love to see some of this material in superconductive form! Once charged...sweet!
Luke? ;D
Cosmo
Negative resistor popped into my mind...
Yeah...I liked that article...my geekiness is showing I guess...
I think I'm geeky and nerdy...
Cosmo
Sorry i'm late ;D
Looks like they are looking for the perfect dielectric (=perfect capacitor)...
Assymetric charge distribution is what makes T.T.Browns discs move 8)
They already have nanospheres of Barium Titanate with a sprinkling of Hafnium (shame i can't get any) and this material has some amazing properties!
I can buy it commercially, and spray it onto a lifter, or anything else i want to fly, LOL but it costs 10 grand a pound :o
Graphene is another one, they have managed to bond atoms on one side, so it acts like a semiconductor or capacitor. Soon they will be getting down to the level where the Dirac effect is greatly enhanced.
Fun!