word

Van der Waals Heterostructure

van der WAHLZ HET-er-oh-struk-cher

/væn dər wɑːlz ˌhɛtəroʊˈstrʌktʃər/

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Syllable breakdown

vanderwaalsheterostructure

Dictionary meaning

A layered stack of atomically thin two-dimensional materials held together by weak van der Waals forces, allowing combination of materials with complementary electronic properties

History and origin

Named after Dutch physicist Johannes Diderik van der Waals

Examples

Graphene/boron nitride van der Waals heterostructures display exceptionally high electron mobility.
Van der Waals heterostructures open new possibilities for designer quantum materials.

Pronunciation tips

'Waals' is Dutch and rhymes with 'balls'

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