[Unboxing Lab] "The era of gut-feel semiconductors is over"...The 'magic recipe' that shattered the world record

[The Financial News] Until now, next-generation semiconductor processing has largely been a matter of intuition, hoping things would "just work out." Professor TaeWan Kim’s team at the University of Seoul has turned this into a clearly defined scientific domain, as precise as a mathematical formula. As a result, they reduced the massive barrier that blocked the flow of electricity by a factor of 100,000 compared with conventional approaches. This technology, which allows engineers to freely impart metallic properties to paper-thin semiconductors as if flipping a switch, is expected to become a "magic key" that makes smartphone batteries last longer and the brains of artificial intelligence (AI) far more capable.

The plasma process, an essential step in semiconductor manufacturing, has long been like a black box. It was difficult to control exactly what was happening on the semiconductor surface when ions were fired at it. If the ions were too strong, they etched away the semiconductor; if too weak, they caused almost no change.
The research team effectively attached a precision measuring instrument to this black box. Just as a chef adjusts the heat when grilling meat in 1-degree increments, they measured and converted into data the density and energy of the ions. Through this, they identified the "optimal point" at which semiconductor materials such as molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) are not destroyed, yet only the desired regions are transformed into metal. In other words, they turned a process that was like shooting at a target blindfolded into one of precise, well-aimed shots.

The impact was immediate. Using this process, the team perfectly implemented a polymorphic junction structure, in which metallic properties can be freely embedded within a single semiconductor material. In doing so, they reduced the contact resistance that had hindered the flow of electricity to 250.42 Ω·μm.
This means the resistance was lowered by an astonishing factor of 100,000 compared with existing methods. It approaches the quantum limit of contact resistance, a level that is physically difficult to push any lower. In effect, they have cleared a wide-open expressway through what had been a heavily congested semiconductor.

The performance of AI semiconductors can now evolve to a new level. Power consumption will drop dramatically, while computation speeds will increase noticeably. Smartphones will become thinner, and battery anxiety will fade. For semiconductors used in satellites and spacecraft that must endure extreme environments, this technology will be essential.
The team’s achievement was published in ACS Nano, one of the most prestigious journals in nanoscience, drawing global attention. It was not just accepted; it was honored as a cover-highlighted article, recognizing it as one of the most central studies in that issue. Ultimately, this research peeled away the uncertain packaging of "experience" and uncovered a solid future built on "data."

monarch@fnnews.com Kim Man-gi Reporter