Erasable semiconductor is programmed with light

Researchers at Princeton Engineering have created a semiconductor with unique properties: It is just a few molecules thick and can repeatedly change its properties in response to light. This is a step toward building more energy-efficient sensors, optoelectronic devices and computing technologies. Erasable semiconductor is programmed with light.

August 25, 2026 Erasable semiconductor is programmed with light by ByJulia Schwarz, Princeton University edited by Robert Egan Robert Egan Senior Editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread The GIST Add as preferred source Princeton researchers have created an ultrathin semiconductor that can repeatedly change its properties in response to changes in light. Saien Xie, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, holds up sample of the new material.

Advances in semiconductors over the past 50 years have allowed engineers to create increasingly smaller semiconductor devices and more efficient computers. But this approach is reaching its physical limits—the semiconductor devices are so tiny that it is challenging to add more devices. Researchers are now creating new materials rather than shrinking existing ones.