One of the remarkable features of indium selenides is their exceptional electron mobility, which can exceed 1,000 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. This high mobility enables faster charge transport, crucial for the operation of ultra-scaled transistors needed in modern computing applications. As the demand for rapid processing speeds increases, enabling technologies that can deliver higher mobility will play a critical role in enhancing the performance of electronic devices. Furthermore, the high thermal velocity—greater than 2 × 10⁷ cm s⁻¹—ensures that indium selenides can handle high-speed operations without significant energy loss.

Another advantage of these materials is their thickness-tunable bandgaps, ranging from 0.97 eV to 2.5 eV. This tunability allows for the design of energy-efficient devices that can operate across a wide spectrum of applications, from low-power electronics to high-performance photodetectors. The ability to tune the bandgap also facilitates the creation of devices with optimal performance characteristics tailored to specific needs, potentially leading to advances in ultrafast photonics and optoelectronics.

In addition to their electronic properties, indium selenides possess unique phase-dependent ferroelectric properties, enabling them to function as both logic devices and non-volatile memory elements within a single material system. This dual capability is essential for next-generation computing architectures that require efficient data storage, retrieval, and processing without the auxiliary circuitry typically associated with traditional semiconductor materials. The ability to integrate these functions into a single chip could significantly reduce manufacturing complexities and enhance overall device performance.

Recent advancements in ballistic transport in InSe transistors have laid the groundwork for next-generation computing devices. Ballistic transport refers to the regime where carriers move through the material without being scattered by defects or phonons, resulting in a significant improvement in device performance. Researchers have been able to demonstrate such ballistic transport in InSe transistors, highlighting their potential to outperform silicon-based devices in terms of speed and energy efficiency.

The development of tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) based on indium selenides marks another breakthrough in low-power electronics. TFETs leverage the unique band structure of indium selenides to achieve steep subthreshold slopes, which can enable lower operating voltages and thereby reduce power consumption. This is especially beneficial in modern computing applications where power efficiency and thermal management are paramount for sustaining high performance over extended periods.

In addition to their electronic properties, indium selenides also show promise in ferroelectric device applications. The exploitation of the ferroelectric characteristics of In₂Se₃ paves the way for innovative non-volatile memory solutions that can function alongside traditional logic devices. These ferroelectric memory elements can store data by inducing polarization within the material, offering advantages such as low power consumption and faster read/write times compared to conventional memory technologies.

However, challenges in the fabrication and processing of indium selenides remain a significant obstacle to their widespread adoption. Addressing these challenges is critical to translate their theoretical advantages into commercially viable solutions. Researchers are actively investigating scalable synthesis methods that can produce high-quality samples of indium selenides, which are essential for developing reliable electronic components.

Phase control is another key challenge when working with indium selenides. The ability to manipulate the phase states of these materials—given their complex phase diagrams—is critical for optimizing device performance. This includes transitioning between different structural phases, which can dramatically affect their electronic and optical properties. Implementing techniques for stabilized phase control will be vital for fostering the consistent performance of devices based on these materials.

Oxidation is also a significant concern that can impact the stability and performance of indium selenide devices. The exposure of these materials to ambient conditions may lead to undesirable oxidation, resulting in degradation of their electro-optical properties. Innovative strategies for oxidation prevention and encapsulation will be necessary to enhance the lifespan and reliability of indium selenide-based devices, particularly in real-world applications where environmental exposure is unavoidable.

Ultimately, bridging fundamental materials science with practical device engineering offers a roadmap for utilizing the exceptional properties of indium selenides in developing commercial low-power computing technologies. By focusing research efforts on the synthesis methods, phase stability, and oxidation prevention, scientists can overcome existing barriers and unlock the potential of indium selenides as alternatives to silicon-based technology.

The vision of integrating indium selenides into next-generation computing architectures entails the development of innovative devices capable of meeting the demands of modern electronics. As researchers continue to explore the capabilities of these materials, they pave the way for advanced applications that could reshape computing paradigms. The journey toward realizing indium selenides as a cornerstone of future electronics promises not only enhanced performance but also the evolution of how computing devices are conceived and utilized.

The endeavor to harness indium selenides for electronic applications is underpinned by a commitment to sustainable and efficient technology. As the industry faces mounting pressure to reduce energy consumption, the transition to low-power materials like indium selenides could represent a pivotal shift in electronic design and manufacturing. By prioritizing their adoption, we can ensure that next-generation devices are not only high-performing but also environmentally conscious, setting new standards for tech innovation in the years to come.

In summary, van der Waals indium selenides hold enormous promise for the future of low-power computing, standing at the intersection of material science and electronic engineering. Their unmatched electronic properties, combined with their unique functionalities, herald a new era of device possibilities that could ultimately challenge and surpass the longstanding dominance of silicon in the microelectronics sector.

Subject of Research: Indium Selenides for Low-Power Electronics

Article Title: Indium selenides for next-generation low-power computing devices

Article References:

Song, S., Altvater, M., Lee, W. et al. Indium selenides for next-generation low-power computing devices.
Nat Rev Electr Eng (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44287-025-00251-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1038/s44287-025-00251-w

Keywords: Indium Selenides, Low-Power Electronics, Semiconductor Technology, Ballistic Transport, Ferroelectric Devices

Deep geological repositories are engineered underground facilities designed for the long-term isolation of hazardous materials, such as radioactive waste. The far-field assessment involves modeling the behavior of geological formations located at significant distances from the repository, evaluating the potential risks related to the migration of contaminants through various geological media. These simulations must consider intricate interactions among hydrological, geochemical, and mechanical processes over extended timescales. Ensuring that such assessments are reproducible and robust is vital for regulatory confidence and public safety.

The authors present a comprehensive framework that integrates HPC software deployments with rigorous workflow management to guarantee reproducibility across different computational environments. This is crucial in fields where results must endure scrutiny over decades, sometimes centuries, and where computational platforms and software dependencies continuously evolve. By emphasizing repeatability, the team addresses a pervasive challenge in computational sciences: the reproducibility crisis, which can erode trust in simulation-based decision-making.

At the heart of the study lies a meticulous orchestration of software containers, version control systems, and automated execution pipelines. Containerization encapsulates all software components and dependencies into isolated units, ensuring consistent environments despite variations in the underlying infrastructure. This approach drastically reduces the discrepancies that often arise from software updates, conflicting libraries, or hardware differences, effectively closing the gap between development and deployment environments in HPC settings.

The simulation workflows encompass multiple coupled physical processes relevant to deep geological repositories, including fluid flow, solute transport, heat transfer, and rock mechanics. This coupling demands sophisticated numerical methods and substantial computational resources. The authors leverage state-of-the-art parallel computing techniques to scale these simulations across thousands of processor cores, dramatically reducing turnaround times while maintaining accuracy.

A key innovation lies in the automated provenance tracking embedded within the workflow system. Provenance metadata records the precise sequence of computational steps, software versions, input parameters, and intermediate results, creating an auditable trail that supports verification and validation. Such detailed documentation is imperative for reproducing results, facilitating collaboration between multidisciplinary teams, and enabling regulatory agencies to assess the reliability of risk models.

By applying their framework to a case study of far-field assessment, the researchers demonstrate high fidelity in reproducing simulation outcomes on different HPC platforms. Their approach highlights how reusable workflows can help harmonize scientific studies performed at various institutions globally, enhancing transparency and reducing duplication of efforts. The implications extend beyond geological repositories to any domain relying on large-scale simulations and complex software environments.

The study also discusses challenges encountered in integrating legacy simulation codes with modern workflow tools. Many established geoscience codes were not originally designed with reproducibility or containerization in mind. Overcoming these hurdles required refactoring software modules, standardizing data formats, and implementing interoperability layers, which together contribute to the long-term sustainability of computational research infrastructure.

One of the most striking outcomes of this research is the demonstration of how computational reproducibility can accelerate scientific discovery and improve environmental management. When researchers can confidently rerun simulations and explore alternative scenarios without the overhead of rebuilding environments, they can focus more on scientific interpretation and decision-making, fostering innovation and responsiveness in assessing environmental risks.

Moreover, the integration of HPC workflows with cloud-based resources is poised to democratize access to computational power, enabling smaller institutions and stakeholders to engage in high-quality simulations without investing in dedicated supercomputing facilities. The authors envision a future where standardized, reproducible workflows become the norm, supporting collaborative networks addressing global challenges such as climate change, resource management, and environmental remediation.

The implications for policy and regulation are profound. Regulatory bodies often require exhaustive documentation and evidence to approve the safety of waste disposal methods. The ability to produce reproducible, auditable simulations strengthens regulatory submissions by enhancing their credibility and traceability, thereby facilitating more informed and timely decisions that impact public health and environmental protection.

In sum, this work exemplifies the convergence of computer science, environmental engineering, and geoscience toward a unified goal: ensuring the safety of deep geological repositories through robust, transparent, and reproducible computational methods. It establishes a benchmark for future studies where simulations are not mere black boxes but trusted tools underpinning critical societal decisions.

Looking ahead, the authors propose extending their framework to incorporate machine learning techniques for parameter estimation and uncertainty quantification, thereby enriching the predictive power of their models. Coupled with advances in sensor technologies and real-time monitoring, such integrated systems could offer dynamic, adaptive assessments of repository safety in response to evolving geological conditions.

This research arrives at a pivotal moment when environmental risks demand sophisticated, fully transparent scientific approaches. By championing reproducibility in HPC workflows, Bilke, Fischer, Naumov, and their colleagues not only address a technical challenge but also contribute fundamentally to building public trust in science and technology.

As the complexity and stakes of environmental assessments grow, their methodology provides a scalable and resilient blueprint. It empowers the scientific community to confront pressing global challenges with confidence that their computational tools remain verifiable, repeatable, and ultimately trustworthy.

In conclusion, this study marks a seminal advancement in reproducible HPC workflows for earth science applications, blending innovative software engineering with environmental risk assessment to safeguard the future. It signals a transformative paradigm where scientific simulations evolve from isolated endeavors into reproducible pillars supporting societal resilience and environmental stewardship.

Subject of Research: Reproducible high-performance computing software deployments, simulations, and workflow management applied to far-field assessment of deep geological repositories.

Article Title: Reproducible HPC software deployments, simulations, and workflows – a case study for far-field deep geological repository assessment.

Article References:
Bilke, L., Fischer, T., Naumov, D. et al. Reproducible HPC software deployments, simulations, and workflows – a case study for far-field deep geological repository assessment. Environ Earth Sci 84, 502 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-025-12501-z

Image Credits: AI Generated