Surface-dominant transport in Weyl semimetal NbAs nanowires for next-generation interconnects

Y Yeryun Cheon (Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) M Mehrdad T. Kiani (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) Y Yi-Hsin Tu (Industry Academia Innovation School, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.) S Sushant Kumar (IBM Research, Albany, NY, USA.) N Nghiep Khoan Duong (Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) J Jiyoung Kim (Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) L Lingcheng Kong (Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) Q Quynh P. Sam (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) H Han Wang S Satya K. Kushwaha (Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM), The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.) N Nicholas Ng (Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM), The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.) S Seng Huat Lee (Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.) S Sam Kielar (Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) C Chen Li (Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) A Amelia Schaeffer (School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) J Jack D. Coyle (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) D Dimitrios Koumoulis (Cornell Center for Materials Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) S Saif Siddique (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) Z Zhiqiang Mao (Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.) G Gangtae Jin (Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea.) Z Zhiting Tian (Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) R Ravishankar Sundararaman (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.) H Hsin Lin G Gengchiau Liang (Industry Academia Innovation School, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.) C Ching-Tzu Chen (IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA.) J Judy J. Cha (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.)

Abstract

Ongoing demands for smaller and more energy-efficient electronic devices necessitate alternative interconnect materials with lower electrical resistivity at reduced dimensions. We report the synthesis of Weyl semimetal niobium arsenide (NbAs) nanowires through thermomechanical nanomolding with single crystallinity and controlled diameters down to 40 nanometers. The resistivity of NbAs nanowires decreases with decreasing diameter, and 40-nanometer-diameter nanowires exhibited a room-temperature resistivity of 10.5 ± 1.9 microhm·centimeters, which is ~70% lower than their bulk counterpart. Calculations attribute this resistivity reduction to surface-dominant conduction with a long carrier lifetime at finite temperatures. Further characterization of nanowires and bulk crystals revealed high breakdown current density, stability, and thermal conductivity. These properties highlight the potential of NbAs nanowires as next-generation interconnects that could surpass the limitations of current copper-based interconnects.

Article Details

Journal Science
Volume / Issue Vol. 393, Issue 6808
Published July 16, 2026
Pages 272-279
ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science

Journal Info

Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN: 0036-8075 Social Sciences

Authors (26)

Y

Yeryun Cheon

Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

M

Mehrdad T. Kiani

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

Y

Yi-Hsin Tu

Industry Academia Innovation School, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.

S

Sushant Kumar

IBM Research, Albany, NY, USA.

N

Nghiep Khoan Duong

Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

J

Jiyoung Kim

Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

L

Lingcheng Kong

Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

Q

Quynh P. Sam

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

H

Han Wang

S

Satya K. Kushwaha

Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM), The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

N

Nicholas Ng

Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM), The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

S

Seng Huat Lee

Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.

S

Sam Kielar

Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

C

Chen Li

Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

A

Amelia Schaeffer

School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

J

Jack D. Coyle

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

D

Dimitrios Koumoulis

Cornell Center for Materials Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

S

Saif Siddique

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

Z

Zhiqiang Mao

Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.

G

Gangtae Jin

Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea.

Z

Zhiting Tian

Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

R

Ravishankar Sundararaman

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.

H

Hsin Lin

G

Gengchiau Liang

Industry Academia Innovation School, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.

C

Ching-Tzu Chen

IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA.

J

Judy J. Cha

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.