Squeezed nanocrystals: A new model predicts their shape when blanketed under graphene

In a collaboration between the US Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and Northeastern University, scientists have developed a model for predicting the shape of metal nanocrystals or 'islands' sandwiched between or below two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene. The advance moves 2D quantum materials a step closer to applications in electronics.