Platinum and iridium have been used to formulate two new materials that scientist say could offer revolutionary new applications.

A team working at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory under Alexander Goncharov has successfully formed two new compounds called noble metal nitrides from an intensive process.

Using extreme temperatures and pressures, the scientist were able to make two nitrides, one using iridium, and the other platinum.

The nitrides have a hardness equivalent to diamond and can also be manipulated to offer a very low electrical resistance.

Experts say that these properties could make the materials ideal for the semiconductor industry as surface coatings, although Dr Goncharov said there was more to come.

"We are still attempting to ascertain the electronic properties of these new materials," he explained.

"Generally speaking, these nitrides are likely to exhibit several properties that will make them attractive for technological applications.

"They are potentially important for the electronics industry as durable and reliable coatings, substrates, and conductors. One can also envisage optoelectronic devices, sensitive magnetometers and other metrological equipment that employ these materials."

The work has been presented in the latest issue of the magazine Science.


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