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The technology of the future could be made from clay

Physicists have discovered a material that could be very useful in quantum technology: clay.

Barbara Pacáková and Jon Otto Fossum are part of an international research team with promising findings that may lead to new technological breakthroughs. This photo was taken at SNBL-ESRF in Grenoble, France.

(Photo: NTNU / SNBL-ESRF)

Steinar Brandslet Journalist

Presented by: NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Published 6 June 2025 - 00:00

Quantum technology is expected to become the standard for extremely fast computers in the future. These will be important in everything from space technology to mineral exploration and the development of new medicines.

But the technology is based on quantum mechanics, and that’s where most of us lose track, because it sounds really advanced.

“Quantum technology is often associated with synthetic materials that have been developed in advanced, completely clean environments,” says Professor Jon Otto Fossum from NTNU’s Department of Physics.

But Fossum and his colleagues have good news.

A promising material straight from nature

“We've found a naturally occurring clay material with sought-after properties for use in quantum technology,” says Fossum.

That means the material is both cheap and easy to access, straight from nature.

“What we found is essentially a quantum‑active component formed by nature. It's stable, non‑toxic, abundant, and appears in a structure that is already usable – especially exciting in the context of sustainable materials,” says Barbara Pacáková, a researcher at NTNU’s Department of Physics.

Three benefits at once

So why is this so promising?

Well, the clay material is essentially two-dimensional, in this case it’s a semiconductor, and it’s also antiferromagnetic. But what does that mean?

Two-dimensional materials are fundamentally important when everything is happening at an extremely small scale. We're talking about technology at the atomic level and below.
Semiconductors are substances that, under certain conditions, conduct electricity well, but not under others. They are widely used in electronics and photonics. Photonics is a broad term, but it typically refers to technology that uses light – for example in lasers, fibre-optic internet, cameras, and solar cells.
Antiferromagnetic substances are not magnetic in the traditional sense, yet they are still magnetic. They are magnetic in two directions at the same time, which cancels out the effect. If you can influence this magnetism, it becomes central in quantum technology.

Three benefits at once, in other words. And the material is also environmentally friendly.

A quantum leap in clay

The researchers have called it ‘a quantum leap in clay.’ A quantum leap is technically a very small leap, even though it is used in everyday speech to mean great progress. In this context, it is both.

But even though the material is found in nature, it will still have to be made useful in high-tech environments. It's not just a matter of shovelling the clay directly out of the ground and then using it in quantum computers or in photonics.

“Advanced methods are still needed to extract the material, examine it, and find out how it can be used in technology,” says Pacáková.

To study these thin clay layers, researchers have to use specialised lab equipment that is accurate and reliable.

And if the material is going to be used in new products one day, it may still be necessary to have a very clean and controlled environment, like cleanrooms.

Not perfect at room temperature

“The material is also not antiferromagnetic at room temperature. But its characteristics suggest that the material may have an impact on the technology of the future, such as in spintronics, photonics, magnetic sensors, and computers that mimic the human brain,” says Fossum.

Fossum heads the Soft and Complex Matter Lab at NTNU, where much of the work on the new material has been carried out.

“Our laboratory has a special approach. We don’t just look for flawless materials created in laboratories, but look for natural materials that can also be used. This allowed us to identify this material,” says Fossum.

Reference:

Pacakova et al. Naturally occurring 2D semiconductor with antiferromagnetic ground state, npj 2D Materials and Applications, vol. 9, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41699-025-00561-5

About the research

The findings are the result of an international partnership led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), in close collaboration with physicists at the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) in Brazil, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, and Univerzita Karlova in Prague, Czech Republic.

The NTNU team consists of six researchers. Fossum and Pacáková say these results show the importance of supporting up-and-coming researchers through mentor programmes.