Heterostructure

A heterostructure is a material made by layering two or more different materials with distinct properties, creating a composite that behaves differently than any of its individual components alone. These carefully engineered layers, often just nanometers thick, allow scientists to combine the strengths of different materials—for example, pairing a good conductor with a semiconductor—to create novel electronic and optical properties that don't exist in nature. Heterostructures are the building blocks behind many modern technologies, from the LED lights in your phone to advanced solar cells and quantum computers.