Core Insights - The "2025 Top Ten Scientific Breakthroughs" list published by Physics World includes the achievement of the Zhang Guangyu team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, marking the first successful preparation of two-dimensional metals, which is the only Chinese achievement on the list this year [1][2] Group 1: Scientific Achievement - The breakthrough involves the creation of five types of two-dimensional metals: bismuth (6.3), tin (5.8), lead (7.5), indium (8.4), and gallium (9.2), which are significantly thinner than a human hair and an A4 paper [1] - This achievement addresses a long-standing challenge in the field of two-dimensional materials, where metals, due to their non-layered structures, have been considered nearly impossible to produce in two-dimensional form [1][2] Group 2: Future Potential - Two-dimensional metals are expected to lead to advancements in high-temperature quantum Hall effects, two-dimensional superconductivity, and other macro-quantum phenomena, providing essential materials for low-power transistors, high-frequency devices, and ultra-sensitive detectors [2] - Currently, only five out of 88 metal elements have been realized as two-dimensional materials, indicating that there are potentially thousands of two-dimensional metal materials yet to be explored, leaving ample room for future research and development in this field [2] Group 3: Recognition and Impact - The inclusion of Zhang Guangyu's team's work in the prestigious "Top Ten Scientific Breakthroughs" reflects its significant scientific impact, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and garnering widespread attention from the global physics community [2] - This achievement signifies China's leading position in the field of atomic manufacturing of two-dimensional materials, effectively branding the country as a key player in this innovative area of research [2]

Group 1 - The core achievement of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' team led by Zhang Guangyu is the successful preparation of the first two-dimensional metals, marking a significant milestone in the field of atomic manufacturing of two-dimensional materials [2][4] - This breakthrough is recognized as the only Chinese achievement in the "Top Ten Scientific Breakthroughs of 2025" by the British Institute of Physics, highlighting China's leading position in the international arena of two-dimensional materials [2][4] - The team developed a unique "van der Waals pressing technology" to create five types of two-dimensional metals (bismuth, tin, lead, indium, and gallium) with atomic-level thickness, achieving a record thickness of only 5.8 angstroms for tin [2][4] Group 2 - The produced two-dimensional metals exhibit over one year of environmental stability without performance degradation, addressing the common issues of oxidation and preservation in traditional two-dimensional materials [4] - Electrical tests show that the room temperature conductivity of monolayer bismuth reaches 9.0×10⁶ S/m, significantly surpassing bulk bismuth, and it demonstrates a unique P-type field effect with a resistance modulation of 35%, far exceeding the less than 1% range of traditional bulk metals [4] - The technology allows for atomic precision control of the thickness of two-dimensional metals, providing a new platform for studying novel layer pseudo-spin characteristics [4] Group 3 - The recognition of Zhang Guangyu's team's achievement reflects China's ongoing commitment to fundamental research and its growing innovation capabilities in materials science [5][6] - The advancement in this technology is expected to lead to disruptive products in quantum computing, new electronic devices, and renewable energy, enhancing the core competitiveness of China's high-end manufacturing sector [5] - The success in the field of atomic manufacturing of two-dimensional materials is seen as a significant leap in China's scientific innovation, transitioning from quantitative accumulation to qualitative breakthroughs [6]