MIT professor wrongfully accused of spying for China helps make a major discovery
Months after an MIT professor was cleared of spying for China, he helped make a major scientific discovery. But he says the success has been bittersweet.
Months after an MIT professor was cleared of spying for China, he helped make a major scientific discovery. But he says the success has been bittersweet.
Gang Chen, who had espionage charges against him dismissed in January, was part of a research effort that last month discovered what could be the “best semiconductor material ever found,” the school announced. But Chen told NBC Asian America that after undergoing a lengthy Department of Justice investigation, he is stepping away from federally funded research, despite the discovery, because of anxieties around being racially profiled.
“I hope it will draw the attention of the scientific community. I hope it will draw more attention of the government to fund more research in the area. But for me, I’m stopping that research,” Chen, a Chinese immigrant, said. “Basically, I’m done with federal funding.”
Chen was among a team of researchers from MIT, the University of Houston and other institutions who were able to determine that the material cubic boron arsenide successfully conducts electricity and heat, making it an effective semiconductor. The discovery could have far-reaching effects, as silicon is currently among the most widely used semiconductors, making up the foundation of modern technology from computer chips to smartphones. And cubic boron arsenide could be a “promising candidate for next-generation electronics,” MIT said.
The research, Chen emphasized, is still in its early stages and the material likely years away from commercial use. But the findings have “great potential,” he said, adding that his team first made predictions about the material in 2018, and that they’re “very happy our prediction was correct.”
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