The mineral that once tricked gold rush miners could become a workhorse of future electronics. A team at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities has converted run-of-the-mill ore from the Mesabi Iron Range into semiconducting pyrite.
Standard wisdom says semiconductor materials need near-perfect purity, which is why ore-grade rock was never considered feedstock. Pyrite has drawn interest because it soaks up light efficiently, costs little and is made of abundant, non-toxic elements.
The Minnesota group discovered their pyrite tolerated the contamination in natural ore, a behavior that upends the usual rules. Lead author Chris Leighton said that result made the team question whether refined starting material was needed at all.
The taconite process behind the state’s iron output, worth over $4B a year and about 75% of US production, could one day feed electronics supply chains spanning solar panels, batteries and chips.
