MATSUYAMA, Ehime Pref. — A research team at Ehime University says it has succeeded in developing the world's first organic compounds that combine magnetism with ultrahigh electric conductivity under ultraviolet irradiation.

The two types of compound developed by the team work at room temperature and pressure. The team, led by professor Toshio Naito, expects them to have applications in computers.

While commonly used computer systems use different materials in their data processing and storage technologies, the new compounds enable the execution of both functions as well as a significant reduction in power consumption, thanks to a rise in electric conductivity to around 1 million times higher than metals.

Naito said the characteristics of the compounds can't be fully explained yet.