Extreme quantum confinement and emergent phenomena in one-dimensional atomic wires

One-dimensional (1D) atomic wires represent the ultimate dimensional form of periodic materials, featuring distinctive structural characteristics in which their cross-sectional dimensions approach the atomic scale (~1 nm), and they exhibit intrinsically self-passivated edges and pronounced directional anisotropy. The confinement of electronic states to a single spatial dimension induces intense quantum confinement effects and gives rise to novel physical phenomena, rendering them ideal model systems for exploring low-dimensional quantum behaviors. This review focuses on the core physical effects and functional properties of 1D atomic wires, including strong electron-electron correlation, electron-phonon coupling, anisotropic electronic and thermal transport, unique magnetic exchange interaction and magnetoelectric coupling, prominent excitonic effects, and chirality-related physical phenomena. These properties exhibit distinct manifestations across different structural configurations, such as isolated single wires, van der Waals-coupled multi-wires systems, and quasi-1D hybrid structures. Overall, 1D atomic wires not only provide an exceptional platform for the study of low-dimensional many-body physics, but also demonstrate great potential in realizing ultimate-scale interconnects for nanoelectronic devices, bridging the gap between fundamental quantum research and advanced functional applications.