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Highlights

Figure 1. (a) Atomically clean WTe2/CGT interface. (b) Left: Generation of nonequilibrium spin accumulation with an out-of-plane spin polarization (𝝈_𝒛), when a charge current (𝐽) is applied along the a-axis of WTe2. Right: Concept of unconventional UMR in heterostructures, i.e., change of longitudinal resistance (𝑅_𝑈𝑀𝑅) depending on the relative orientation of out-of-plane magnetization (𝒎_𝒛) and spin polarization (𝝈_𝒛). (c) A schematic showing the measurement configuration to read the out-of-plane magnetic state of CGT employing 2-point longitudinal resistance (𝑅_𝑥𝑥). (d) UMR signal measured with +/- current. The step-like change in 2-point 𝑅_𝑥𝑥  is due to UMR switching sign when the current is reversed, with symmetric and antisymmetric components shown (lower panel).
Figure 1. (a) Atomically clean WTe2/CGT interface. (b) Left: Generation of nonequilibrium spin accumulation with an out-of-plane spin polarization (𝝈_𝒛), when a charge current (𝐽) is applied along the a-axis of WTe2. Right: Concept of unconventional UMR in heterostructures, i.e., change of longitudinal resistance (𝑅_𝑈𝑀𝑅) depending on the relative orientation of out-of-plane magnetization (𝒎_𝒛) and spin polarization (𝝈_𝒛). (c) A schematic showing the measurement configuration to read the out-of-plane magnetic state of CGT employing 2-point longitudinal resistance (𝑅_𝑥𝑥). (d) UMR signal measured with +/- current. The step-like change in 2-point 𝑅_𝑥𝑥 is due to UMR switching sign when the current is reversed, with symmetric and antisymmetric components shown (lower panel).
May 14, 2025
Center for Emergent Materials

Discovery of a New Type of Magnetoresistance

Simranjeet Singh (CMU), Jyoti Katoch (CMU), Jinwoo Hwang (OSU)

A new type of magnetoresistance called unidirectional magnetoresistance (UMR) has been discovered in a study that combines a topological semimetal (WTe₂) with a ferromagnetic semiconductor (Cr₂Ge₂Te₆). This phenomenon involves changes in resistance linked to magnetization reversal and spin interactions. The findings highlight how the unique properties of these materials can create distinct resistance states, which could be valuable for developing more advanced magnetic memory devices.
May 12, 2025
The Bioinspired Soft Materials Center

A responsive living material prepared by diffusion reveals extracellular enzyme activity of cyanobacteria

Lisa Tang, Nathan Soulier, Rebecca Wheeler, Jonathan K. Pokorski, James W. Golden, Susan S. Golden, Jinhye Bae: UC San Diego

One of the research goals of UCSD MRSEC IRG2 included developing shape-shifting materials driven by asymmetric forces. In a recent effort, the MRSEC team demonstrated an ELM capable of shape-shifting driven by both a temperature stimulus and enzymatic mediated partial degradation of the composite material.
May 12, 2025
The Bioinspired Soft Materials Center

IRG1: Modification of Plasmonic Nanocrystals with Sterically-Encumbered Isocyanide Ligands

Joshua Figueroa, Tod Pascal, Shaowei Li, Andrea Tao: UC San Diego

A recent study revealed that m-terphenyl isocyanide ligands have different orientations when bonded to gold and silver surfaces—vertical on gold and flat on silver. This finding is important as it helps understand how surface ligands affect the properties of plasmonic nanoparticles. The research could lead to the development of new types of patterned nanoparticles, which would facilitate new self-assembly techniques, bridging the gap between inorganic materials and proteins.
May 7, 2025
The Bioinspired Soft Materials Center

Novel Electronic Bands in a Supermoiré Lattice

Shih, Han (Rice), Khalaf (Harvard), Giustino, Robinson (Penn State), Li

Super-moiré patterns identified in WSe2 bilayer with large twist angles. While moiré superlattices in graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) bilayers with small twist angles are known to exhibit flat bands and host exotic correlated phases, strong lattice reconstruction in these systems poses challenges. In contrast, large-angle bilayers are structurally robust but typically considered electronically decoupled. Here, we discover robust super-moiré patterns emerging near a large commensurate angle, combining the advantages of both regimes—structural stability with flat electronic bands. This work expands moiré twistronics and flat-band quantum physics into the large twist-angle regime.
May 7, 2025
The Bioinspired Soft Materials Center

Independently Tunable Flat Bands and Correlations in a Graphene Double Moiré

Tutuc, MacDonald, Zheng, Taniguchi, Watanabe (NIMS, Japan)

Novel double moiré system realized in a four-layer twist- controlled graphene structure. These double moiré twist-controlled structure goes beyond the single moiré structures generally investigated in twisted bilayer graphene or transition metal dichalecogenides. The results show that demonstrate that electronic confinement in multilayer graphene stacks can be compactly realized by changing the twist angles, in contrast to traditional band engineering that employ dissimilar materials. Furthermore, near the magic angle the flat bands host correlated insulators, which suggests that the proximity of one flat band does not suppress the correlated insulating states in the other flat band.
By exciting an ITO nanocrystal with near-infrared (NIR) light, we generate heat that can be passed from the nanocrystal to its environment. We have tracked this process using probes placed at a nanocrystal’s surface and in its surrounding solvent that show colorimetric changes on heating.
By exciting an ITO nanocrystal with near-infrared (NIR) light, we generate heat that can be passed from the nanocrystal to its environment. We have tracked this process using probes placed at a nanocrystal’s surface and in its surrounding solvent that show colorimetric changes on heating.
May 7, 2025
The Bioinspired Soft Materials Center

Converting Light into Heat using Plasmonic Metal Oxide Nanocrystals

Sean T. Roberts, Carlos R. Baiz, Delia J. Milliron, & Thomas M. Truskett

Metal Oxide nanocrystals that incorporate dopants (impurities) can display intense absorption bands known as localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) that can transduce light into heat. Using a series of time-resolved measurements with femtosecond resolution together with a theoretical heat transfer model, we have quantified timescales over which tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanocrystals heat their environment following light absorption.
May 7, 2025
The Bioinspired Soft Materials Center

A Light-Dependent Synthetic Cortex

Ahmed Sihorwala, Unyime Effiong, and Brian Belardi. UT Austin

Here, we developed a method to generate a synthetic cortex at the membrane of synthetic cells upon blue light illumination. This is important since it allow us to control the mechanical properties of synthetic cells reversibly. When incorporated into a synthetic tissue, this method would enable mechanical patterning and defining the 3D morphology of tissue with light.
Figure: (a) Materials trends in the energetics of defect complexes involving a metal adatom (from an electrode) adsorbed on a chalcogen vacancy are studied. (b) These defects are present in many monolayer systems and are relevant to resistive switching applications. (c) We reveal chemical bonding principles that explain trends in defect energetics, and (d) develop models based on electronic structure to predict energetics.
Figure: (a) Materials trends in the energetics of defect complexes involving a metal adatom (from an electrode) adsorbed on a chalcogen vacancy are studied. (b) These defects are present in many monolayer systems and are relevant to resistive switching applications. (c) We reveal chemical bonding principles that explain trends in defect energetics, and (d) develop models based on electronic structure to predict energetics.
May 7, 2025
Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials

Understanding & Predicting Trends in Defect Energetics in Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Brian H. Lee, Jameela Fatheema, Deji Akinwande, Wennie Wang

In this study,we focus on the adsorption and desorption of metal adatoms, which can modulate the electrical resistivity by several orders of magnitude. We develop material-based relationships of the adsorp-tion energy with electronic and atomic structure descriptors by examining the effects of various transition-metal adsorbates on the surface of TMDs. Our results reveal that adsorption energies of transition metals exhibit consistent trends across different TMDs (MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, WSe2)and can be explained using simple descriptors of the atomic and electronic structure. We propose several models to describe this adsorption process, providing a deeper understanding of a crucial step in the resistive switching mechanism based on the formation and dissolution of point defects.
May 7, 2025
The Bioinspired Soft Materials Center

Materials-Based Control of Actin Bundling

UT Austin: Alvarado, Stachowiak, Truskett, Milliron, Rosales; RIT: Das

In nature, actin bundling is a key capability that enables cells to apply substantial forces to overcome obstacles. Similarly, in the design of actin-based materials, the ability to bundle semi-rigid filaments into bundles of higher rigidity is a key step toward building more complex architectures. For this reason, developing a toolbox for controlling bundling is an important goal of our IRG. The approaches we have developed for controlling the bundling of actin filaments on a microscopic level allow us to construct actin-based materials with tunable mechanical properties.
May 7, 2025
The Bioinspired Soft Materials Center

Arts+Sciences: A Collaborative Model

Virginia L. Montgomery, Artist in Residence & Risa Hartman, UT Austin

The artist residency program at the Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials enables artists to work with CDCM faculty to create contemporary art installations that demonstrate emerging science and technology, bringing fundamental concepts in science to the public in very tangible, engaging ways.