Highlights
May 22, 2020
Northwestern Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Mixed-Dimensional InSe-Organic van der Waals Heterostructures
In a five-PI collaboration within NU-MRSEC IRG-1, photoinduced charge separation is probed between InSe and two organic molecular semiconductors using novel experimental techniques that combine laser illumination with conductive scanning probe microscopy. In addition to providing insight for mixed-dimensional InSe-organic van der Waals heterostructures, this work establishes a general experimental methodology for studying localized charge transfer at the molecular scale that is applicable to other photoactive nanoscale systems.
May 22, 2020
Northwestern Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Solid-phase epitaxy produce magnetic oxides with novel magnetic properties
Most inorganic quantum dots are obtained through organic synthesis using surface ligands. When deposited on two-dimensional materials such as MoS2, such ligands form an “interlayer” between the components of the resulting mixed-dimensional heterojunction. To understand the effects of this interlayer, a collaborative theory and experimental effort in NU-MRSEC IRG-1 effort has modeled and characterized the electronic structure of CdSe nanoplatelets with well-controlled ligand-dipole terminations.
May 21, 2020
Big Idea: Understanding the Rules of Life
Harnessing the Rules of Life to Enable Bio-Inspired Soft Materials
iSuperSeed Participants (3 Princeton University departments): H Stone, (MAE), S. Datta (CBE), A. Košmrlj (MAE), B. Bassler (MOL BIO), C. Brangwynne (CBE); multiple collaborative papers to date
The Princeton MRSEC iSuperSeed focuses on the topics of polymeric materials driving structure and biological function at (i) the intracellular length scale, where recent observations of phase-separated liquid phases (left top image) are relevant to understanding responses inside cells, and (ii) extra-cellular length scales where porous material change shape or regulate run-and-tumble dynamics of swimming bacteria (bottom image) or evolving shapes of biofilms (right top image).
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May 21, 2020
Big Idea: Quantum Leap
Majorana zero modes for topological quantum computation
B. Jäck1, Y. Xie1, J. Li2,3, S. Jeon1, B.A. Bernevig1, A. Yazdani1 1Princeton University, 2Westlake IAS, 3Westlake University
Majorana zero modes (MZMs) can serve as building blocks for topologically protected quantum computers, promising scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computation platforms in the future. Princeton MRSEC investigators Ali Yazdani and B. Andrei Bernevig have realized a novel material platform based on the topological hinge state of bismuth. Consistent with model calculations, their high-resolution STM experiments revealed the emergence of MZMs when the hinge state is influenced by ferromagnetic iron (Fe) clusters and superconductivity under suitable conditions.
May 21, 2020
Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Solid-phase epitaxy produce magnetic oxides with novel magnetic properties
Chang-Beom Eom, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Wisconsin MRSEC has created thin films of a fascinating magnetic material, Pr2Ir2O7, in which the magnetic moments are frustrated: No matter how they are arranged, some of the moments are always fighting to change their direction, like two bar magnets with their north poles shoved together. Frustration creates a rich landscape for discovery and manipulation of new magnetic effects and of electronic phenomena linked to magnetism.
May 21, 2020
Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Wisconsin MRSEC Excellence in Open Science Prize
Dane Morgan and Victor Zavala, University of Wisconsin-Madison
This year the Wisconsin MRSEC launched the first Wisconsin MRSEC Excellence in Open Science Prize. The winner was graduate student Bradley Dallin for his work on molecules interacting with water, with potential applications from understanding human blood to protein folding diseases like Alzheimer’s. Bradley shared his results in papers, but also shared all his simulations and tools in an open accessible format for the community, increasing the impact of his work.
May 21, 2020
Center for Precision Assembled Quantum Materials (PAQM)
Disassembling 2D van der Waals crystals into macroscopic monolayers
Xiaoyang Zhu, Columbia University Center for Precision Assembly of Superstratic and Superatomic Solids (PAS3)
The Zhu group developed a facile method to disassemble vdW single crystals layer by layer into monolayers with near-unity yield and with dimensions limited only by bulk crystal sizes (scheme shown on top). The macroscopic monolayers are comparable in quality to microscopic monolayers from conventional Scotch tape exfoliation.
May 21, 2020
Center for Precision Assembled Quantum Materials (PAQM)
Bio-materials for Fashion Introduced to Broad Audience at NY Times Sustainability Summit
Theanne Schiros, Columbia University Center for Precision Assembly of Superstratic and Superatomic Solids
Professor Theanne Schiros spoke to a full house of over 700 as part of a Sustainability Summit focused on the environmental impact of the fashion industry and positive solutions. She is in engaged in sustainable development for economic empowerment of women and artisans in Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire, providing trainings on natural dyes and biofabrication.
May 20, 2020
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at UCSB
Interfacing with Topological Crystalline Insulators
B. Haidet, UC Santa Barbara E. Hughes, UC Santa Barbara K. Mukherjee, UC Santa Barbara
We demonstrate a route to high quality interfaces between IV-VI PbSnSe and conventional III-V semiconductors, offering means to host and manipulate electronic states that arise at this interface. We can now clarify the extent to which topological protection from backscattering persist in systems at relevant length scales for logic and interconnects using these novel materials.
Heterostructures between IV-VI and III-V materials may enable mid-infrared on-chip environmental and biological sensing.
May 20, 2020
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at UCSB
Point Defects in hexagonal BN for Quantum Information Science
M. E. Turiansky, UC Santa Barbara A. Alkauskas, Kaunas University of Technology L. C. Bassett, Unversity of Pennsylvania C. G. Van de Walle, UC Santa Barbara
Hexagonal boron nitride is a suitable host for single-photon emitters and single-spin centers. Strong single-photon emission has been observed, but the source was not identified. Based on advanced first-principles simulations, the origins have now been pinpointed: the 2 eV emission has been attributed to boron dangling bonds, and 4 eV emission to carbon-carbon dimers.
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