Our Research

Quantum transport in novel materials

How do magnetism and superconductivity develop in two dimensions (2D)? What are the special features of quantum phase transitions in low dimensions? What is the fundamental mechanism of proximity effect mediated by weak van der Waals bonds?

The discovery of 2D materials has brought a paradigm shift in terms of understanding and manipulating new quantum phases in condensed matter systems and created a possibility of answering these questions. Even more unique phases can be engineered when such 2D materials are stacked together via van der Waals assembly, a technique for mechanically stacking atomically thin materials.

As an experimental research group, we are interested in understanding and manipulating novel quantum phases - such as topological physics, many-body physics, and quantum phase transitions in quantum materials such as 2D materials, van der Waals heterostructures, and topological insulators. Our research techniques span developing innovative fabrication techniques of new van der Waals heterostructures, electrical transport measurements in these materials as well as other quantum materials as a function of twist angle and pressure. 

Research Projects

Please find below the details of some of our research projects.

Revolutionizing data storage: creating the tiniest electrically-switchable magnetic memory

As a human society, we have created an unprecedented amount of data; the overall amount of data reached 64×1021 bytes in 2020, and has been rapidly increasing since. Traditional magnetic memories, such as hard discs, that are used to store this data, have limitations in terms of size, speed, and energy consumption due to their reliance on magnetic fields. We aim to explore a visionary solution to this problem by creating an ultrathin magnetic memory with atomically thin materials. If successful, this breakthrough will revolutionize data storage, enabling more powerful computing systems with reduced size and energy requirements.

This project has been funded under NWO XS funding scheme.

Twistronics

In any crystalline material, the electronic properties are determined by the underlying periodicity of the crystal.  When two two-dimensional materials with similar lattice constants are stacked with a slight "twist" angle between them a new periodicity is created that can have dramatic impact on the electronic properties.

We are interested to probe the following in this project.

Interested? We are looking for a postdoc to join this project.

Squeezetronics

In this project, we are interested in investigating the magnetic proximity effect, i.e. inducing magnetism in a non-magnetic material by the proximity of a magnetic material, in van der Waals heterostructures. 

As the interlayer coupling strongly depends on the interlayer distance, the hydrostatic pressure applied on the heterostructure can remarkably enhance the interlayer coupling when the layers are "squeeze"ed close to each other. Such enhancement can give rise to a stronger magnetic proximity effect, as it depends on the overlap of the atomic orbitals between the interlayers. 

We aim to address the following questions:

• What is the origin of the magnetic proximity effect?

• What new emergent phases can we create in these systems through high pressure that is "squeezetronics"?