Tools to Study Interfaces for Superconducting, Thermoelectric, and Magnetic Materials at the University of Houston
Abstract
The AFOSR support has enabled us to acquire tools to study interfaces in superconducting, thermoelectric, and magnetic materials, including a custom-designed fully integrated growth and characterization system and in situ tools to be integrated into our existing high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM). In order to precisely fabricate and characterize materials with prescribed interfaces, we have purchased major components parts to build a specially designed highly versatile molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system with two satellite chambers for in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and magnetization/transport measurements. The MBE system, which grows crystalline thin films in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) with precise control of thickness, composition, and morphology, will be used to synthesize and study the interfaces between various materials guided by theoretical model calculations. The two satellite chambers will be used to study the electronic spectroscopy and the defect, magnetic, and transport properties of the interfaces. The project will enable us to construct and identify the crucial roles of interfaces in their physical and chemical characteristics, which have been demonstrated to dictate the behavior of materials and devices on different scales. As soon as the prescribed interfaces between materials are synthesized, we will elucidate the most fundamental questions of the composition and structure for understanding and facilitating the properties of the bulk materials and devices with these interfaces by integrating the acquired in situ tools into our existing transmission electron microscope (TEM): a high-resolution CCD camera; a low noise electrical biasing holder with a high precision power supply; and a double tilt high temperature holder.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1016231
Entities
People
- Bing Lv
- Paul C. Chu
- Zhifeng Ren
Organizations
- University of Houston