MAGNETIC IMAGING OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL QUANTUM MATERIALS
Abstract
The current proposed project consists of studying the behavior of novel germanium-based organometallic compounds (A low-temperature scanning Hall probe microscope (LT-SHPM) is proposed for the analysis of atomically thin, two-dimensional (2D) materials and van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. This microscope system, which combines a scanning Hall probe with a superconducting magnet and a low-vibration variable temperature cryostat will push the limits of the proposed directions in the aforementioned DoD YIP grants. Scientifically, this system will establish new research capabilities that will enhance our two DoD-funded projects in the following ways- (1) enable nanoscale visualization of spin textures and magnetic domains in 2D layers; (2) provide quantitative magnetic analysis with high spatial resolution; and (3) permit rapid-high-throughput analysis of prospective new quantum materials. The new LT-SHPM system will permit nanoscale magnetic analysis of atomically thin materials without the need for the extremely time-intensive and expensive device fabrication steps currently required for even preliminary assessments of magnetic behavior in newly synthesized 2D materials. The proposed instrument will be critical in enabling new research into materials for next-generation electronic devices and quantum information sciences-computing. With the funding of this DURIP, students at a variety of levels (high school interns, freshman to senior undergraduate laboratory assistants, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers) will be exposed to cutting-edge nanoscale magnetic characterization to complement the materials synthesis methods, nanofabrication techniques, solid-state physics, and electron microscopy expertise they will develop in our research program.) and rare earth metal-binding biomaterials, using our dielectrophoresis-assisted electrode nanogap platform and its variations for electronic and spectroscopic detection (US Patent 9915614 B2, 2018), down to the low-copy number nanoparticle-biomacromolecule level. Mainly, we are to characterize the opto-electronic properties of nanoparticles made of these materials (GeOMC NPs) while being trapped across an electrode nanogap, in both dark state and photoexcitation conditions and subjected to local variations of a bias electric field, as well as studying the binding of lanthanide (Ln) ions to LanM proteins trapped between our nanogap electrodes and experimentally understand the subsequent conformational changes that these proteins undergo, through electrical conduction and simultaneous Surface Enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The morphological aspects of these materials will be explored using characterization techniques such as AFM, SEM and TEM as well as super-resolution imaging (Photo-Activated Localization Microscopy, or PALM) and fluorescence microscopy to validate the positioning of these materials in the inter-electrode space. Acquired electronic conductivity data will be analyzed by means of nanogap enabled and dielectrophoretically-assisted electronic correlation spectroscopy (ECS) and statistical analysis. Also, electronic properties of GeOMC NPs and LanMs will be studied using I-V curves. In-situ measurements of SERS and THz Raman spectroscopy of trapped LanMs and GeOMC NPs will be also performed. The insight gained from this investigation is key to shed light on the fundamental processes of energy transfer in these novel hole transporting materials, which could help establish perovskite solar cells as alternative, clean, and renewable technologies while opening up new applications, and on the other hand pointing toward LanM protein-based biotechnologies for detecting, sequestering, and separating these technologically important elements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502110146
Entities
People
- Daniel Bediako
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of California Regents