Moire quantum materials for novel synthetic ferroelectrics
Abstract
Approved for Public ReleaseThe research objective of this proposal is to leverage the unique tunability offered by moiré materials to engineer a new class of van der Waals (vdW) synthetic ferroelectrics. This objective will be accomplished by exploiting the ability to alter the stacking order in 2D vdW materials to modify the overall system#s structural and electronic properties, delving intoboth fundamental principles and practical applications.In the fast-evolving landscape of information technology, the escalating demand for advanced device applications has become a central challenge. Ferroelectric materials hold significant potential across various technological applications, such as nonvolatile memories, high-permittivity dielectrics, and electromechanical actuators. Thinning down ferroelectrics is essential for achieving denser storage and lower power consumption. However, traditional materials such as oxide perovskites face limitations in reducing dimensionality while retaining ideal performance attributes such as switching speed and endurance. A promising solution emerges in the realm of 2D vdW materials, which are characterized by weak interlayer coupling, facilitating a variety of concepts for the engineering of 2D ferroelectrics with distinctive electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. These materials hold immense potential to reshape device applications, providing innovative solutions to meet ever-growing technological demands. The research objectives of this proposal will be accomplished by fabricating and characterizing ultra-high-quality heterostructures where different non-polar 2D materials are used as building blocks to create synthetic ferroelectrics through an interfacial sliding mechanism or interaction-driven phases. This endeavor will capitalize on the available resources at MIT, adopting a multidisciplinary approach that integrates materials science and physics. The resulting new class of ferroelectrics is expected to provide advantages such as ultra-fast switching speed, long endurance, or compatibility with existing complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. We propose to manipulate novel 2D ferroelectric materials with both electrical and optical methods. In particular, we will investigate the switching speed and the endurance of sliding ferroelectrics with nanosecond electrical pulses, andwe will also investigate light control of the ferroelectric state, taking advantage of the characteristic optoelectronic responses of vdW materials. Motivated by these desirable characteristics, we further propose the integration of vdW synthetic ferroelectrics into functional devices, such as moiré anti-ferroelectric substrates for 2D band structure engineering, functional 2D multiferroics, and novel neuromorphic devices. Combining the capabilities that the Jarillo-Herrero group has already established at MIT with the support of the ONR, the work proposed here will lead to a new understanding of synthetic 2D ferroelectricity, addressing urgent energy, sensing, communication, and computation needs, and paving the way to advanced technology applications relevant to the DoD mission.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 08, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412440
Entities
People
- Pablo Jarillo-Herrero
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy