Acquisition of a Glove Box System for Fabrication and Characterization of Quantum Materials Devices
Abstract
Many two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as black phosphorus (BP), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and topological insulators (TIs) are promising for the development of electronic components with new capabilities for defense-related applications, such as sensing and information processing. These 2D material nanoscale devices are highly tunable platforms that enable unprecedented manipulation of emergent quantum properties, such as quantum confinement, superconductivity, and dissipation-less metallic edge states. By implementing these materials into nanoscale devices, their unusual correlated quantum properties can be exploited for novel technological applications. Unfortunately, the intriguing quantum properties of these materials are affected or even destroyed by exposure to air and water. Environmental control is thus crucial for studying the fundamental properties of novel electronic components based on air-sensitive 2D materials. In order to address problems with air contamination that preclude many fundamental studies of the properties of air-sensitive 2D materials, this proposal requests support for the acquisition and setup of a glove box system for fabrication and characterization of 2D quantum material devices at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), a minority serving institution with over 30% Hispanic enrollment. The proposed glovebox is equipped with tools for 2D material device fabrication, such as an optical microscope, a spin coater and a thermal evaporator. It is also equipped with characterization tools well suited for 2D material devices, such as a state-of-the-art atomic force microscope (AFM) and a four-point probe station. The proposed equipment is a unique and versatile system, with only a few comparable systems available worldwide. Hence, the proposed system will enable unprecedented landmark studies on pristine, air sensitive 2D material devices. The proposed glove box system will enhance the research facilities and increase the impact of current and future research on materials at UCSC. It will also enhance undergraduate and graduate student education/training with regards to materials. As a result, the quality of UCSC STEM programs in general and the education and training capabilities of the emerging Materials Science and Engineering Initiative (MSEI) at UCSC will be enhanced significantly. These positive impacts are possible because equipment such as the proposed glove box system and its integration with existing UCSC facilities are unmatched in labs around the world, and therefore, will enable transformative research in the area of 2D materials electronics. Importantly, these studies will be driven by the efforts of graduate and undergraduate students, and thus the proposed glove box system will directly contribute to the scientific training of these students who will perform cutting edge scientific research. Moreover, summer interns from high-achieving community colleges that are Hispanic Serving Institutions will participate in these research projects during their summer research internships. Additional efforts will be made to include local high school students and/or teachers into research projects that utilize the proposed glove box system as well.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 20, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710473
Entities
People
- Jairo Velasco
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of California, Santa Cruz