Anomalous Polar Textures in Quasi-1D Chalcogenides and Heterostructures
Abstract
The proposed project aims to marry the functionalities arising from dipolar textures to optically and electrically active electronic materials such as semiconductors and electronic phase change materials. We will achieve this in two platforms: (a) heterostructures of perovskite ferroelectric oxides and electronic materials (perovskite and layered chalcogenides), and (b) electronic phase change materials Ð quasi-1D hexagonal chalcogenides Ð with polar textures. Our proposed heterostructures and quasi-1D hexagonal chalcogenides possess strong light matter interaction and tunable electrical properties and dramatically enhance the scope of scientific and technological impact of polar textures, unlike heterostructures of wide band-gap ferroelectric oxide insulators and metallic magnets that lack active electronic and photonic functionalities. Our interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers from five institutions is uniquely positioned to carry out impactful basic research on introducing electronic and photonic functionality to polar textures in emerging materials and heterostructures. We propose to use four synergistic thrusts to execute this project. The thrusts focus on (a) theoretical calculations and modeling, (b) advanced materials synthesis and fabrication of heterostructures, (c) ultrafast, nonlinear and atomically resolved probes investigating the structural, chemical, electronic and optical properties, and (d) novel devices concepts to incorporate the integrated functionalities of electronic materials and polar textures in military and civilian applications. Anomalous polar textures in electronic materials such as quasi-1D hexagonal chalcogenides and ferroelectric/electronic material heterostructures offer broad functionalities for future DoD technologies in the critical fields of secure communication, chiral photo-detection, quantum sensing and computing. We anticipate opto-electronic functionalities such as chiral photo-detectors, optical elements such as tunable filters and polarizers, and sources, detectors and optics for secure communication, surveillance and remote sensing. This research will also enable novel electronic functionalities such as field tunable oscillators for neuromorphic applications and magnetic sensors. This basic research project will train a new generation of scientists and engineers in materials, photonics and electronics research and manufacturing that are critical to maintain the technological superiority of the US military.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 07, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110327
Entities
People
- Jayakanth Ravichandran
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Southern California