Electron correlations and non-trivial band topology in 2D materials

Phenomena originating from electron correlations and non-trivial band topology have become one of the main research areas in modern condensed matter physics. Many classes of materials have emerged including ferromagnets, superconductors, topological insulators, Mott insulators, Dirac/Weyl semimetals and quantum anomalous Hall insulators (QAHI). Moreover, when such materials are combined, new phenomena and functionalities emerge, such as Majorana states, which promise to enable topological quantum computation. While major research efforts have been dedicated to studying such phenomena in conventional 3D materials, the tremendous potential of 2D materials remains largely unexplored. Since these phenomena emerge from interface-mediated coupling in low-dimensionality (e.g. interfacing a QAHI and a superconductor), 2D materials and related layered systems are an ideal platform. In this project, we propose to: (i) develop and study 2D systems exhibiting electron correlation phenomena and non-trivial band topology; (ii) interfacing such materials and studying the emerging phenomena of relevance (e.g. Majorana states); (iii) drive these systems through different quantum states in device architectures. We will focus particularly on 2D oxides and chalcogenides and, taking advantage of the specific expertise in our consortium, apply beyond state-of-the-art techniques (theoretical and experimental) for in-situ growth and characterization down to the atomic scale as well as nanoscale device fabrication.

Keywords:2D materials, Topological matter, Superconductivity, Magnetism

Disciplines:Magnetism and superconductivity, Electronic (transport) properties, Nanophysics and nanosystems, Surfaces, interfaces, 2D materials