DMREF: NSF-NSERC: Engineering Novel Quantum Material Platform at Twisted Multilayer Interfaces

Two-dimensional (2D) materials with the thickness of a single atom exhibit unconventional electronic, optical, and magnetic properties. This project builds novel material platforms by stacking multiple layers of 2D materials on top of each other, whose material properties can be designed with versatile choices of material combination and orientation between each layer. Material design and assembly is guided by multiscale modeling, followed by experimental characterization of novel material properties, and material optimization via a machine-learning feedback loop. Material platforms that are identified with novel material properties are fabricated into advanced nano-scale devices, to further understand the microscopic mechanism of unconventional quantum material properties and to demonstrate new device functionality. By opening new frontiers in materials science with AI-facilitated designer material properties, this project is strengthening the nation’s leadership in materials science and its application. This project also provides K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students with interdisciplinary training in computational and experimental techniques for materials science, physics, quantum science, chemistry, computer science and machine learning to develop our next generation quantum workforce, improve public awareness of next generation materials, and stimulate public engagement with quantum science and technology. This project is drastically expanding the scope of 2D material platforms by developing and investigating novel twisted-multi-layer systems consisting of graphene, 2D semiconductors, 2D superconductors, and 2D ferromagnets, whose material properties are designed and tuned by versatile material choices, twist-angle combinations, chemical intercalation, and modification. Fast turn-around cycles of theorical prediction, experimental characterization, and model optimization are being developed with a machine-learning approach to accelerate materials discovery. Advanced quantum electronic, optical, and magnetic devices are being fabricated to further study the microscopic mechanism of unconventional quantum phenomena, and to benchmark its potential application in next-generation quantum electronics and computing platforms with unprecedented device functionality. The project provides a fundamental understanding of novel properties and emergent phenomena in quantum materials and demonstrates device applications in low energy electronics, quantum sensing, and quantum computing. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2522252 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Ke Wang | Institution: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MINNEAPOLIS, MN | Award Amount: $1,988,928 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2522252 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2522252.html