"New materials for the quantum age"

Major advances in human civilization are driven by developments in materials. This is such a remarkable feature that historical eras are named after the material (and the related technology) that dominated that time. Today we live in the silicon era: Silicon technology enables our modern way of life via mobile phones, computers, automation. However, we are reaching the limits of silicon technology, as the related energy demand is not sustainable. It is time to move forward. As a scientist, I work to answer the question: what is the material that will enable the next revolution? 

In this talk, I will present my personal perspective to answer this general question. Using the predictive power of first-principles techniques, I will show that a possible way forward is to design new materials, exploiting the quantum effects emerging at reduced dimensionality and at interfaces [1]. By looking at the intersection of topological materials, interfaces, and spin-based electronics, we will see that it is possible to understand and, hence, control key parameters for next-generation devices as spin injection [2], topological (dissipationless) carrier transport [3], spin lifetime [4], twist angle [5] and defects signatures [6] in 2D layered materials and their use as quantum bits [7]. Finally, we will discuss to what extent the monolayer physical/chemical properties persist in thin films, up to the mesoscale [8, 9]. 

z.zanolli@uu.nl, https://zeilazanolli.wordpress.com/home 

References 

1. [1] N. Wittemeier, M. J. Verstraete, P. Ordejón, Z. Zanolli, Carbon 186, 416 (2022) 

2. [2] Z. Zanolli, Sci. Rep. 6 (2016) 31346 

3. [3] C. Niu, G. Bihlmayer, Y. Mokrousov, P. Mavropoulos, M. J. Verstraete, S. Blügel, Phys. Rev. B 98 (2018) 155404 

4. [4] M. Ersfeld, F. Volmer, P. M. M. C. de Melo, R. de Winter, M. Heithoff, Z. Zanolli, Ch. Stampfer, M. J. Verstraete, B. Beschoten, Nano Lett. 19 (2019) 4083 

5. [5] A. Pezo, Z. Zanolli, N. Wittemeier, P. Ordejòn, A. Fazzio, S. Roche, J. H. Garcia, 2D Materials 9 015008 (2022) 

6. [6] Pedro M. M. C. de Melo, Z. Zanolli, M. J. Verstraete, Adv. Quantum Technol. 3 (2021) 2000118 

7. [7] F. Libbi, P. M. M. C. de Melo, Z. Zanolli, M. J. Verstraete, N. Marzari, arXiv:2111.03518 

8. [8] I. Ronneberger, Z. Zanolli, M. Wuttig, R. Mazzarello, Advanced Materials 32, (2020) 2001033 

9. [9] A. Dewandre, M. J. Verstraete, N. Grobert, Z. Zanolli, J. Phys. Mater. 2 (2019) 044005

Transmisión vía Youtube en: bit.ly/YouTube_ICF

Participante: Dr. Zeila Zanolli

Institución: Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Fecha y hora: Este evento terminó el Miércoles, 16 de Marzo de 2022