FRG: Quantum Engineering of Metallic and Magnetic Nanostructures

FRG：金属和磁性纳米结构的量子工程

• 批准号: 0606485
• 负责人: Chih-Kang Shih
• 金额: $ 86.71万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-08-01 至 2009-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0606485&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: FRG; Quantum; Engineering; Metallic; Magnetic

TECHNICAL: Supported by NSF, which began in 1998, this FRG program developed a novel 'electronic growth' concept, stressing the vital importance of quantum size effects of the itinerant electrons in defining the stability as well as the likely growth mode of metallic thin films on semiconductor substrates. This new concept adds a substantial new facet to the phrase 'quantum engineering', in that quantum effects can now be exploited to precisely control the formation of metallic structures in the quantum regime. Capitalizing on PI's strengths and conceptual advances achieved so far in the broad areas of metallic and magnetic nanostructures, this project aims at pushing the research objectives in three new frontiers: (a) One-dimensional (1D) Electronic Growth and 1D Quantum Structures; (b) Subsurfactant Epitaxy and Quantum Growth of Hybrid Quantum Structures; and (c) Adsorption Energetics, Surface Mobility, and Chemical Reactivity on Quantum Films. In area (a), as 1D electronic systems exhibit sharp spikes in the density of states (DOS), as opposed to the staircase DOS of 2D systems, one expects much stronger quantum size effects. This can potentially be exploited for controlling the formation of 1D quantum structures. The interplay between the spin-resolved DOS and 1D quantum growth will be investigated. In addition, 1D superconductivity will be pushed toward the clean limit and thoroughly explored. In area (b), by integrating the concepts of 'subsurfactant epitaxy' and 'electronic growth', the PIs will fabricate hybrid quantum structures involving superconductors and dilute magnetic semiconductors. Success here will allow to explore the novel concept of charge and spin manipulation in such hybrid systems. In area (c) the PIs will investigate how the quantum stability influences three intimately related surface phenomena: adsorption energetics of atoms and molecules, their surface migration rates, and chemical reactivity on selected catalytic metal films. NON-TECHNICAL: Artificially engineered electronic systems in reduced dimensions occupy a central part in modern materials research. By developing advanced synthesis techniques, materials scientists strive to tailor novel electronic materials through dimensional control with the ultimate atomic precision. The driving force is the realization that, in reduced dimensions, quantum effects are bound to be more pronounced, and may result in intriguing new physical properties of technological significance. The educational goals are manifold. The first is to prepare the next generation of materials scientists in nanoscience and nanotechnology through research training involving postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates. Undergraduate students are recruited through the REU programs in our institutions. The next goal is to provide broader education through the development of a new curriculum and new courses in nanoscience and technology at the graduate and undergraduate levels at both institutions. This educational goal has been achieved successfully and will continue to be pushed to new fronts. Finally, in terms of K-12 nanoscience education, the PIs will recruit high school science teachers through the UTEACH program at Univ. of Texas. In addition, to introduce the concept of nanoscience at the most basic level the PIs also foster a partnership with the Austin Children's Museum to develop demonstration kits for nanoscience education for young children from K-5. Similar efforts have been and will continue to be made at the University of Tennessee. As a specific example, one PI, Zhang, has served as a volunteer science instructor in a local primary school for years and will continue on such efforts.

技术：由NSF的支持，该计划始于1998年，该FRG计划开发了一种新颖的“电子增长”概念，这强调了流动电子在定义稳定性以及金属薄膜对半导体底物的可能生长模式方面的量子尺寸影响至关重要的重要性。这个新概念为“量子工程”一词增加了一个新的新方面，现在可以利用量子效应来精确控制量子状态中金属结构的形成。在迄今为止，在金属和磁性纳米结构的广泛领域中实现了PI的优势和概念进步，该项目旨在推动三个新领域的研究目标：（a）一维（1D）电子增长和1D量子结构； （b）杂交量子结构的下外交和量子生长； （c）量子膜上的吸附能量，表面迁移率和化学反应性。在（a）区域，由于1D电子系统在状态密度（DOS）中表现出尖锐的尖峰，而不是2D系统的楼梯DOS，人们期望量子大小效应更强。这可能会被利用以控制1D量子结构的形成。自旋分辨DOS与1D量子生长之间的相互作用将进行研究。此外，一维超导将被推向干净的极限并彻底探索。在区域（b）中，通过整合“下外观性外观”和“电子生长”的概念，PIS将制造涉及超导体和稀释磁性半导体的杂交量子结构。这里的成功将允许在此类混合系统中探索充电和旋转操作的新颖概念。在区域（c）中，PI将研究量子稳定性如何影响三种密切相关的表面现象：原子和分子的吸附能学，其表面迁移速率以及对选定催化金属膜的化学反应性。非技术：缩小尺寸的人工设计的电子系统占现代材料研究的核心部分。通过开发高级合成技术，材料科学家通过尺寸控制以最终的原子精度来量身定制新型电子材料。驱动力是意识到，在缩小的维度中，量子效应必将更加明显，并且可能导致具有技术意义的新物理特性。教育目标是多种多样的。首先是通过涉及博士后研究人员，研究生和本科生的研究培训来准备纳米科学和纳米技术的下一代材料科学家。本科生是通过我们机构的REU计划招募的。下一个目标是通过在这两个机构的研究生和本科生的纳米科学和技术开发新课程和新课程中提供更广泛的教育。这个教育目标已成功实现，并将继续将其推向新的战线。最后，就K-12纳米科学教育而言，PIS将通过大学的UTEACH计划招募高中科学教师。德克萨斯州此外，为了在最基本的层面介绍纳米科学的概念，PIS还与奥斯汀儿童博物馆建立了合作伙伴关系，以开发来自K-5的幼儿纳米科学教育的示范套件。田纳西大学已经并将继续做出类似的努力。作为一个特定的例子，一个PI Zhang多年来一直是当地小学的志愿科学教练，并将继续进行此类努力。