Strained Ultrathin Interfaces for Controlled Molecular Self-Assembly

*****非技术摘要*****在许多对新型纳米技术至关重要的界面上，已经观察到几纳米宽的有序结构的自组装。这些结构的形成被认为是由于远程应变场相互作用和稳定结构的短程化学力之间的微妙平衡而产生的。然而，对这些驱动力的详细了解并不存在。该项目的目标是识别和控制这些相互作用，这些相互作用有可能从根本上改善电子，磁性和化学设备和传感器的性能；并且可能会导致更高密度的磁存储，更有选择性的催化材料，更高灵敏度的化学传感器，也许还有量子计算机。综合实验/计算研究方法结合了超高真空下的时间分辨原子显微镜和原子尺度上自组装动力学的弹性建模，并结合适当的电子结构计算。参与这项研究的研究生和本科生将接受技能培训，使他们成为未来科学队伍中有生产力的成员。这项研究将成为教育推广计划的组成部分，通过为高中教师提供实践课程，以及为当地高中学生和他们的老师提供夏季纳米科学研究所，以通过丰富高中课堂的科学教学来解决提高学生科学成就的需求。该奖项得到凝聚态物理和电子与光子材料项目的支持。*****技术摘要*****该奖项资助表征、控制和理解自组织生长的原子过程的研究，这些原子过程导致应变超薄界面（如晶体基底上的单石墨烯和金属层）中二维图案的形成。综合实验/计算方法结合了扫描隧道显微镜（STM）和低能电子显微镜（LEEM）的时间分辨原子测量和原子尺度上自组装动力学的弹性建模，并结合适当的第一性原理和紧密结合的电子结构计算。一种新的LEEM数据分析方法将提供这些异构系统的成分（亚）表面剖面，这是建模和与理论联系的关键输入。参与这项研究的研究生和本科生将接受技能培训，使他们成为未来科学队伍中有生产力的成员。这些项目是教育推广计划的一个组成部分。通过为高中教师提供实践课程，以及为当地高中学生和他们的科学教师提供暑期纳米科学研究所，该项目通过丰富高中课堂上的科学教学，解决了提高学生科学成就的需求。这些活动旨在通过对大学预科水平的科学教育做出重大贡献，改善科学、工程、技术和数学（STEM）职业的招聘。该奖项得到凝聚态物理和电子与光子材料项目的支持。

***** NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACT *****Self-assembly of ordered structures, a few nanometers wide, has been observed on many interfaces critical to novel nano-technologies. The formation of these structures is thought to arise because of a delicate balance between long-range strain field interactions and short-range chemical forces that stabilize the structures. A detailed understanding of the driving forces, however, does not exist. The goal of this project is to identify and control these interactions, which have the potential to radically improve the performance of electronic, magnetic, and chemical devices and sensors; and may lead the way to higher density magnetic storage, more selective catalytic materials, higher sensitivity chemical sensors, and perhaps, quantum computers. The integrated experimental/computational research approach combines time-resolved atomic microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum and elastic modeling of the dynamics of self-assembly at the atomic scale in conjunction with appropriate electronic structure calculations. The graduate and undergraduate students involved in this research will receive training in skills that will enable them to become productive members of the future scientific workforce. This research will form an integral part of an educational outreach program through contributions to a hands-on course, Physics for High School Teachers, and a Summer Nano-Science Institute for local high school students and their teachers, in order to address the need to improve the science achievement for students by enriching science teaching in the high school classroom. This award receives support from the Condensed Matter Physics and the Electronic and Photonic Materials programs.***** TECHNICAL ABSTRACT *****This award funds studies to characterize, control, and understand the atomic processes in self-organized growth that lead to two-dimensional pattern formation in strained ultrathin interfaces, such as single graphene and metal layers on crystalline substrates. The integrated experimental/computational approach combines time-resolved atomic measurements by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and elastic modeling of the dynamics of self-assembly at the atomic scale in conjunction with appropriate first-principles and tight-binding electronic structure calculations. A novel analysis method of LEEM data will deliver the compositional (sub-)surface profile in these heterogeneous systems, crucial input for modeling and linking to theory. The graduate and undergraduate students involved in this research will receive training in skills that will enable them to become productive members of the future scientific workforce. The projects form an integral part of educational outreach programs. Through contributions to a hands-on course, Physics for High School Teachers, and a Summer Nano-Science Institute for local high school students and their science teachers the project addresses the need to improve the science achievement for students by enriching science teaching in the high school classroom. These activities are directed toward improving the recruitment into Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) careers by making significant contributions to science education at the pre-college level. This award receives support from the Condensed Matter Physics and the Electronic and Photonic Materials programs.