Synthetic Quantum Nanomaterials

合成量子纳米材料

• 批准号: 1206916
• 负责人: Hari Manoharan
• 金额: $ 36万
• 依托单位: Stanford University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-01 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1206916&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Synthetic; Quantum; Nanomaterials

****TECHNICAL ABSTRACT****This project will apply atomic and molecular manipulation to the nanoscale assembly of novel quantum materials - materials whose structural and electronic properties are dominated by quantum mechanics and give rise to either novel behavior or promising technologies. The primary experimental apparatus for these investigations are custom-built low-temperature scanning probe microscopes capable of both studying and controlling matter at atomic length scales. The overall project targets synthetic nanomaterials that can be used as model systems for understanding complex physics in natural materials. The project targets exquisite control of two quantum variables, the amplitude and phase of an electron wavefunction, to address new states formed by electrons that are playing increasingly vital roles in modern science and technology. Since these investigations require specialized apparatus not available from commercial sources, undergraduate and graduate students working directly on these projects will maintain their own equipment and perform state-of-the-art experiments. The research involves programs designed to train the next generation of high-school science teachers, courses at the undergraduate level into which current research in nanoscale science and technology is interwoven, and the active promotion of nanoscience education via visual and audio tools targeting students and the general public.****NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACT****The ways in which electrons move through different types of materials provide the foundations for nearly all modern electronic technology. For example, the electron flow through the semiconductor silicon can be turned on or off, or modulated like a valve, and these behaviors are the basis behind transistors, computer processors, and communication signal amplifiers. To maintain continued progress in electronics technology, the underlying components and materials must be continuously scaled down in size. However this progress is now stymied by the fact that critical dimensions are approaching "quantum" sizes where the position of even a single stray atom or molecule plays a measurable role in performance, and the flow of electrons is impeded by atom-size impurities and even by the their own tiny weight. New materials hold the key to circumventing many of these problems, but new materials are often difficult to understand and therefore apply, due to their complex nature. This project will synthesize new electronic materials using one of the most advanced laboratory technologies available-the controlled manipulation of single atoms and molecules to build up entirely new materials that can guide electrons in ways not possible with existing materials. These new materials will be built one atom at a time as a means to test new fundamental physics which can be applied to electronic technologies, such as making electrons move as if they have no weight, and making electron avoid impurities so that their flow through electronic devices is unimpeded. In the process of conducting the calculations and experiments needed by this project, a Ph.D. student will receive education and training in the critical fields of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, and undergraduate students will receive exposure to state-of-the-art research.

****技术摘要****本项目将原子和分子操作应用于新型量子材料的纳米级组装-这些材料的结构和电子特性由量子力学主导，并产生新的行为或有前途的技术。这些研究的主要实验设备是定制的低温扫描探针显微镜，能够在原子长度尺度上研究和控制物质。整个项目的目标是合成纳米材料，它可以作为模型系统来理解自然材料中的复杂物理。该项目的目标是精确控制两个量子变量，即电子波函数的振幅和相位，以解决电子形成的新状态，电子在现代科学技术中发挥着越来越重要的作用。由于这些调查需要从商业渠道无法获得的专门设备，因此直接从事这些项目的本科生和研究生将维护自己的设备并进行最先进的实验。这项研究包括旨在培养下一代高中科学教师的项目、与当前纳米科学技术研究相结合的本科课程，以及通过面向学生和公众的视听工具积极促进纳米科学教育。****非技术摘要****电子通过不同类型材料的运动方式为几乎所有现代电子技术提供了基础。例如，通过半导体硅的电子流可以被打开或关闭，或者像阀门一样被调制，这些行为是晶体管、计算机处理器和通信信号放大器背后的基础。为了保持电子技术的持续进步，底层组件和材料的尺寸必须不断缩小。然而，这一进展现在受到这样一个事实的阻碍，即关键尺寸正在接近“量子”尺寸，在量子尺寸中，即使是单个杂散原子或分子的位置也会对性能起可测量的作用，电子的流动也会受到原子大小的杂质甚至它们自身微小重量的阻碍。新材料是解决这些问题的关键，但由于其复杂的性质，新材料往往难以理解并因此难以应用。这个项目将使用最先进的实验室技术之一来合成新的电子材料——对单个原子和分子的控制来构建全新的材料，这种材料可以以现有材料无法实现的方式引导电子。这些新材料将一次制造一个原子，作为一种测试新基础物理学的手段，这些新基础物理学可以应用于电子技术，比如让电子像没有重量一样运动，让电子避开杂质，这样它们就可以畅通无阻地流过电子设备。在进行本项目所需的计算和实验的过程中，博士生将接受纳米技术和纳米材料关键领域的教育和培训，本科生将接触到最先进的研究。