Collaborative Research: DMREF: Developing and Harnessing the Platform of Quasi-One-Dimensional Topological Materials for Novel Functionalities and Devices

非技术描述：将拓扑学的概念应用于固态系统彻底改变了我们对量子现象和材料的理解，并激发了电子，原子，光子，机械和声学系统中新功能的设计。例如，拓扑绝缘体（TI）是一类材料，其在本体中是电绝缘的，但具有不受杂质影响的导电表面状态。这些状态使不完美的界面接近完美的设备，这对传统和量子信息技术都很重要。然而，在实现其全部潜力之前，必须解决当前TI材料中存在的许多关键挑战。该项目旨在克服这些挑战，重点关注并进一步开发一类新的材料，用于新型电子，光电和传感功能的准一维（准1D）TI，通过理论建模和预测，材料合成，表征和器件原型的迭代循环。该计划的成功实施将推进拓扑材料的知识和技术，并最终为下一代信息技术和可持续能源解决方案的转型铺平道路。主要的教育活动将纳入研究活动，增加代表性不足的群体的参与，指导STEM学科的本科生和研究生，通过团队访问当地公立学校和利用团队的Youtube频道和Twitter进行公共宣传，组织虚拟研讨会，创建新的在线课程，在这个团队中有两名女性担任领导职务，为物理学和材料科学提供了新的面貌，并向技术界和公众开放研究和教育成果。技术描述：迄今为止，大多数已确定的拓扑绝缘体（TI）要么是强结合的块状材料，要么是分层的范德瓦尔斯货车材料。尽管他们的丰富性，根本的障碍和限制存在于展示的决定性的属性，实现充分的承诺，TI，如表面狄拉克锥的限制，一个特定的分裂平面，弱的电子相互作用和有限的可调性。值得注意的是，准一维结构有望克服这些挑战。该项目的目标包括准一维拓扑材料中拓扑相的预测、设计、合成和控制，新兴材料、功能和器件的设计和演示，包括莫尔准一维TI、稳定和高温量子自旋霍尔（QSH）绝缘体和量子智能传感器。最初的重点将放在准一维铋卤化物上，并将通过协同和迭代合作扩展到包括其他选定的准一维材料家族。通过在理论和计算、材料合成、自旋和角度分辨光电子能谱、纳米纤维、量子输运、中子和X射线散射方面的互补专业知识和共同努力，以及与学术界、工业界和政府研究人员的合作，该项目有望实现准一维材料在发现或实现新型拓扑材料和相方面的潜力，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-technical Description: Applying the concept of topology to solid state systems has revolutionized our understanding of quantum phenomena and materials, and inspired the design of new functionalities in electronic, atomic, photonic, mechanical, and acoustic systems. For instance, topological insulators (TIs) are a class of materials that are electrically insulating in the bulk but host conductive surface states that are immune to impurities. These states enable near-perfect devices from imperfect interfaces, which are important for both conventional and quantum information technology. However, there exist a number of critical challenges in current TI materials that must be addressed before realizing their full potential. This project aims at overcoming these challenges by focusing on and further developing a new class of materials, quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) TIs for novel electronic, optoelectronic and sensing functionalities, via an iterative loop of theoretical modeling and prediction, material synthesis, characterization and device prototyping. Successful implementation of the program will advance knowledge and technology on topological materials and ultimately pave the way for transforming next-generation information technology and sustainable energy solutions. Major educational activities will be integrated into the research activities by increasing participation of under-represented groups, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in STEM disciplines, performing public outreach by team-visiting local public schools and leveraging the team’s Youtube channel and twitter, organizing virtual workshops, creating a new online course, providing a new face to physics and materials science with two women in leadership positions in this team, and providing open access to research and education outputs to the technical community and general public.Technical Description: To date, most of the identified topological insulators (TIs) are either strongly bonded bulk materials or layered van der Waals materials. Despite their richness, fundamental obstacles and limitations exist in exhibiting the decisive properties and realizing the full promise of TIs, such as the restriction of surface Dirac cones to a specific cleavage plane, weak electronic interactions and limited tunability. Remarkably, a quasi-1D structure promises to overcome these challenges. The goals of this project include prediction, design, synthesis, and control of topological phases in quasi-1D topological materials, design and demonstration of emergent materials, functionalities, and devices, including moiré quasi-1D TIs, stable and high temperature quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulators, and quantum intelligent sensors. The initial focus will be on the quasi-1D bismuth halides and will expand to include other selected quasi-1D materials families through synergistic and iterative collaborations. Through complementary expertise and concerted efforts on theory and computation, material synthesis, spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, nanofabrication, quantum transport, and neutron and x-ray scattering, and collaboration with researchers in academia, industry and government, the project is expected to actualize the potential offered by quasi-1D materials in the discovery or realization of novel topological materials and phases, topological phase transitions and control, room-temperature QSH effect, moiré quasi-1D topological meta-materials, and all-in-one intelligent photodetectors.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.