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

非技术描述：将拓扑概念应用于固态系统已经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，其本体是电绝缘的，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接口能够实现近乎完美的设备，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，当前TI材料存在许多关键挑战，必须加以解决。该项目旨在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，专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，从而克服这些挑战。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。主要的教育活动将通过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进行公共宣传，利用团队的Youtube频道和twitter，组织虚拟研讨会，创建新的在线课程，为物理和材料科学提供新面孔，在这个团队中有两名女性担任领导职务。向技术界和公众提供对研究和教育成果的开放获取。技术描述：迄今为止，大多数已确定的拓扑绝缘体（ti）要么是强键合块状材料，要么是层状范德华材料。尽管具有丰富的性质，但在展示ti的决定性性质和实现ti的全部前景方面存在着基本的障碍和限制，例如表面狄拉克锥限制在特定的解理面，弱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，以及新兴材料、功能和器件的设计和演示，包括moir<s:1>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卤化铋上，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、自旋和角度分辨光谱学、纳米制造、量子输运、中子和x射线散射等方面的专业互补和共同努力，以及与学术界、工业界和政府的研究人员的合作，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、拓扑相变和控制方面的潜力。室温QSH效应，moir<s:1>准一维拓扑元材料，以及一体化智能光电探测器。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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.