CAREER: Epitaxial stabilization of non-perovskite oxide quantum materials

非技术摘要：量子力学决定了所有材料在最细长度尺度上的性质。然而，存在一些材料，其中量子性质超越了微观到宏观，并由此产生了令人难以置信的现象。这些所谓的量子材料具有革新许多领域的潜力，应用范围从低能量计算到无耗散电流。该领域的进一步发展需要设计和发现具有增强功能的新型量子材料。研究小组将合成一个新的量子材料家族，这是以前没有的，并探测这些化合物的原子结构。该团队还将为双语项目开发基础科学课程，并支持第一代和低收入本科生研究人员。技术摘要：复合氧化物表现出一些已知的最奇特的物理状态，具有高温超导性和铁磁性等多种现象。然而，迄今为止，关于复杂氧化物薄膜和异质结构的大部分工作都集中在钙钛矿氧化物上。在这里，研究小组试图开发一种独特的氧化物材料的合成和表征，这种材料可以显示钙钛矿氧化物中不存在的额外紧急现象。这些材料将用活性氧化物分子束外延合成，从而可以对沉积结构进行精细控制。该项目将研究li2o4以及重费米子、自旋极化和可能的拓扑化合物的突发性超导性。这些材料将通过体探针和近端探针进行研究，绘制出与宏观性质相关的原子晶格结构、能带结构和自旋涨落。结合这一活动将提供丰富的见解，一个迷人的一类新兴材料。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 abstract: Quantum mechanics determines the properties of all materials at the finest length scales. There exist some materials, however, where the quantum nature transcends from the microscopic to the macroscopic and in doing so produces incredible phenomena. These so-called quantum materials have the potential to revolutionize a number of fields, in applications ranging from low-energy computing to dissipationless current flow. Further advances in this field require the design and discovery of novel quantum materials with enhanced functionality. The research team will synthesize a new family of quantum materials that have not been made previously and probe the atomic structure of these compounds. The team will also develop an elementary science curriculum for a dual language program and support first-generation and low-income undergraduate researchers.Technical Abstract: Complex oxides display some of the most exotic physical states known, with phenomena as diverse as high-temperature superconductivity and ferromagnetism. To date, however, much of the work on complex oxides thin films and heterostructures has focused on the perovskite oxides. Here the research team seeks to develop the synthesis and characterization of a distinct set of oxide materials which could display additional emergent phenomena not present in the perovskite oxides. The materials will be synthesized with reactive oxide molecular-beam epitaxy, allowing exquisite control over the deposited structures. The project will study emergent superconductivity in LiTi2O4 as well as heavy fermion, spin-polarized and possible topological compounds. The materials will be investigated by bulk and proximal probes to map out the atomic lattice structure, band structure and spin fluctuations to correlate with macroscopic properties. Combined this activity will provide rich insight into a fascinating class of emergent materials.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.