Rapid Prototyping of Novel Devices with In-situ Deposition, Imaging and Nanolithography

随着目前对石墨烯和硼氢化物（分别在2010年诺贝尔物理学奖和2015年实验证实）以及拓扑物质（2016年诺贝尔物理学奖）等2D材料的理解和应用的进展，越来越需要能够制备可以测试这些材料在下一代电子器件中的潜在应用的器件。这些应用包括数据存储和计算（例如自旋电子学，光电子学，磁隧道结），量子技术，神经形态学（例如用于忆阻器的2D材料）以及能量存储和转换（例如太阳能电池，热电）。关于将这些材料集成到设备中的限制之一是它们通常对空气敏感。例如，磷烯是黑磷的二维类似物，它很容易与水反应，但其厚度依赖的带隙使其非常适合于二维光电子学。关键材料（如Au、Pt、Cu、Co、TaOx、NbOx、TaN）的溅射;以及用于原位表面和电子结构表征的扫描探针显微镜（扫描隧道显微镜和原子力显微镜）。该系统将由3个连接的主要部分组成，以便在惰性气体或高真空下交换样品。这种前所未有的功能组合将使2D-3D异质结构，界面和高真空器件的制备成为可能-特别重要的是，2D材料对空气敏感。此外，该系统的内置灵活性也将支持几个只需要3个部分中的1个（或更多）的研究领域。例如，它可以用于制备生物医学传感器，结合纳米图案化和薄膜沉积。为了建立一个多样化的用户基础，我们将采取以下行动：为定期培训讲习班留出时间;制定标准作业程序;准备示范装置以展示系统的能力;并且会在网上做广告该系统将确保英国在新兴研究领域保持竞争力，这些领域将推动下一个电子的一代。例如，它将能够快速测试新设备，设计和创建设备，以测试量子材料研究前沿的理论。

With the current progress in understanding and application of 2D materials such as graphene and borophene (Nobel Prize Physics 2010 and experimentally confirmed in 2015, respectively), and topological matter (Nobel Prize Physics 2016), there is increased need to enable preparation of devices that could test the potential applications of these materials in the next generation of electronic devices. Such applications include data storage and computing (e.g. spintronics, optoelectronics, magnetic tunnel junctions), quantum technologies, neuromorphics (e.g. 2D materials for memristors) and energy storage and conversion (e.g. solar cells, thermoelectrics). One of the limitations, with regards to integrating these materials into a device is that they are often sensitive to air. For example, phosphorene, which is the 2D analogue of black phosphorous will react readily with water, but its thickness dependant bandgap makes it ideally suited for 2D optoelectronics.The aim of this research is to establish a state-of-the-art system for the preparation and characterisation of thin film devices including: nanopatterning in a glovebox environment; sputtering of key materials (such as Au, Pt, Cu, Co, TaOx, NbOx, TaN); and scanning probe microscopy (scanning tunnelling microscopy and atomic force microscopy) for in-situ surface and electronic structure characterisation. This system will be comprised of 3 main parts that are connected so that samples can be exchanged under inert gas, or high vacuum. This unprecedented combination of features will enable preparation of 2D-3D heterostructures, interfaces and devices in high vacuum - especially important as 2D materials can be sensitive to air. In addition, the in-built flexibility of the system will also underpin several research areas that require only 1 (or more) of the 3 parts. For example, it could be used to prepare biomedical sensors with a combination of nanopatterning and thin film deposition. To establish a diverse user base we will do the following: time will be set aside for regular training workshops; standard operating procedures will be developed; example devices will be prepared to demonstrate the system's capability; and it will be advertised online, at conferences and through various academic and industrial networks.This system will ensure that the UK remains competitive in emerging research areas that will drive the next generation of electronics. It will, for example, enable rapid testing of new devices, and design and creation of devices to test theory on the forefront of quantum materials research.