Interplays of structure and electronics in mesoscopic systems

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Part of the widespread interest in nanometer-sized and mesoscopic systems is motivated by their capability to combine and hybridize mechanical and electronic properties of materials at the nanoscale. The long term goals of our research are to understand at a fundamental level, and harness into applications, (i) the interplays of structure and electronic degrees of freedom, and (ii) correlated electronic phases, in nano and mesoscopic systems. Our efforts to explore nanoscale mechanics and electronics will include systems such as graphene, metallic and semiconducting nanocrystals, carbon nanotubes, and organic-inorganic self-assembled materials. We will make use of specialized experimental methods, such as gated-mechanical breakjunctions and advanced scanning probes, which can simultaneously probe the structure and electronics of nanosystems. Initially, we will study electronic transport in mechanically strained graphene (graphite monolayer) transistors, and graphene/insulator/graphene (GIG) bilayers. A broad range of physics and applications will be explored in these graphene systems: