CAREER: Engineering of III-Nitride Quantum Heterostructures Doped with Lanthanides

技术：该职业奖的研究部分是研究稀土离子掺杂的III族氮化物材料的低维量子结构。这项研究包括利用光、电、磁和压力刺激进行材料表征，全面建模，以及与俄亥俄大学内外的其他科学家合作进行分子束外延和脉冲激光沉积生长。稀土离子与III-N主体之间的能量传递过程和稀土离子缺陷的形成及其性质是影响该材料体系量子效率、铁磁性和电子输运的主要因素。该项目研究显著提高辐射量子产额的方法。采用了如下策略：通过材料生长过程中的工程应力/应变参数来改变稀土离子中心的环境，以及利用量子结构将载流子定位在发射稀土离子中心附近。该项目研究了影响稀土杂质发光、能量激发过程和局域位置对称性的基本原子水平机制和现象，以及合成和材料处理。非技术性：该项目涉及材料科学中具有高度技术相关性的热门领域的基础研究问题。新材料的发展对半导体产业未来的需求至关重要。该项目如果成功，将对光子学的进步产生影响。该项目的研究和教育活动是一体化的。教育活动的中心主题是在俄亥俄大学PI系开发光子课程。新的光子课程和实验室旨在让本科生和研究生积极参与解决现实世界的问题。此外，该项目的外展部分为中学生和工程学预科学生提供智力机会和激励。

Technical: The research component of this CAREER award is to study low-dimensional quantum structures of group-III nitride materials doped with rare-earth ions. The research includes materials characterization using optical, electrical, magnetic, and pressure stimulus, comprehensive modeling, as well as molecular beam epitaxy and pulsed-laser deposition growth in collaboration with other scientists on and off the Ohio University campus. The energy transfer processes between rare-earth ions and III-N hosts and rare-earth ion-defects formation and their nature are the main factors contributing to the quantum efficiency, ferromagnetism, and electronic transport of this materials system. The project investigates approaches to significantly increase radiative quantum yield. Strategies such as modification of the rare-earth ion center environment, through engineering stress/strain parameters during the materials growth process, and localization of carriers in the vicinity of emitting rare-earth ion center, by using quantum structures, are employed. The fundamental atomic level mechanisms and phenomena coupled with synthesis and material processing affecting luminescence, energy excitation processes, and local site symmetry of rare-earth impurities are studied in the project.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with high technological relevance. The development of new materials is important to the future needs of semiconductor industries. The project, if successful, can have impacts on the advancement of photonics. The research and education activities of the project are integrated. The central theme of the education activities is to develop photonic curriculum in the PI's department at Ohio University. New photonic courses and laboratories are designed to allow active engagement of undergraduate and graduate students in solving real-world problems. In addition, the outreach component of the project provides intellectual opportunities and stimulation for secondary school and pre-engineering students.