Nanofabrication, Characterization, and Analysis of Topological Insulator Nanostructures

该计划的目标是创造由拓扑绝缘体纳米结构制成的纳米电子器件，并探索创造和表征低功耗电子器件的新领域。特别是，PI旨在解决以下目标：(I)通过模板介导的生长来制备基于拓扑绝缘体纳米带和纳米结的晶体管；(Ii)利用扭矩磁测量和电容谱来表征拓扑绝缘体器件的磁输运和热电性质；以及(Iii)通过理论建模来深入理解实验结果。特别是，与通过外场调制拓扑表面态相关的基础科学将被研究，以允许实现涉及拓扑态的可逆转换的电子操作。在更高的速度(~1太赫兹)和更低的功耗(微瓦)方面，拟议的新拓扑晶体管器件的性能将超过传统的硅基器件。更广泛的影响正在扩大高中生和大学学生接受纳米电子学教育的机会。所有的PI都参与了教育和推广计划；包括与密歇根大学的学术计划合作，为本科生提供研究机会，以及与Lurie纳米制造设施合作，为K-12教育工作者举办推广研讨会，为密歇根州科学教师协会会议举办研讨会，以及由国家科学基金会赞助的“纳米营”计划。

The objective of this program is to create nanoelectronic devices made from topological insulator nanostructures and explore new areas for creating and characterizinglow-dissipation electronics. In particular, the PIs intend to address the following aims: (i) fabricating transistors based on topological insulator nanoribbons and nanojunctions by using template-mediated growth; (ii) characterizing the magnetotransport and thermoelectric properties of topological insulator devices by using torque magnetometry and capacitance spectroscopy; and (iii) achieving an in-depth understanding of experimental results through theoretical modeling.The intellectual merit is that the successful completion of the proposed research can transform the basis of future transistors with low power consumption and enable reconfigurable topological quantum computation. Particularly, the fundamental science associated with the modulation of topological surface states via external fields will be studied allowing for the realization of electronic operations involving reversible switching of topological states. The performance of the proposed new topological transistor devices would surpass that of conventional silicon based devices, in terms of the higher speed (~1 THz) and the lower power consumption (microwatt).The broader impacts are extending nanoelectronics education opportunities for students from high schools and universities. All the PIs are involved in education and outreach programs; including a collaboration with The University of Michigan's academic programs to provide research opportunities for undergraduate students, as well as a collaboration with Lurie Nanofabrication Facility in outreach workshops for K-12 educators, workshops for the Michigan Science Teacher Association conference, and the "NanoCamps" program sponsored by National Science Foundation.