Realizing and Manipulating Magnetism and Transport in Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

非技术性说明：近年来，原子厚度的过渡金属二硫属化物作为一类新型的二维半导体材料，具有优异的物理性能，在电子学和光电学领域具有广阔的应用前景。虽然已经取得了重大进展，包括高性能器件的制造，但迄今为止，大多数研究主要集中在电子的电荷性质上。在基于电荷的电子系统中加入电子的自旋和谷特性，可以大大增加更多奇异的物理现象，并增强器件的性能。本研究计划旨在利用过渡金属二硫属化物制造二维铁磁半导体，并研究其自旋和谷输运性质。这种铁磁半导体是信息存储（磁性）和信息处理（半导体）的关键成分。这项研究可以促进发现与电子自旋和谷特性相关的新物理，并可能为新型二维材料在现代信息技术领域的实际应用创造机会。该项目涉及对研究生和本科生的大量教育和培训，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生。它还与一个独特的教育项目相结合，该项目旨在帮助改善印第安纳州大学附近农村地区当地学校的K-12教育。技术描述：本研究项目旨在实现和操纵一类新的二维晶体，即原子薄的过渡金属二硫属化物中的磁性和自旋谷输运。实验活动包括通过化学掺杂和缺陷产生实现铁磁性，自旋霍尔效应和谷霍尔效应的电探测，以及通过电场效应和弹性应变工程操纵磁性和输运性质。理论研究与实验活动密切相关。该项目包括纳米材料合成，器件制造，磁性表征，霍尔效应测量，应变工程和理论建模，是两个印第安纳州大学教师之间的合作努力。它可以提供重要的洞察力的作用，电荷载流子，自旋轨道耦合，电子能带结构在确定这些新型的二维材料的磁性和输运性质发挥。该项目还涉及研究生和本科生的大量教育和培训，包括那些来自代表性不足的群体，以帮助他们发展在材料科学和纳米技术的广泛领域的未来职业所需的各种技能和技术。它还与一个独特的教育项目相结合，旨在帮助改善印第安纳州大学附近农村地区当地学校的K-12教育。

Non-technical description: The atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides have recently emerged as a novel class of two-dimensional semiconductors that possess remarkable physical properties and promising opportunities for electronic and optoelectronic applications. While significant progress has been made, including the fabrication of high performance devices, most studies so far have mainly focused on the charge property of electrons. Adding electron's spin and valley properties to charge-based electronic systems could add substantially more exotic physical phenomena and enhanced capability in devices. This research project aims to produce two-dimensional ferromagnetic semiconductors using transition metal dichalcogenides and study their spin and valley transport properties. Such ferromagnetic semiconductors host the key ingredients for both information storage (magnetism) and information processing (semiconductors). This research could facilitate the discovery of new physics associated with the electron's spin and valley properties, and may create opportunities for practical applications of novel two-dimensional materials in the area of modern information technology. The project involves considerable education and training of graduate and undergraduate students, including those from the underrepresented groups. It is also integrated with a unique educational project that aims to help improve the K-12 education in local schools in rural areas near Indiana University.Technical description: This research project aims to realize and manipulate magnetism and spin & valley transport in a new class of two-dimensional crystals, i.e. atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides. The experimental activities include the realization of ferromagnetism by chemical doping and defect creation, electrical probing of spin Hall effect and valley Hall effect, and manipulation of both magnetic and transport properties through electric field effect and elastic strain engineering. Theoretical studies are strongly correlated with the experimental activities. The project encompasses nanomaterial synthesis, device fabrication, magnetic characterization, Hall effect measurement, strain engineering and theoretical modeling, and is a collaborative effort between two Indiana University faculty. It could provide significant insight into the roles that the charge carriers, spin-orbit coupling, and electronic band structure play in determining the magnetic and transport properties of these novel two-dimensional materials. The project also involves considerable education and training of graduate and undergraduate students, including those from the underrepresented groups, to help them develop various skills and techniques necessary for their future careers in the broad area of material science and nanotechnology. It is also integrated with a unique educational project that aims to help improve the K-12 education in local schools in rural areas near Indiana University.