Exploring the electrical and physical properties of 2D atomically layered materials with advanced scanning probe microscopy

这个项目是与Bruker合作的，该项目的目的是了解扫描探针显微镜(SPM-通常也称为原子力显微镜AFM)如何有助于探索2D/薄膜材料和设备。2D材料涵盖了从石墨烯到使用包括蒸发、化学和物理气相沉积在内的一系列技术创建的薄膜的各种原子分层体系。该项目将主要关注使用新的成像模式的2D/薄膜材料的物理和电学性质。通常的情况是，仪器和技术的进步导致了新的发现和对我们生活的物理世界的更高水平的理解。对该项目特别感兴趣的是最近提出但尚未充分探索的新的SPM模式和技术。这些新模式的一个例子包括峰值力隧道原子力显微镜(PF-Tuna)，它提供了具有非常高空间分辨率的纳米电学表征。通过比较在纳米器件上局部和非局部测量的电特性，可以更详细地探讨物理和电学特性的空间分布的影响。在2D/薄膜材料中，这些效应可以控制宏观行为，例如，在依赖隧道传输的器件中，即使势垒层中没有几个原子，也可以产生显著的效果，允许电流在层之间直接传输，而不是通过隧道穿过势垒。此外，该项目将探索环境局部变化的影响，例如磁场或温度，在这些环境中，磁有序材料可以诱导巨大的变化(例如，通过亚磁相变)，可能导致新的多功能自旋电子器件。

This project is in collaboration with BrukerThe aim of this project is to understand how scanning probe microscopy (SPM - also commonly called atomic force microscopy AFM) can contribute to exploring 2D / thin film materials and devices. 2D materials cover a wide range of atomically layered systems from graphene to thin films created using a range of techniques including exfoilation, chemical and physical vapour deposition. The project will primarily focus on the physical and electrical properties of 2D / thin film materials using novel imaging modes. It is frequently the case that advances in instrumentation and techniques lead to new discoveries and a greater level of understanding of the physical world in which we live. Of particular interest for this project are the new SPM modes and techniques that have recently been proposed but, as yet, are not fully explored. An example of these newer modes includes peak force tunneling atomic force microscopy (PF-TUNA) which provides nanoelectrical characterisation with the very highest spatial resolution. Comparing the electrical characteristics measured locally and non-locally on nanofabricated devices will allow the effects of the spatial distribution of physical and electronic properties to be explored in detail. In 2D / thin film materials these effects can control the macroscopic behaviour, for example, in devices that rely on tunneling even the absence of a few atoms in a barrier layer can have a significant effect allowing current to travel directly between layers rather than tunnel through the barrier. In addition, the project will explore the effects of local changes in environment, for example magnetic field or temperature, where in magnetically ordered materials large changes can be induced (e.g. through meta-magnetic phase transitions) potentially leading the way to new, multifunctional spintronic devices.