Project Details
Atomically-thin 2D materials and heterostructures are key materials for energy conversion, optoelectronics, and quantum applications, however their properties are sensitively related to structural phases and defects introduced during synthesis and processing. A lack of understanding of the building blocks and crystallization kinetics of these materials currently limits their controlled synthesis. The overarching goal of this project is to identify and understand the dynamic pathways and interactions involved in the assembly of functional quantum nanostructures. This goal will be achieved by synergistically combining three specific aims: (1) Reveal how non-equilibrium nucleation and growth conditions govern the crystallization kinetics of amorphous precursors to crystalline quantum materials, (2) Understand the roles of nonequilibrium synthesis and processing environments on the evolution of metastable phases and defects in quantum materials, and (3) Develop methods to control the synthesis and processing of materials with in situ diagnostics to ‘close the loop’ between synthesis and functionality. This approach is based on the hypothesis that non-equilibrium processing methods can overcome the energy barriers to access novel structural phases and functionalities. Real-time diagnostics are implemented in nanoscale, microscale, and macroscale synthesis environments to understand the crystallization mechanisms of formation and assembly of the “building blocks” of nanomaterials while developing transformational synthetic approaches for closed-loop assembly of quantum nanostructures with desired properties. The proposed research addresses key priority research directions in DOE-BES BRNs on synthesis science and quantum materials for the development of in situ diagnostic-based understanding and control of non-equilibrium processes that can capture novel states of matter.
