2D Materials and Their Applications
A few atomic-layer-thick materials often referred to as “two-dimensional” (2D) materials, have substantially changed the landscape of nanotechnology because of their extraordinary mechanical and electrical properties. For example, graphene, which exists as a single layer of carbon atoms, possesses a tensile strength 300 times larger than that of commercial steel and transports electric charges over an order of magnitude faster than silicon.
In our research, we study the electrical and optical properties of two-dimensional materials such as MoSe2 as a function of external electric and magnetic fields.
We are also interested in “Twistronics”. Twistronics is the field of how the relative angle (or twist) between the layers of a vertically stacked 2D structure affects its properties. This effect is unique to 2D materials and has demonstrated the ability to alter the material’s band structure and properties dramatically. In specific 2D structures, the effect is so transformative that the corresponding twist angles are described as “magic angle”.
High Temperature Superconductivity
During the past two decades intensive experimental and theoretical effort has progressed our knowledge and understanding of high temperature superconductivity. Despite this progress, our understanding of important aspects is as yet incomplete. A complete understanding of this phenomenon is very promising as it may lead to “room temperature superconductivity” that will revolutionize the energy and communication industries together with many other gifts for technology.
We study high-temperature superconductors by looking at their DC transport, magnetic and optical properties. We also try to understand the underlying mechanism of HTSs by comparing the experimental data with Migdal-Eliashberg theory of strong coupling.
Another area of our interest is studying the pseudo-gap phase of HTSs. From our previous works we have observed that Below the pseudogap temperature, a universal collapse of the frequency and temperature dependent relaxation rate on a single curve supports the Fermi liquid picture, albeit with a coefficient relating temperature and frequency dependence that is slightly different from the theoretical prediction for a Fermi liquid.