Agile electronics through ferroelectric switching of two-dimensional materials

Atomically thin layers of different two-dimensional materials can be stacked with atomic precision to create 2D heterostructures (2D-HS). In these heterostructures, electric fields perpendicular to the layers can be used to engineer the band alignments, control carrier concentrations, and even switch between metallic, insulating and superconducting states. These fields are usually induced by predefined metallic electrodes which give control over the field strength but are of fixed (microscale) geometry and have limited dynamic response. This project will develop an alternative approach using ferroelectric control of 2D-HSs. Strong electric fields at the surface of thin-film ferroelectric perovskite oxides can be switched rapidly and the spatial arrangement of the field can be controlled dynamically. This presents an exciting opportunity to create agile electronics by integrating perovskite ferroelectrics into 2D-HSs. Creating such a robust platform for electrostatically defining insulating and conducting regions in 2DMs, and for dynamically switching their conductivity, will allow us to explore new physical phenomena and to develop new electronic functionalities.

This PhD project will focus on developing techniques for controlling the interface between the 2D-HSs and high-quality thin-film perovskite oxide ferroelectrics grown at Warwick by pulsed laser deposition. The research will make use of the excellent microscopy and spectroscopy infrastructure at the University of Warwick, as well as international synchrotron-based facilities. The successful applicant will work as part of a team of researchers in this area at the University of Warwick, attached to a funded research project.