Dr J Mol
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Supervisors: Dr Jan Mol (Queen Mary) and Dr Johnson Goh (IMRE, A*STAR, Singapore)
Start Date: 23 September 2019.
Location: London (1.5 years), Singapore (2 years)
Nanostructured advanced 2D materials offer a unique platform for studies that are at the cutting edge of physics, chemistry and material science. The ability to fabricate nanoscale devices including tunnel junctions, quantum dots, and quantum point contacts is of great interest for fundamental studies of quantum transport and the nascent field of spin-valley quantum computing, as well as technical applications including energy harvesting and DNA sequencing. In this context, nanofabrication techniques and self-assembly strategies can allow us to control the organization, on surfaces, of nanostructures of interest for optoelectronic applications, and advanced 2D materials are emerging as strong candidates as truly nanoscale electrodes.
We plan to fabricate quantum nanoelectronic devices for quantum and biosensing applications employing advanced 2D materials. Novel device functionality will be achieved by interfacing complex molecules and nanostructures to the 2D nanoelectrodes, where these junction moieties will be acting as functional building blocks in our nanoelectronic devices.
The project will involve the use of i) chemical approaches, ii) nanofabrication strategies, and iii) microscopy techniques for nanoscale characterization. Covalent and supramolecular chemistry strategies will be developed for the assembly and functionalization (in solution and on surfaces) of advanced 2D materials. Nanostructures will be characterized via Scanning Probe Microcopy (AFM-based) and Electron Microscopy (SEM/TEM). Nanofabrication techniques will be employed for the fabrication of nanoscale devices, which will be electrically characterized at cryogenic temperatures down to 20 mK.
Expected research outcomes
The project will develop high-throughput and versatile platforms for quantum electronic devices, with the following expected research outcomes:
• Demonstration of covalent bonding of molecules and quantum dots to advanced 2D material nanoelectrodes;
• Study of quantum transport in advanced 2D materials based nanoelectronic devices;
• Investigation of the energy harvesting and cooling efficiency of quantum electronic devices;
• Feasibility study of the use of 2D nanoelectronic devices for biosensing applications, including DNA and protein sequencing.
This project is part of the A*STAR Research Attachment Programme, through which students spend the middle 2 years conducting research at one of the A*STAR Research Institutes in Singapore, under the supervision of an A*STAR supervisor. Year 1 and the final 6 months will be spent at Queen Mary University of London.
Funding Notes
The project is jointly funded by Queen Mary University of London and A*STAR Singapore.
Queen Mary will provide the student stipend for year 1 and for first 6 months of year 4 (total 1.5 years at standard Research Council level" £16777 pa).
A*STAR provides student stipend (S$2,500/month) and project consumables for research in Singapore (years 2 and 3).
A*STAR provides student with one-off relocation allowance of S$1,000, a one-time airfare grant of S$1,500 plus medical insurance.