About the Project
Reference number: PH/MG/2017
Start date of studentship: 1st October 2017
Closing date: 24th March 2017
Supervisor: Dr Mark Greenaway
Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%.
In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Graduate School, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career.
Find out more: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research/
Project Detail:
Graphene is a 2D monolayer of carbon atoms, whose discovery led to the award of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics to Geim and Novoselov at the University of Manchester. Its unique properties and emerging applications has led to the isolation and characterisation of large number of other 2D crystals each with interesting and useful properties [1].
By stacking 2D crystals with different properties to form multi-layer structures, known as van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, we can create a new class of materials [2] with highly configurable characteristics tailored for specific device applications. A stack configuration, where electrons tunnel between two graphene layers separated by a boron nitride tunnel barrier, has recently shown properties promising for a new generation of graphene-based transistors [3]. We have demonstrated that this device also exhibits resonant tunnelling, where the chirality and momentum of the tunnelling electron are conserved [4-7] with applications in high-frequency electronics and logic devices [8].
In this PhD, the student will develop models for electron transport between the layers of novel vdW heterostructures to investigate and optimise their electronic and optical properties. They will consider the effect of strain and nanoscale interlayer and electrode patterning and how these can be modified to control electron transport and the shape of the resulting current-voltage curves. The student will also develop time-dependent quantum mechanical-electrostatic simulations of current oscillations to explore the viability and advantages of different layer materials for high frequency electronics.
References: [1] Novoselov, et al., PNAS 102, 10451 (2005), [2] Geim and Grigorieva, Nature 499, 419 (2013), [3] Britnell, et al., Science 335, 947 (2012), [4] Mishchenko, et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 9, 808 (2014), [5] Greenaway, et al., Nat. Phys. 11, 1057 (2015), [6] Wallbank, et al., Science 353, 575 (2016), [7] Britnell, et al., Nat. Commun. 4, 1794 (2013), [8] Gaskell, et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 107, 103105 (2015).
Find out more:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/physics/staff/academic/mark-greenaway/
Entry requirements:
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Physics or a related subject.
Contact details:
Name: Dr Mark Greenaway
Email address: [Email Address Removed]
How to apply:
All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Under programme name, select ‘Physics’
Please quote reference number: PH/MG/2017
Funding Notes
The 3-year studentship provides a tax-free stipend of £14,553 per annum (in line with the standard research council rates) for the duration of the studentship plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. International (non EU) students may apply however the total value of the studentship will be used towards the cost of the International tuition fee in the first instance.