Skip to main content

RESEARCH LINES

Materials for electronics

Research in electronics, both based on molecular and oxide materials, has been a main pillar of research at ICMAB since its foundation. Some of the internationally recognised and prestigious researchers who pushed this research work, are already retired. However, in the last 10 years the research line has been continuously reinforced with younger researchers, who are already consolidated and leading this research.

Challenges

Challenge 1: Organic heterostructures for photodetection

Challenge 2: Quantum coherence phenomena for new sensors and devices

Multicomponent organic materials for electronic functions are an emerging area of research. While commonplace in photovoltaic cells, most devices are single component. The combination of materials will translate into new functionalities. We will tailor molecular materials, through molecular design and synthesis, variation of composition and structure, and judicious choice of processing. Unique large area thin films of charge transfer materials (explored so far mainly as single crystals) will be prepared. The resurgence of interest in these materials for technologically important applications, such as NIR photodetectors, is also promising for new devices for photothermal conversion or ferroelectrics. We will exploit interface engineering, doping, efficient exciton separation and device performance enhancement.

We aim to invent a new generation of sensors and quantum devices by engineering heterostructures with unconventional merging of functional materials. Devices based on the synergetic combination of oxide ferromagnetic-, antiferromagnetic (AFM), -Ferrimagnetic or -Superconducting (SC) materials will be investigated. AFM in spin-orbit-torque architectures will boost density and speed in logic and memory applications, due to its intrinsic insensitivity to spurious magnetic fields and THz dynamics. Merging SC and spintronics opens a rich perspective of new physics with the potential to achieve dissipationless quantum coherent transport in SC spin-based devices. Moreover, we will explore use of tailored high temperature SC and new material heterostructures to improve performance of specific sensors with operation temperatures above liquid helium, focusing on single photon detectors made of nanowires.

Challenge 3: Materials for energy efficient ultrafast computing

Challenge 4: Non-trivial magnetism and quantum correlated phases

New computing paradigms will require low power use and high speed. The ferroelectricity of doped HfO2 and the tuneable ferrimagnetism of garnets in atomically sharp heterostructures are potentially transformative for non-volatile memory and logic. In HfO2, switching speed will be improved with epitaxial films, with greater endurance and retention. Dopants, defects and interface engineering will be used. For ferrimagnetic garnets, current controlled domain walls and skyrmions as potential binary memory and logic elements in racetrack-type devices are prioritised, focusing on interface engineering of perpendicularly magnetized rare-earth iron garnets to achieve Néel-type domain walls and skyrmions and their ultrafast displacement by spin-orbit torques in a nearly pinning-free medium. We expect computing devices operating beyond 1 GHz and ultralow energy consumption from these systems.

Understanding correlated and frustrated magnetic materials with complex states and transitions is key for the development of quantum physics applications. We aim at unveiling the symmetry and mechanisms of hidden orders, magneto-orbital phenomena, entangled states and excitations producing anomalous effects in non-collinear, molecular, degenerated and quantum magnets. We leverage ICMAB expertise in quantum beams (neutrons, photons and muons) and complex materials preparation to promote new international collaborations, including quantum many-body theorists. The brand new Spanish line for extreme conditions (T, H, P) at the Institut Laue-Langevin is a good opportunity to foster this challenge.

Challenge 5: Emerging functionalities in curved materials

Ad-honorem Prof.

Curvature is ubiquitous at the nanoscale, either in suspended 2D layers or membranes. It can have a strong impact on materials properties, e.g., on the electrical (flexoelectricity) and magnetic degrees of freedom (flexomagnetism), or on charge and heat transport (electron-phonon interactions, phonon Hall). The fundamental physics of curvature is poorly understood at present; ICMAB is at the forefront of the theoretical research in this area and ideally suited to push the state of the art. As target systems we will study 2D crystals and oxide membranes. First-principles predictions will be supported by advanced experimental characterization tools, including high-resolution (scanning) transmission electron microscopy imaging and spectroscopy.

Postdocs

PhD candidates