Professor Cheng Gong at ECE Spring 2024 Colloquium
Two-dimensional quantum materials: from fundamental electron behaviors to disruptive sensor technologies
Two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials are a unique class of solid-state platforms, with all constituent atoms seated in a flatland and exposed to external influences (e.g., adsorbed molecules, mechanical strain and electromagnetic radiation). Probing the effects of influencing factors in 2D materials can lead to the innovative development of ultrasensitive sensors. Meanwhile, engineering 2D materials by external stimuli can tailor 2D materials towards previously inaccessible properties, thereby fundamentally reshaping the present landscape of quantum materials. In this talk, I will introduce our recent progress in the fundamental understanding and rational control of 2D magnets, 2D ferroelectrics, and 2D multiferroics. Furthermore, I will briefly discuss how we leverage the “wonder materials” to develop disruptive sensor technologies in both civil and defense domains, including safeguarding food security, aircraft positioning, and early detection of diseases.