Quantum Materials as a Platform for Nonlinear Electronic and Memory Devices

Professor Ying Wang at ECE 2026 Spring Colloquium

Symmetry breaking in quantum and two-dimensional materials provides a unifying framework for emergent electronic properties and new device functionalities. When structural or electronic symmetries are broken, quantum materials can host strong correlations, nontrivial quantum geometry, and spontaneous electric dipoles, leading to nonlinear responses beyond conventional semiconductors.In the first part of this talk, I will show how symmetry breaking in correlated Weyl semimetals gives rise to exceptionally strong nonlinear transport, and how this large nonlinearity enables a highly sensitive terahertz detection scheme.In the second part, I will discuss symmetry breaking in layered two-dimensional materials, where interlayer sliding induces switchable electric dipoles. This sliding ferroelectricity enables ferroelectric tunnel junctions with giant resistance contrast, ultralow switching energy, and high endurance, offering a new platform for energy-efficient nonvolatile memory devices.