Exploration of Metastable Quantum Phases in Two-Dimensional Materials

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K13511
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 13030:Magnetism, superconductivity and strongly correlated systems-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Masaro 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 創発物性科学研究センター, 特別研究員 (60802957)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 2次元物質 / 電荷密度波 / その場測定 / 電子回折 / 雑音測定 / 準安定相

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Two-dimensional (2D) material, such as graphene, is a nanometer-thick ultrathin film, which is obtained by mechanically exfoliating a layered material. The 2D material has the electronic phase that is distinguished from that of its bulk counterpart. Moreover, the 2D material usually exhibits its exotic electronic properties and functionalities if they are embedded into microdevices. Thus, we have many opportunities in the 2D material device. In this project, we focused on the thermodynamically metastable electronic phases that form only in ultrathin films embedded into microdevices. The microscopic structures of the metastable phases were revealed by means of transmission electron microscopy and noise spectroscopy on the 2D material-based microdevices.

Free Research Field

凝縮系物理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来、2次元物質あるいは層状物質においては、2次元的に広がる原子あるいは電子の構造だけが注目されてきたといってよい。しかし、本研究成果は、その原子・電子の2次元シートの積層構造が、系の安定性や物性に極めて大きな影響を与えていることを強く示唆している。原子・電子シートの準安定積層構造の探索が、2次元物質における新物性、新機能の発見に直結するという、今後の研究指針を、本研究成果は明示している。