Fundamentals and applications of quantum electronics: exploring an exotic quantum state in nanostructured materials and exploiting know how for new analytical chemical detectors

量子电子学的基础和应用：探索纳米结构材料中的奇异量子态并利用新型分析化学探测器的专业知识

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-04606
• 负责人: Dhirani, AlAmin
• 金额: $ 1.46万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=649212
• 关键词: Fundamentals; applications; quantum; electronics; exploring

My research focuses on electronics that contain nanostructured materials (NSMs) as critical elements. This is a highly interdisciplinary field, which involves: a) chemistry - synthesizing/assembling nanostructures, chemically functionalizing surfaces; b) physics - understanding charge transport in new NSM materials and implications for more traditional materials; and c) engineering - developing new electronic devices and applications. In view of its interdisciplinary nature, this area is relatively unexplored and offers significant new opportunities as described below. We have been making seminal contributions to this area and propose to build on these achievements as follows:******1. NSMs and quantum electron correlations: My group is pioneering the study of metal-insulator transition (MIT) in NSMs. In the last funding cycle, near MIT, we were the first to observe - in any NSM - an exotic quantum state with strongly correlated, delocalized electrons. Correlations are widely believed to be critical for high Tc superconductivity (cuprates), colossal magnetoresistivity (manganites), exotic superconductivity (fullerites, layered organic salts), and others. These phenomena (materials) are some of the most studied in history, and their understanding remains a quest in materials science.******Our observing correlated electrons in NSMs is a breakthrough given our control over NSMs. Here, we propose to incorporate NSMs into transistors, study relationships between NSM parameters and the correlated state, and engineer/study new NSM architectures. These studies will explore the origins of correlations, means to raise transition temperatures to which they survive, elucidate important excitations and their roles in electron delocalizaton, etc. These are important but still open questions. Such information can help better understand correlated materials generally and perhaps even point to new such materials. This would be very exciting given their great scientific and technological interest.******2. Microfabricated, nanogap sensor: In the last funding cycle, we developed a conductivity detector for solutions which proved suitable for commercial application. Building on this success, we also designed and microfabricated a silicon-based, nanogap device to sensitively monitor adsorption/desorption of molecules to/from its surface. The patented, novel design enables several features, including cost effectiveness, mechanical stability, label-free sensing and robust surface tunability via silanization. In the present funding cycle, I propose to functionalize the sensor's surface with various "receptors" and sense selective/specific "targets". These results have direct application to sense hazardous species in drinking/environmental water and various molecules for biomedical and drug discovery applications. ********

我的研究重点是包含纳米结构材料 (NSM) 作为关键元素的电子产品。 这是一个高度跨学科的领域，其中涉及： a) 化学 - 合成/组装纳米结构、化学功能化表面； b) 物理学 - 了解新型 NSM 材料中的电荷传输以及对更传统材料的影响； c) 工程 - 开发新的电子设备和应用。 鉴于其跨学科性质，该领域相对尚未被探索，并提供了如下所述的重要新机会。 我们一直在这一领域做出了开创性的贡献，并建议在这些成就的基础上再接再厉，如下：*****1。 NSM 和量子电子相关性：我的团队正在开创 NSM 中金属-绝缘体转变 (MIT) 的研究。在麻省理工学院附近的上一个资助周期中，我们是第一个在任何 NSM 中观察到具有强相关、离域电子的奇异量子态。人们普遍认为相关性对于高 Tc 超导性（铜酸盐）、巨磁阻性（锰酸盐）、奇异超导性（富勒体、层状有机盐）等至关重要。这些现象（材料）是历史上研究最多的现象，对它们的理解仍然是材料科学的一个探索。******考虑到我们对 NSM 的控制，我们观察 NSM 中的相关电子是一项突破。在这里，我们建议将 NSM 合并到晶体管中，研究 NSM 参数和相关状态之间的关系，并设计/研究新的 NSM 架构。 这些研究将探索相关性的起源、提高它们生存的转变温度的方法、阐明重要的激发及其在电子离域中的作用等。这些都是重要但仍然悬而未决的问题。 这些信息可以帮助更好地理解相关材料，甚至可能指向新的此类材料。 鉴于他们对科学和技术的巨大兴趣，这将是非常令人兴奋的。*****2。微加工纳米间隙传感器：在上一个融资周期中，我们开发了一种电导率检测器解决方案，经证明适合商业应用。在此成功的基础上，我们还设计并微制造了一种硅基纳米间隙装置，以灵敏地监测分子在其表面的吸附/解吸。获得专利的新颖设计具有多种功能，包括成本效益、机械稳定性、无标记传感和通过硅烷化实现的强大表面可调性。在当前的资助周期中，我建议使用各种“受体”和感知选择性/特定“目标”来功能化传感器的表面。 这些结果可直接应用于检测饮用水/环境水中的有害物质以及生物医学和药物发现应用中的各种分子。 ******