Publications
Monolithic gyroidal mesoporous mixed titanium-niobium nitrides
Mesoporous transition metal nitrides are interesting materials for energy conversion and storage applications due to their conductivity and durability. We present ordered mixed titanium-niobium (8:2, 1:1) nitrides with gyroidal network structures synthesized from triblock terpolymer structure-directed mixed oxides. The materials retain both macroscopic integrity and mesoscale ordering despite heat treatment up to 600 °C, without a rigid carbon framework as a support. Furthermore, the gyroidal lattice parameters were varied by changing polymer molar mass.
Possible topological superconducting phases of MoS2
Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) has attracted much interest in recent years due to its potential applications in a new generation of electronic devices. Recently, it was shown that thin films of MoS2 can become superconducting with a highest Tc of 10 K when the material is heavily gated to the conducting regime. In this work, using the group theoretical approach, we determine the possible pairing symmetries of heavily gated MoS2.
Correlated vs. conventional insulating behavior in the Jeff= 12 vs. 32 bands in the layered iridate Ba2 IrO4
We employ molecular beam epitaxy to stabilize Ba2IrO4 thin films and utilize in situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to investigate the evolution of its electronic structure through the Néel temperature TN. Our measurements indicate that dispersions of the relativistic Jeff=1/2 and 3/2 bands exhibit an unusual dichotomy in their behavior through the Néel transition.
Direct evidence for a magnetic f-electron-mediated pairing mechanism of heavy-fermion superconductivity in CeCoIn5
To identify the microscopic mechanism of heavy-fermion Cooper pairing is an unresolved challenge in quantum matter studies; it may also relate closely to finding the pairing mechanism of hightemperature superconductivity. Magnetically mediated Cooper pairing has long been the conjectured basis of heavy-fermion superconductivity but no direct verification of this hypothesis was achievable.
Single layer graphene as an electrochemical platform
Over the past decade, there has been a great deal of interest in graphene with regards to its electrochemical behavior. Previous studies have focused on understanding fundamental processes such as charge transfer and molecular transport at the graphene-electrolyte interface as well as on applications of graphene in electronic, optical, and mechanical systems. We present illustrative examples of large area, single layer graphene platforms for applications such as optical and sensing devices as well as microfluidic systems.
Using origami design principles to fold reprogrammable mechanical metamaterials
Although broadly admired for its aesthetic qualities, the art of origami is now being recognized also as a framework for mechanical metamaterial design.Working with the Miura-ori tessellation, we find that each unit cell of this crease pattern is mechanically bistable, and by switching between states, the compressive modulus of the overall structure can be rationally and reversibly tuned. By virtue of their interactions, these mechanically stable lattice defects also lead to emergent crystallographic structures such as vacancies, dislocations, and grain boundaries.
Heating from continuous number density measurements in optical lattices
We explore the effects of continuous number density measurement on atoms in an optical lattice. By integrating a master equation for quantum observables, we calculate how single-particle correlations decay. We consider weakly and strongly interacting bosons and noninteracting fermions. Even in the Mott regime, such measurements destroy correlations and increase the average energy, as long as some hopping is allowed. We explore the role of spatial resolution and find that the heating rate is proportional to the amount of information gained from such measurements.
Predicting fruit fly's sensing rate with insect flight simulations
Without sensory feedback, flies cannot fly. Exactly how various feedback controls work in insects is a complex puzzle to solve. What do insects measure to st abilize their flight? How often and how fast must insects adjust their wings to remain stable? To gain insights into algorithms used by insects to control their dynamic instability, we develop a simulation tool to study free flight. To stabilize flight, we construct a control algorithm that modulates wing motion based on discrete measurements of the body-pitch orientation.
Atomically precise interfaces from non-stoichiometric deposition
Complex oxide heterostructures display some of the most chemically abrupt, atomically precise interfaces, which is advantageous when constructing new interface phases with emergent properties by juxtaposing incompatible ground states. One might assume that atomically precise interfaces result from stoichiometric growth. Here we show that the most precise control is, however, obtained by using deliberate and specific non-stoichiometric growth conditions.
A method to recapitulate early embryonic spatial patterning in human embryonic stem cells
Embryos allocate cells to the three germ layers in a spatially ordered sequence. human embryonic stem cells (hescs) can generate the three germ layers in culture; however, differentiation is typically heterogeneous and spatially disordered. We show that geometric confnement is suffcient to trigger self-organized patterning in hescs. in response to BmP4, colonies reproducibly differentiated to an outer trophectoderm-like ring, an inner ectodermal circle and a ring of mesendoderm expressing primitive-streak markers in between.