Center for Functional Nanomaterials Seminar

Two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit exceptional electronic, optical, and mechanical properties, providing a fertile ground for fundamental discoveries and technological innovation. In this talk, I present a unified narrative connecting electronic transport, nanoscale optical and STM imaging, and automated fabrication in 2D materials. I will begin with graphene patterned into one-dimensional superlattices, a platform where multiple Dirac cones and anisotropic flattening of electronic dispersion can be achieved via gate control, offering insights into band engineering in 2D systems. Next, I will discuss a terahertz scanning near-field optical microscopy (THz-SNOM) study that visualizes nanoscale electronic interactions in graphene's Dirac fluid. I will also highlight challenges and findings from scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of 2D materials at millikelvin temperatures, including counterintuitive tunneling spectra from bilayer graphene (BLG)–hBN moiré systems. Finally, I will introduce AutoLab, a DOE Energy I-Corps–supported robotics platform for automating 2D material device fabrication and other nanoscience processes. AutoLab presents an integrated, scalable approach that complements the Center for Functional Nanomaterials' existing framework and capabilities.