Project description
A step closer to the first practical 3D topological insulator device
Topological insulators are exotic states of matter that behave as an insulator in their interior, but their surface contains conducting states, meaning that electrons can only move along the material surface. Electron transport in 3D topological insulators is dominated by bulk carriers that limit their potential to be used in modern spintronic devices and applications. The EU-funded MATTER project will provide a route around this barrier by following a nanoparticle design approach based on early stage sintering. Experimental work will be complemented by spectroscopic characterisation of nanoparticle properties as well as theoretical work on transport modelling. The project aims to demonstrate the first practical macroscopic quantum transport devices that utilise the electronic properties of surface states.
Objective
Ever since the discovery of topological surface states in three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators (TI), this fascinating physics has thrilled scientists. While arguable the transport properties of 3D TIs are of utmost importance for potential applications, they are extremely difficult to characterize, yet utilize for devices. The reason is that transport in those materials is always dominated by bulk carriers. Within this proposed research project, I will overcome the problem of bulk carrier domination conceptually by a nanoparticle-based materials’ design of interrupted early stage sintering. By this interrupted early stage sintering approach, I compact 3D TI nanoparticles at mild temperature and low pressure. The obtained highly porous macroscopic sample features a carrier density of the surface states in the order of 1018 cm-3, hence in a comparable order of magnitude as the bulk carrier density. Further, the interruptedly sintered nanoparticles impose energetic barriers for the transport of bulk carriers (hopping transport), while the connected surfaces of the nanoparticles provide a 3D percolation path for surface carriers. Within the preliminary work, my group tuned interruptedly sintered nanoparticles into a transport regime completely dominated by the surface states.
Within this project, nanoparticle-based macroscopic 3D TI materials will be developed towards test structures for devices. Their properties will be tailored by the nanoparticle synthesis (Objective 1) and the materials processing of interrupted early stage sintering (Objective 2). This is complemented by an in-depth characterization of the transport as well as spectroscopic properties and data modelling (Objective 3). My group will use this know-how for the fabrication of test devices (Objective 4). This combination will provide the first macroscopic quantum transport devices that utilize the unique electronic properties of surface states, overcoming the problem of bulk carrier domination
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
45141 ESSEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.