Speaker: Dr. Robert Jacobberger, postdoctoral scholar in the Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction at Northwestern University
Title: Defining Materials with Atomic Precision for Electronic, Photonic, and Quantum Devices
Abstract: Engineering materials with atomic precision promises unprecedented control over their properties and, in turn, development of state-of-the-art electronic, photonic, and quantum devices. However, producing materials with such high structural fidelity is a major challenge. In this talk, I will discuss approaches toward overcoming this obstacle.
First, I will demonstrate how molecular design enables quantum devices based on photogenerated spin qubits in organic semiconductors. Chemical synthesis is exploited to designatomically precise molecular building blocks that control intermolecular interactions when assembled into single crystals. Photogenerated multiexcitons within the crystals exhibit promising qubit properties, including initialization into a well-defined quantum state, individually addressable transitions, long coherence time, and room-temperature stability. Thissystem provides an exciting path to realize dense arrays of optically addressable qubits that are generated on demand and at specific locations.
Second, I will demonstrate how driving graphene crystal growth into a previously unexplored anisotropic regime enables synthesis of aligned graphene nanoribbon arrays directly on conventional semiconductors. The nanoribbons’ excellent structural properties, including tunable sub-5 nm widths, atomic thinness, and nearly atomically sharp edges, transform graphene from a zero-bandgap semimetal into a semiconductor with high-performance charge transportproperties, promising next-generation semiconductor technologies. The atomically defined ribbons also enable a new paradigm for directing the assembly of block copolymers into technologically useful patterns, providing an attractive path for nanofabrication at sub-10 nm scales.
Biography: Dr. Robert M. Jacobberger’s research focuses on developing scalable approaches to engineer low-dimensional materials and heterostructures for designer electronic, photonic, and quantum devices. Robert is currently a postdoctoral scholar in the Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction at Northwestern University, where he works with Prof.
Seminar Host: Jun Cui
Webinar link: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/92556118410