News

PARADIM Highlight #40 reports an automated, nondestructive method using high-energy synchrotron X-rays to map grains during floating-zone growth of TiO2. The study tracks grain position, size, and shape, revealing a single grain that dominates and fills the boule. This advances growth models and accelerates materials development; data published and available.

Many electronic devices, like non-volatile high-density memories, ultra-fast switches, and thin film capacitors, rely on ferroelectric materials—a class of materials with spontaneous electrical polarization which can be reproducibly switched. In two-dimensional (2D) and quasi-2D ferroelectric materials the size of ferroelectric domains can be small which may enable the miniaturization of devices. Understanding of ferroelectric domain structure at the atomic scale is, however, limited, hindering the development of functional device units at the microscopic level.

We used the 2DCC multimodule molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and surface characterization facility to study the influence of various capping layers on the Tc of ultrathin films of FeSe grown on SrTiO3. The multimodule facility’s in vacuo four-probe electrical resistance measurement capability provided critical information about the Tc of MBE-grown FeSe films in their pristine state, while ex situ magneto-transport measurements elucidated the key role of distinct charge transfer from different capping layers (compound FeTe, non-metallic Te, and metallic Zr). Our results show that FeTe provides an optimal cap that barely influences the inherent Tc found in pristine FeSe/SrTiO3, while the transfer of holes from a non-metallic Te cap completely suppresses superconductivity and leads to insulating behavior.

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering has elected Heather Maynard and Megan Valentine to its College of Fellows for their significant contributions in protein-polymer synthesis and biomaterials analysis, respectively. This honor recognizes elite engineers who have made impactful advancements in medical and biological engineering.

Two UC Santa Barbara engineers, Craig Hawker and Rachel Segalman, have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2021. They were recognized for their significant contributions in materials and chemistry, with Segalman focusing on semiconducting block polymers and Hawker on polymer chemistry and molecular engineering.

Prof. Heather Maynard, a leader in protein-polymer conjugates and co-Director of BioPACIFIC MIP, has been appointed as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Her contributions to synthetic methods and material properties, coupled with her commitment to collaboration, exemplify her dedication to advancing chemical sciences.

The California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA successfully adapted its nanoscience education programs to an online format during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling continued community engagement. Under Dr. Rita Blaik's leadership, hands-on experiments were restructured for home use, enhancing outreach opportunities and supporting the BioPACIFIC MIP's educational mission.

Researchers at Penn State have demonstrated that two-dimensional materials, like molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide, can be used to create smaller, more efficient transistors compared to traditional silicon. These advancements could lead to faster and more energy-efficient computers, addressing the growing demand for data processing and storage.

BioPACIFIC MIP has introduced its inaugural cohort of 25 Fellows and Associates, comprising graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from UCSB, UCLA, and UNC Chapel Hill. They will engage in research training, professional development, and networking. More information is available on the Education page.

The principal challenges in current thermoelectric power generation modules are the availability of stable, diffusion-resistant, lossless electrical and thermal metal–semiconductor contacts that do not degrade at the hot end nor cause reductions in device efficiency. Transverse thermoelectric devices, in which a thermal gradient in a single material induces a perpendicular voltage, promise to overcome these problems.