It is predicted that by 2030 more than 20% of the global electricity demand will come from computing, urging the transition to next-generation, energy-efficient quantum computing technologies. This will require development of novel materials with enhanced magnetic and electrical control. The ferromagnetic 2D-layered Van der Waals material CrI3 is one of the most promising materials for spintronics and can readily be integrated into layered circuits. However, investigations on the optical properties of CrI3 are severely lacking. My research will focus both on incorporating carefully designed atomic defects such as lanthanides, as well as characterizing and iteratively optimizing the system using optical spectroscopy techniques. The goal is to modulate the overall electronic and magnetic properties for targeted applications such as system probes or single photon emitters for information transmission. For a more thorough understanding of the underlying interactions, studies will also be done on doped versions of the analogous chromium trihalides CrBr3 and CrCl3, as well as the non-magnetic BiI3. Understanding the magneto-optical properties of this material, along with achieving tunability, will enable spin-based devices to become the dominant computing paradigm, and dramatically increase the overall energy efficiency of the computing industry.
Advisor: Daniel Gamelin – Chemistry