Thesis title: Manipulating Material Properties by Nanoscale Crystal Curvature
My thesis is focused on studying the curvature-induced effects in free-standing nanomembranes of various oxides/semiconductors. By using patterned substrates, fabricated via thermal scanning probe lithography (t-SPL), and free-standing membranes, which are fabricated in-house using pulsed laser depositioning (PLD) and sacrificial layer techniques, it is possible to induce curvature in the crystalline structures of the nanomembranes, which can break crystal symmetries, thereby altering the electronic and material properties of the membranes. Examples of such material changes are ferroelectricity, piezoelectricity, and lower-order phonon modes being unlocked, due to local strain fields. These effects can be investigated using a combination of various techniques such as atomic force microscopy, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and other types of force microscopy.
Start date: 15-08-24
Finish date: 14-08-27
PhD supervisors: Thomas Sand Jespersen, Shinhee Yun, Nini Pryds