From graphene functionalisation to phase-change materials - current and proposed research

In the first half of this week's seminar, I will describe my current research before outlining a research project for which I am looking to obtain funding.

For many applications it is essential to modify the electronic properties of graphene in a controlled fashion. This can be achieved via oxygen and nitrogen functionalization in ultra-high vacuum, leading to a system in which electronic and structural properties can be systematically studied. We directly compare insights from DFT calculations on functionalized graphene systems (e.g. low-energy configurations, binding energies and effective band structures) to results from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and low-voltage aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy experiments.

Phase-change materials (PCMs) are promising candidates for widely used non-volatile RAM modules. I propose to create an atomistic model of a PCM to illuminate the largely unknown processes involved in fast recrystallisation. These results could then be employed to design a sustainable alternative to the currently used Ge-Se-Te compounds.