Physics & Astronomy Lecture Series: Dr. Jocienne Nelson

Atomic spray paint for renewable energy & energy efficiency

Thin films of materials are an essential ingredient for devices ranging from transistors to high efficiency solar cells. In this talk I will discuss the use of atomic spray paint or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to grow materials with atomic layer-by-layer control. This enables the creation of stacks of materials and engineering of electronic behavior. I will describe MBE synthesis of three-dimensional topological semimetals (TSMs) which are a new class of materials. I will discuss defects induced by film growth, their impact on electronic properties, and strategies to mitigate them. Three-dimensional TSMs are promising for energy efficient electronics and renewable energy but have largely been unavailable in thin film form to date. This effort may
reduce the barrier for using topological semimetals in applications, leading to the development of novel energy saving electronics.