A new class of layered materials was recently proposed to harbor a special electronic structure where topology and correlation effects mix. Very recent theoretical work shows that this special material may harbor a correlated Mott state [1]. The race is on to further investigate its properties and to test whether these materials can be changed to achieve superconductivity.
In this project, you will take the lead in a collaboration between groups at the TU Delft [2] and Universiteit Radboud to measure the optical properties of this novel material for the first time. These experiments will provide an important confirmation of the theoretical proposal in Ref. [1]. In addition, by measuring the changes in the optical spectrum as function of temperature, you will study the impact of magnetic order on the electronic structure.
For more details contact me by sending an email!
1. S. Grytsiuk, M. I. Katsnelson, E. G. C. P. van Loon, M. Rösner, Nb3Cl8: a prototypical layered Mott-Hubbard insulator. npj Quantum Mater. 9, 1–13 (2024).
2. J. Yoon, E. Lesne, K. Sklarek, J. Sheckelton, C. Pasco, S. S. P. Parkin, T. M. McQueen, M. N. Ali, Anomalous thickness-dependent electrical conductivity in van der Waals layered transition metal halide, Nb 3 Cl 8. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 32, 304004 (2020).