Magneto-opto-electronics of novel 2D magnetic semiconductors

Dmitry Lebedev

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials are layered solids, which can be thinned down to one-atom-thick sheets with fascinating optical, electronic, and mechanical properties. The pool of 2D materials is rapidly expanding since the discovery of graphene – single layer graphite – in 2004. In 2017 two chromium-based materials – CrI₃ and Cr₂Ge₂Te₆ – were shown to maintain a long-range magnetic order down to a monolayer thickness, which was the first demonstration of magnetism in 2D. This discovery has opened new direction in the world of 2D materials and attracted significant interest of the research community.

During my stay in the Department of Quantum Matter Physics at the University of Geneva I will explore optical and electronic properties of novel 2D magnets. I propose combining magnetism with the semiconducting properties, which will open unique functionalities emerging at the interplay of magnetism and optoelectronics, such as voltage control over the magnetization, magnetic field control of light emission, optical writing and reading the magnetic state. I also propose to tune the discovered functionalities by modifying the properties of 2D material via chemical means, such as doping and formation of solid solutions. Realization of these phenomena and precise control over the properties are central for emerging quantum computing and memory applications.