Two-Dimensional Quantum Materials

Two-dimensional (2D) Van der Waals quantum materials and heterostructures have opened unprecedented opportunities to explore new physics and device concepts. Using the theoretical modeling based on density functional theory (DFT), we explore fascinating properties emerging in 2D quantum materials, such as ferroelectricity, quantum anomalous Hall effect, charge density wave, and superconductivity, and design the promising devices for nanoscale electronics.  

Research highlights:

1. Tunneling valley Hall effect
   • Shu-Hui Zhang(+), Ding-Fu Shao(+), Zi-An Wang, Jin Yang, Wen Yang(+), and Evgeny Y. Tsymbal(+), Tunneling valley Hall effect driven by tilted Dirac fermions, Physical Review Letters 131, 246301 (2023).
2. 2D Antiferroelectric tunnel junction
   • Jun Ding, Ding-Fu Shao, Ming Li, Li-Wei Wen, and Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Two-dimensional antiferroelectric tunnel junction, Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 057601 (2021).
      
3. A native ferroelectric semimetal
   • Pankaj Sharma, Fei-Xiang Xiang, Ding-Fu Shao, Dawei Zhang, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Alex R. Hamilton, and Jan Seidel, A room-temperature ferroelectric semimetal, Sci. Adv. 5, eaax5080 (2019).
      
4. Spintronic properties controlled by 2D ferroelectricity

   • Tengfei Cao, Ding-Fu Shao, Kai Huang, Gautam Gurung, and Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Switchable Anomalous Hall Effects in Polar-Stacked 2D Antiferromagnet MnBi₂Te₄, Nano Lett. 23, 3781 (2023).

   • Kai Huang, Ding-Fu Shao, and Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Ferroelectric Control of Magnetic Skyrmions in Two-Dimensional van der Waals Heterostructures, Nano Lett. 22, 3349 (2022).

   • Ding-Fu Shao, Jun Ding, Gautam Gurung, Shu-Hui Zhang, and Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Interfacial Crystal Hall Effect Reversible by Ferroelectric Polarization, Phys. Rev. Appl. 15, 024057 (2021).  

5. Charge density wave and superconductivity
   • D. F. Shao, R. C. Xiao, W. J. Lu, H. Y. Lv, J. Y. Li, X. B. Zhu, and Y. P. Sun, Manipulating charge density waves in 1T−TaS₂ by charge-carrier doping: A first-principles investigation, Phys. Rev. B 94, 125126 (2016).
      
   • Y. Liu, D. F. Shao, L. J. Li, W. J. Lu, X. D. Zhu, P. Tong, R. C. Xiao, L. S. Ling, C. Y. Xi, L. Pi, H. F. Tian, H. X. Yang, J. Q. Li, W. H. Song, X. B. Zhu, and Y. P. Sun, Nature of charge density waves and superconductivity in 1T−TaSe_2-xTe_x，Phys. Rev. B 94, 045131 (2016).
      
   • R. C. Xiao, D. F. Shao, W. J. Lu, H. Y. Lv, J. Y. Li, and Y. P. Sun, Enhanced superconductivity by strain and carrier-doping in borophene: A first principles prediction, Appl. Phys. Lett. 109, 122604 (2016).  
   • D. F. Shao, W. J. Lu, H. Y. Lv, and Y. P. Sun, Electron-doped phosphorene: A potential monolayer superconductor, EPL 108, 67004 (2014).