A central constraint in condensed matter physics is that crystal structure, a primary determinant of electronic, magnetic, and optical properties, is fixed once a material is synthesized. My vision is to overcome this constraint by making the crystal structure electrically rewritable. Focusing on layered materials such as graphite, I pioneered “slidetronics,” the use of gate voltage to drive switching between distinct stacking configurations via interlayer sliding. Building on this foundation, I will harness electrically rewritable crystal structures to control quantum phases, including magnetism, superconductivity, and topological phases. I will use this capability to construct reconfigurable quantum devices, such as superconducting circuits, whose function can be programmed, erased, and reprogrammed for specific tasks. Ultimately, I will extend these principles beyond layered materials to establish reconfigurable matter as a universal paradigm in materials science.
Awards and Achievements
- ONR Young Investigator Award
- IUPAP Early Career Scientist Prize in Semiconductors