Materials Property Division

JP

Surface and Interface Research Laboratory

Yong P. Chen

Distinguished Prof.Yong P. CHEN

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Spin-sensitive measurements of quantum materials: probing new regimes of magnetism, superconductivity and topological phases

Our Laboratory conducts Spintronic and Atomic Quantum Engineering (SAQE), exploring quantum materials (mostly 2D/van der Waals materials) at the atomic scale to discover and control novel quantum phenomena and exotic states of matter. We have significant efforts in developing and deploying advanced experimental techniques, particularly spin-sensitive ones, to probe quantum materials. The techniques used range from spintronic/quantum transport, optical (e.g. MOKE or Raman), and scanning tunneling microscopy to quantum sensing (utilizing atom-like qubit probes such as NV centers and h-BN defects). We aim to probe novel regimes of magnetism, superconductivity, and topology for applications ranging from energy efficient computing to quantum technologies. Finally, we use also artificial intelligence (AI) based methods to assist materials discovery and characterizations.

We are the leading team in such new area of spin based science focusing on the use of microscopic rotations.

quantum materials, magnetism, superconductivity, topological, spintronics, 2D materials
Representative lab equipment: (a) crystal growth furnaces; (b) glovebox with 2D materials exfoliation and transfer stage; (c) cryogenic probe stations and (d) physical properties measurement system (PPMS) for transport measurements; (e) Ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) ultralow temperature (300mK) scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with the vector magnet. The system is also equipped with various evaporators and a connected pulse laser deposition (PLD) chamber for thin film deposition.

Representative lab equipment: (a) crystal growth furnaces; (b) glovebox with 2D materials exfoliation and transfer stage; (c) cryogenic probe stations and (d) physical properties measurement system (PPMS) for transport measurements; (e) Ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) ultralow temperature (300mK) scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with the vector magnet. The system is also equipped with various evaporators and a connected pulse laser deposition (PLD) chamber for thin film deposition.

Representative experimental techniques and recent studies: (a) spin-sensitive transport (using spin-hall metal Pt to inject and probe spins) in a candidate spin-liquid materials (H.Idzuchi et al. Newton 2, 100505, 2026); (b) Magneto-optical-Kerr-effect (MOKE) observation of Moire magnetism in twisted layered antiferromagnets (G.Cheng et al. Nature Electronics 6, 434, 2023); (c) Discovery of a meta-stable pentagonal 2D material PdTe2 by STM (L.Liu et al. Nature Materials 23, 1339, 2024); (d) Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) on candidate topological superconductor FeTe0.5Se0.5 showing superconducting gap (black) and in-gap zero-bias peak (red, on an impurity atom) possibly associated with majorana mode; (e) Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of h-BN with defects for quantum sensing (M.Sadi, ACS Nano 20, 18219, 2026).

Representative experimental techniques and recent studies: (a) spin-sensitive transport (using spin-hall metal Pt to inject and probe spins) in a candidate spin-liquid materials (H.Idzuchi et al. Newton 2, 100505, 2026); (b) Magneto-optical-Kerr-effect (MOKE) observation of Moire magnetism in twisted layered antiferromagnets (G.Cheng et al. Nature Electronics 6, 434, 2023); (c) Discovery of a meta-stable pentagonal 2D material PdTe2 by STM (L.Liu et al. Nature Materials 23, 1339, 2024); (d) Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) on candidate topological superconductor FeTe0.5Se0.5 showing superconducting gap (black) and in-gap zero-bias peak (red, on an impurity atom) possibly associated with majorana mode; (e) Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of h-BN with defects for quantum sensing (M.Sadi et,al., ACS Nano 20, 18219, 2026).

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