Our work focuses on the growth of complex oxide thin films, mulitlayers, superlattices and nanostructures for electronic and energy applications. These applications include next-generation memory and logic devices, quantum computation, catalysis and photovoltaics. Complex oxides such as perovskites with the chemical formula ABO3 and spinels with the formula AB2O4 have excellent properties for these applications. Through a variety of doping techniques, design of interfaces, and epitaxial growth techniques, we are looking at ways to produce synthetic materials with non-equilibrium properties that can improve the functionality of these systems for future technologies.
We use hybrid molecular beam epitaxy to grow extremely high quality epitaxial films. We employ in situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to measure the film stoichiometry to ensure that we are making ideal films. Our XPS capabilities also allow us to measure valence band structure, band alignment across interfaces, built-in electric fields, charge transfer, and the oxidation state of the constituent ions in the crystal. This allows us to understand the properties of our materials as they are grown and allows us to quickly generate high impact results.
Through collaborations with researchers at Auburn, outside universities, and Department of Energy national labs we characterize the structural, chemical, and functional properties of the materials that we synthesize. Some of these techniques include scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Much of our work also relies on collaborations with condensed matter theory groups who can model the electronic structure of uniform films and at interfaces. Students and postdocs in the group regularly learn some of these techniques as well to advance their own work.
We have federally-funded projects from the National Science Foundation, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and Department of Energy. Projects in the FINO Lab are described here.