Acronym : ORGANISO
Project leader : F. Chérioux
Partnership : Institut Néel (Grenoble), IPCMS (Strasbourg) and FEMTO-ST
Summary :
Symmetry is a far-reaching concept in view of the generation of novel classical and quantum phases. Playing with the crystal and time (a)symmetries, as can be done in crystalline substances in the presence of a sizable spin-orbit interaction, has focused a great deal of research in the past years, which has put strong emphasis on the topology of the electronic
band structure of novel materials. Topological insulators (TIs) are such materials, characterized by a dissipation-less electronic conduction at their edges, and in principle an insulating behavior in their interior. In these compounds, most of which were previously known as good thermoelectrics (TEs), the strong spin-orbit coupling is brought by high atomic number elements. The prospect for applications based on them, in the fields of spintronics, micro-electronics, metrology, and thermoelectricity, raises the key questions of their production cost and eco-friendliness. The available inorganic materials are not well-positioned in these respects. Our proposal consists in transposing the concept of a TI to crystalline organic materials, which will meet the future technological requirements for low-cost and eco-friendly materials, besides being flexible. The project targets unambiguous signatures of an organic topological insulator (OTI), and proof-of-principle meso- and nano-devices for electronic and thermal transport. The project also targets original insights into the unique quantum spin Hall state, by means of high resolution spin-sensitive imaging. The chosen strategy is strongly multidisciplinary, and covers a broad range from materials science, to surface physics, electronic device physics, and computational chemistry and physics. The consortium gathers experts from three leading academic research laboratories, bringing complementary approaches and backgrounds. Institut FEMTO-ST will lead the chemistry side of the work-plan.
Institut Néel will be in charge of combined structural, vibrational, and electronic transport studies, and will also conduct the theoretical work. IPCMS will perform low-temperature microscopy and spin-polarized spectroscopy.
Nature of the project : recherche
Funding agency : ANR
Grant or funding obtained : 400 k€
Project start and end date : 02/2016 – 08/2020
Major result : publication in nature chemistry describing photo-induced radical polymerization on a surface.