Contacts:
Dennis Christensen (dechr@dtu.dk), Merlin von Soosten (mervso@dtu.dk) or Nini Pryds (nipr@dtu.dk) tel.: 46775752.
Background: We have recently implemented a new method where nanocircuits can be created at the Al2O3/SrTiO3 interface similar to making drawings on a paper with a pencil: If we control the deposition of Al2O3 on SrTiO3, we can create insulating interfaces (the paper). Applying positive potential on the tip of an atomic force microscope (the pencil) and drawing a pattern on the surface then results in creating conducting nanowires with a ~10nm width at the interface in the same pattern. If we reverse the potential on the tip (turning the pencil to use the rubber), the conducting nanowires can be erased (see Figure).
Challenge: The main challenge of this interesting method of creating nanowires is the stability of these nanowires: Within minutes to hours after writing the conducting nanowires, the conductivity decreases considerably before it eventually disappears.
The proposed project: In this project, you will be creating these nanowires. You will then study the stability of these nanowires under different atmosphere. At the end, the goal will be to publish an article on this stability research.