Research Thrusts

Thrust 1: Synthesis and Advanced Characterization of Oxide Membranes and Twisted 3D/3D Bicrystals

Our research in Thrust 1 focuses on creating and studying atomically precise oxide membranes and assembling them into twisted three-dimensional (3D/3D) bicrystals with controlled orientations. Using advanced hybrid molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), we grow freestanding oxide films with exceptional structural quality and then engineer twist angles at the interfaces to access new physical phenomena. These bicrystals provide a unique platform to explore how lattice orientation, orbital interactions, and electronic reconstructions influence material properties. To fully understand these complex structures, we combine state-of-the-art tools for surface, interface, orbital, electronic, magnetic, and structural characterization, including atomic-level imaging, depth-resolved spectroscopy, and microscopic optical probes. Together, these efforts aim to uncover novel functionalities in oxide materials, paving the way for future quantum technologies.

Thrust 2: Multiscale Approaches to Understanding and Designing Twisted 3D/3D Bicrystal Oxides

Thrust 2 focuses on developing theoretical and computational frameworks to understand and predict the behavior of twisted oxide bicrystals across multiple length scales. Introducing a twist between crystalline layers generates novel interfacial symmetries that can drive entirely new structural, electronic, and ferroic responses. To capture these phenomena, we employ a multiscale strategy: first-principles atomistic calculations provide fundamental insight into orbital interactions, lattice distortions, and electronic reconstructions, while continuum approaches reveal how these effects evolve into emergent material responses. By bridging atomistic and continuum modeling, this thrust builds a predictive foundation for twist engineering, guiding experimental efforts and enabling the rational design of oxide bicrystals with tailored quantum functionalities.

Thrust 3: Emergent Electronic, Magnetic, and Optoelectronic Properties with a Twist

Thrust 3 explores the new physical properties that emerge when oxide materials are combined into twisted 3D/3D bicrystals. By introducing a controlled twist, we can engineer chiral electronic states, unconventional spintronic responses, and novel multiferroic behaviors that go beyond what is possible in untwisted structures. This includes studying how twisting modifies electronic band dispersions, creates new coupling between orbital, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom, and stabilizes exotic ferroic states. In parallel, we investigate optoelectronic functionalities enabled by twist engineering, such as the formation of polaritons and the emergence of nonlinear optical responses. Our broader aim in this thrust is to uncover the diverse range of electronic, magnetic, and optical phenomena that only arise through twist engineering, establishing a foundation for future quantum, spintronic, and photonic technologies.