Project Details
Electronic correlations in functionalized graphene on SiC
Applicant
Professor Dr. Tim Wehling
Subject Area
Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
Term
since 2021
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 449119662
This project explores how proximity coupling of graphene’s Dirac electrons can be used to control correlations and dynamical quantum matter phenomena, focusing on superconductivity, orbital and spin order, Mott metal-insulator transitions as well as dynamical band structure engineering. To achieve this, we will pursue two central themes. First, we will investigate how to harness the non-trivial quantum geometry of graphene’s Dirac electrons by hybridizing them with flat band states and artificial heavy fermion systems. Second, we will study the coupling of additional degrees of freedom such as substrate phonons, adsorbate phonons, and external bands into the graphene electronic system to enhance interaction effects. We will explore how the interplay of hybridization, doping and covalent chemical modifications of epitaxial graphene can enhance correlations in graphene-based systems. As in the first funding period, we will combine explorative model studies with ab initio investigations of real materials focusing on proximity coupling and hybridization in epitaxial graphene with tailored intercalant and adsorbate layers. Using many-body Green’s function and ab initio techniques, we will compute phase diagrams, electronic spectral functions and quasiparticle properties, which will be directly compared with experiments being performed in this research unit. Jointly, we will work towards controlling electron correlations in flat bands hybridized with graphene, control and optimization of phonon-supported superconductivity in epitaxial graphene hybrid structures as well as phonon driving for control of band structures and correlation effects in epitaxial graphene hybrid structures.
DFG Programme
Research Units
