Our research

This area focuses on identifying and engineering new classes of materials with quantum properties that can be harnessed for advanced electronic and quantum information technologies. Atomically thin materials behave in different ways compared to familiar macroscopic crystals. By stacking them together in Lego-like fashion we can create “designer” quantum materials with a new set of properties, not present in the individual layers. Twistronics — where electronic properties are controlled by twisting adjacent 2D layers at specific angles—has led to discoveries such as magic-angle graphene with unconventional superconductivity and tunable ferroelectrics. The search for 2D magnets (e.g., CrI₃, Fe₃GeTe₂) enables spintronic applications, while atomically thin superconductors may lead to ultra-compact quantum circuits. Research in this area underpins quantum computing, neuromorphic electronics, and ultra-sensitive sensors.

Here we explore how van der Waals and 2D materials can revolutionize the way we use light and heat in technology. Many 2D semiconductors (such as transition metal dichalcogenides, TMDs) absorb light with exceptionally high efficiency, which makes them suitable for flexible solar cells and smart photodetectors, especially when combined with peculiar ferrolectric properties of some of TMD polytypes. At the same time, electrons a holes injected into monolayers of MoS2 efficiently emit light, offering LED functionality compatible with a simultaneous transistor operation. Heterostructures comprising different 2D materials enable one to tailor spectral characteristics and achieve high-performance at low power consumption. This can be combined with the high thermal conductivity of graphene and hBN, which are excellent candidates for heat spreading, thermal barriers, and phonon engineering, contributing to thermal management in electronic and photonic devices. Applications range from smart windows and adaptive displays to tunable LEDs and photodetectors and thermoelectric materials for energy harvesting.

2D materials are extremely sensitive because every atom is sitting on the surface and therefore exposed to the environment. They can detect infrared/THz light, variation of temperature, gases, biomolecules at very low concentrations, or mechanical stimuli, making them ideal for sensors and detectors. For example, a graphene gas sensor can pick up just a few molecules of toxic gases (NO₂, CO). MoS₂-based biosensors can detect DNA strands or proteins, opening doors to wearable health monitors or point-of-care diagnostics. Flexible 2D material-based pressure sensors can be used for wearable electronics. Beyond sensing, 2D materials are also used in transistors, memory devices, flexible circuits, and neuromorphic devices. Their integration with CMOS technologies could enable highly miniaturized, multifunctional sensor networks for healthcare, environmental monitoring, and the Internet of Things.

This research area focuses on the design, synthesis, and applications of 2D materials - in the form of membranes, ultrathin crystals or 2D heterostructures - to address global energy challenges. By exploiting the unique physical, chemical, and electronic properties of atomically thin materials such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, and MXenes, we aim to develop next-generation technologies for energy conversion, storage, and harvesting. Our ongoing research includes studies of ion intercalation into layered 2D hosts (e.g., Li⁺, Na⁺, Zn²⁺), which is key to next-generation batteries and supercapacitors with high capacity and fast charging, atomically thin catalysts used to enhance the efficiency of solar water splitting and hydrogen evolution, and membranes for sustainable hydrogen production. Other examples include 2D membranes as highly selective ion conductors and durable separators, proton exchange membranes for fuel cells, and barrier layers for hydrogen purification and storage. This interdisciplinary field bridges materials science, nanotechnology, and renewable energy engineering, offering opportunities to contribute to innovative, sustainable energy solutions with real-world impact.

2D materials in the form of suspensions or powders (graphene oxide, MXenes, MoS₂ nanosheets) can be engineered into ultrathin membranes with precise pore sizes, enabling selective ion and molecular transport. Such membranes can achieve desalination, wastewater treatment, heavy-metal removal, and gas separation at high efficiency and low energy cost. In nanofluidics, 2D channels constructed in Lego-style from ultrathin crystals allow the study and manipulation of confined liquids and ions, with implications for biomolecule filtration, dialysis, and biosensing. Environmentally-friendly applications of this research include plastic-free water purification membranes, antifouling coatings, and energy-efficient separation of CO₂ from industrial emissions. This research mission directly addresses global challenges in clean water, sustainable industry, and environmental remediation, as well as medical applications such as filtration of biological fluids for medical diagnostics.

Even a very small amount of a 2D material can transform the properties of another material. The exceptional mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of 2D materials make them ideal reinforcements in composite systems. Incorporating graphene or MXenes into polymers, ceramics, or metals can dramatically improve mechanical strength, toughness, electrical conductivity, and barrier properties. In coatings, 2D materials provide superior protection against corrosion, wear, oxidation, and electromagnetic interference. For example, graphene-based coatings have been explored for anticorrosion in marine environments, while MXene-based films offer thermal and EMI shielding for electronic devices. These advances create multifunctional, durable materials for both industrial and consumer technologies. Applications include lightweight structural materials, aerospace composites, automotive parts, fire-retardant and EMI-shielding materials, and flexible conductors.

When molecules or ions are squeezed between layers of 2D materials, they both change properties of van der Waals compounds and behave in surprising ways themselves. This “nano-confinement” can speed up chemical reactions, change how ions move, make water move at ultrahigh speed, or even stabilize unusual phases of matter. Strong confinement leads to emergent phenomena such as new phase transitions, unusual ion transport, or selective molecular adsorption. Controlled confinement can also be used to catalyze chemical reactions at reduced energy costs. On the synthesis side, innovative techniques such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), molecular beam epitaxy, or solution-based growth are being refined to produce large-area, defect-engineered 2D materials and their heterostructures. At the same time, intercalation by ions can change optical appearance of materials, leading to adaptive optics systems. This area of research combines fundamental science with scalable manufacturing strategies for practical technologies.