Consortium for advanced materials based on spin chirality

Chirality is ubiquitous and underpins our understanding of research fields as diverse as particle physics and molecular biology. It is the symmetry property of an object to exist as distinguishable left- and right-handed forms. Chirality also governs useful electronic and optical properties of many advanced materials. We will now use our understanding of this electronic and structural chirality to create a variety of new technologies. We will establish an international consortium centred on the exploitation of electronic chirality in advanced materials, with a particular interest in their electromagnetic response. We will combine international expertise spanning the synthesis, characterisation and theory of chiral electronic media with an ambition to make advances in a variety of technologies, ranging from next generation information and communication technologies to improved bio-sensors. Our consortium comprises 4 core scientists and additional collaborators from across the University of Glasgow and 18 core scientists from Universities and Institutes in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyushu and Hiroshima. It will be augmented by collaboration with Ural Federal University, Russia and Monash University, Australia. It will be facilitated by a number of meetings, research visits, researcher exchanges and larger conferences involving the broader community.

We target three broad themes, in which our individual expertise will be stimulated by fresh perspectives brought by the consortium.

1) Atomic-scale electronic chirality and novel magnetic crystals.
A simple manifestation of electronic chirality is the emergence of magnetism. The most fundamental electronic correlations in chiral crystals can give rise to a variety of magnetic orderings, of which only a small subset (skyrmions) have been recognised as potentially useful. Our insight is to study the largely overlooked area of helicoidal media, which have spiral arrangements of magnetic moments and are more robust and easier to realise than skyrmions. We will combine our expertise in chiral materials (Hiroshima) with internationally-leading electron microscopy of magnetic materials (Glasgow) and theory (Urals) to propel an exploration of artificially designed and naturally occurring helicoidal magnetic materials that have strong potential for applications utilising magnetoresistance and magneto-optical response.

2) Micron-scale electronic chirality and chiral plasmonic metamaterials.
Plasmons - collective electronic excitations - can interact strongly with electromagnetic radiation, particularly in patterned metallic structures. We will explore chirally patterned media that we have already demonstrated to have a number of applications. For example, Glasgow has pioneered the use of such chiral plasmons as ultra-sensitive sensors for chiral biomolecules whilst Tokyo has expertise in the optical characterisation of such structures. A second application is the development of on-chip plasmonics to form the basis of a wide class of devices suitable for THz applications (Glasgow), which we will now augment by incorporating chiral patterned magnetic materials as reconfigurable components. These composite structures offer new possibilities for application as THz phase shifters or sensors for functionalised nanoparticles.

3) Chirally-sensitive electron probes.
The study of chiral materials is eased by the development of chiral-specific techniques. Glasgow has long-standing expertise in the use of chiral photon probes in the context of optical orbital angular momentum for light beams whilst Monash has expertise in forming analogous electronic probes that would be suitable for chirally-specific electron microscopy. Prototypical measurements in the use of such vortex beams for imaging plasmonic structures and chiral spin textures are already underway (Hiroshima, Glasgow) and will be employed for the first time in the study of materials generated in both of the above themes.

WHO?
Our principal impact lies in the development of KNOWLEDGE: through the discovery and analysis of new materials; by the development of new analytical tools; and by our long-term goals to develop new device concepts. There is long-term potential for wide-ranging industrial and societal impact, as explored below. Our second theme centres on PEOPLE: enhanced researcher mobility, particularly of ECRs, is central to the project and funding request. For the ECRs, the training opportunities are substantial, benefitting the 'pipeline' of highly skilled researchers required for our knowledge economy.
* Some of our consortium are renowned for crystal growth and manufacture of molecular crystals and rare earth compounds. An important aspect of our proposal is the discovery and production of new chiral and magnetic materials, to the benefit of all stages of the product chain, from materials suppliers to end-users.
* Industrialists working in the areas of microelectronics, data storage, telecommunications and sensing applications will benefit from the development of new materials. Our ambition is to model and develop plasmonic devices that are augmented by the incorporation of intrinsically chiral crystalline materials. We will be the first to explore the optical properties of these augmented devices and expect them to operate in the low THz regime, a frequency region of special interest for communications and plasmonic sensors.
* Our chiroptical sensors have the potential to transform biomolecule sensing at ultra-low concentrations, leading to novel medical diagnostic technologies, which would have notable societal impact with regards to health and quality of life.
* Our development of novel electron microscopy techniques will impact on industrial materials researchers worldwide, especially for technologies involving nanoscale magnetic media.

HOW?
* Knowledge will be disseminated via a combination of academic publishing, trade magazines, workshops and direct contact with the extensive industrial client/collaborator base of the University of Glasgow and our partner institutions. For example, we enjoy substantial collaboration with Seagate, the global data-storage company, and have trained a number of their personnel. Industrial engagement will be facilitated by the University of Glasgow's Knowledge Transfer Account and the industrial partners of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Integrative Sensing & Measurement.
* The University of Glasgow pioneered 'EasyAccess IP', a fast-track route for knowledge transfer that aims to develop any commercial benefits of our research for the benefit of the economy and society. We aim to maintain this approach within the constraints of an international consortium.
* Advances in electron microscopy will be made available to external users through existing funding mechanisms. The Kelvin Nanocharacterisation Centre conducts contract work on-demand for external clients, typically accounting for 10% of our instrument time. Our facilities and developments of Lorentz and vortex electron techniques will also be available to the UK research community through the SuperSTEM consortium.
* We will conduct ECR training in electron microscopy techniques through existing MSc courses in Nanoscale and Atomic Imaging without additional fees.
* We will exchange Japanese and UK students and provide them with international invited lecturers.
* We will promote ECRs in all activities. For example, the Glasgow PDRA will have considerable responsibility for the cohesion of the consortium's research activities in Glasgow and will have enviable training and research opportunities locally and in our partner institutions.
* We request substantial funding for collaborative meetings and to attract external international speakers to build a new academic community in the broad research area of chiral electronic technologies.
* Our final consortium meeting will focus on sustainability and follow-on activities.