Materials Science Research Lecture

***Refreshments at 10:45am in Noyes lobby

Abstract:

In quantum materials, even a single atom can reshape the local physical landscape, making atomic-level design and observation not just beneficial, but essential. Understanding and controlling material properties at this scale is crucial for advancing physics governed by size- and structure-dependent electronic, magnetic, and optical behaviors.

In this talk, I will discuss how scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) can be used not only as a high-resolution probe, but as an active platform for exploring and controlling low-dimensional quantum materials. I will first present examples from highly anisotropic van der Waals (vdW) magnets, where electron-matter interactions enable modification of magnetic and structural order. In the quasi-1D magnet AgCrP2S6, I show how electron beam reshapes embedded spin chains within a 2D lattice. In CrSBr, I demonstrate orientation-dependent structural transformations driven by directional atomic motion, and introduce time-resolved STEM measurements that quantify the kinetics of these processes.

I then extend this approach to 2D/3D heterostructures, where interface structure governs charge accumulation and polarization dynamics relevant to energy and device performance. In parallel, I show how in a 2D vdW magnet, magnetic order reshapes electronic bands, producing giant magnetoresistance. By directly correlating local atomic structure with magnetic, electronic, and interfacial functionality, these studies establish general design principles for controlling quasiparticles-mediated energy flow, symmetry-breaking phenomena, and electronic response at the atomic scale. Together, these examples illustrate how atomic-resolution microscopy can serve as a unifying framework for understanding and engineering complex material behavior.

More about the Speaker:

Eugene (Jane) Park is a Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, advised by Prof. Frances Ross. She received her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on atomic-scale engineering of 2D van der Waals quantum materials and 2D/3D heterostructures using in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy. She developes methods to sculpt atomic lattices and control spin textures through electron beam–solid interactions, offering new routes to manipulate quantum behavior. Her work has been recognized by the Materials Research Society Graduate Student Gold Award, Caltech Trailblazer Award, Microscopy and Microanalysis Student Scholar Award, and International Microscopy Congress Best Oral Presentation Award. She is also a recipient of the MathWorks Engineering Fellowship and has held leadership role as co-president of MIT Women in Materials Science.