Atomic-Scale Interface Dynamics in Quantum and Energy Materials

Abstract: The properties of quantum and energy materials depend sensitively on the atomic-scale structure of their interfaces. How can we harness this sensitivity to create materials with desired functions? Achieving this control requires understanding how atomic-scale interfaces form and how they evolve during operation. I will describe our efforts to observe and direct these processes using complementary electron microscopy and spectroscopy, connecting structural dynamics with local electronic structure. Examples from low-dimensional materials will demonstrate how substrates direct in situ nucleation and growth, as well as how in situ mechanical strain reconfigures moiré domains. I will then explore how these domains could serve as templates for site-selective intercalation and growth. Together, these studies open routes to designing and actively tuning materials for quantum and energy technologies at the atomic scale.

Bio: Kate Reidy is an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University. Her research takes an ‘atom up' approach to nanoscale design, tailoring material properties by understanding and manipulating their atomic structure. She combines advanced characterization with in situ microscopy to elucidate growth mechanisms, chemical composition, and response to stimuli at the atomic scale. Previously, she was a Miller Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She earned her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and her undergraduate degree in Nanoscience from Trinity College Dublin. Her work has been recognized by the Microscopy Society of America, Materials Research Society Gold Award, and 'Best Doctoral Thesis' Award at MIT DMSE.