Natalie Briggs
Assistant Professor
About
Research Description
The discovery of atomically thin van der Waals (vdW) crystals has unveiled remarkable phenomena that emerge when materials are reduced from bulk to two-dimensional (2D) form. Despite advances in synthesis techniques over the past two decades, controlling and stabilizing materials at the atomic scale remains a formidable challenge. While single layers of vdW crystals can be readily obtained due to their weak interlayer bonding, the vast majority of non-layered, solid-state materials exhibit strong out-of-plane bonding and are far less accessible in 2D form. Furthermore, control over thin film materials at the atomic scale is increasingly critical to the development of next-generation technologies. My research program will establish facile methods to stabilize and control materials at the atomic-scale, by combining interfacial intercalation, vapor-phase synthesis, and techniques inspired by semiconductor manufacturing. Together, these approaches will expand the frontiers of atomic-scale materials research, fueling advances in electronics, biosensing, photocatalysis, and beyond.
Interests
Quantum Materials, Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Chemistry
Education
- PhD in Materials Science & Engineering at Pennsylvania State University (2020)
- BS in Materials Science & Engineering with Honors at University of Washington (2015)
