Imaging Quantum Materials*

Future technological breakthroughs require innovations aimed at predicting, designing, developing and manufacturing complex materials with multiple functionalities. Materials research is key to answer these societal needs.
In quantum materials, the collective behavior of electrons generates a wide range of novel physical properties. Understanding this behavior together with the ability to control the electronic properties of solids has already led to landmark discoveries in condensed matter physics. These discoveries have opened pathways to novel electronic applications of the new materials and devices.
The availability of characterization tools, such as scanning probes, which visualize exotic quantum states with high sensitivity and resolution, allows scientists to improve their ability to design, synthesize and understand materials with exotic functionalities.
Examples of applications of some of the scanning probe techniques to the field of superconductivity and two-dimesional materials will be presented.