The MBE Core lab centers on the creation of Nano-Materials, Quantum Materials, Low Dimensional Materials and other Exotic solids using the techniques of MBE.

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Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) means creating a single crystal by building up orderly layers of molecules on top of a substrate or base layer.

 

To make an interesting new 2D crystal using MBE, you start with a a substrate of some familiar material such as silicon, germanium, or gallium arsenide, with an atomically flat surface. Then to prepare for the addition of more layers, you heat the substrate to hundreds of degrees (for example, 500–850°C or about 930–1560°F in the case of gallium arsenide).

 

To add the "new crystalline" layer, you fire relatively precise beams of atoms or molecules (heated up so they're in gas form) at the substrate from small evaporative sources called effusion cells. The effusion cell is open at one end and consists of a tapered crucible filled with the material it's going to  evaporated, an electrically controlled heater, and a thermocouple for measuring and regulating the temperature.

 

 

 

 

 

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The number and type of cells depends on the complexity of the crystal being produced; there can be as many as 8–14 of them. Like the substrate, the cells are heated to high temperatures—a maximum of about 1500–1600°C or so (2700–2900°F).​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​