Quantum Materials Interfaces
and Nano Devices Laboratory

In Korean

Q.MIND Lab is a research group established in December 2023 in the Department of Semiconductor Engineering at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. We all live in a new era of hyper-Moore’s Law, which demands increasing information density, data processing capacity, and energy efficiency within a given wafer footprint, going beyond the traditional approach of shrinking device structure size or increasing the number of transistors.

(1) Our research objectives are to develop core technologies for semiconductor physics, devices, processes, measurements, and systems, as well as emerging trends in AI semiconductors (More-than- and Beyond-Moore Devices for Artificial Intelligence), AI sensors (Intelligence Sensors with Artificial Intelligence), and quantum devices (Devices with Quantum Phenomena and for Quantum Computing), which serve as enabling technologies for on-device AI, autonomous driving, big-data processing, hyperconnectivity, qubit platforms, etc. If you aspire to become a promising scientist or a leading engineer, please do not hesitate to join our group.

(2) Our research focuses on research into semiconductor devices for artificial intelligence and quantum computing hardware. With an emphasis on scalable integration processes and demonstrations of practical semiconductor applications, we explore the physical properties of various quantum materials and the exotic phenomena emerging at their interfaces to fabricate and characterize advanced nanodevices. There is a significant difference between discussing a scientific idea and publishing a journal article. To turn our ideas into journal articles for each research topic assigned to each member, you will learn [1] device physics fundamentals (material property understanding, device structure design, process development-optimization), [2] precision measurement and characterization (property inspection-analysis, performance-reliability-lifetime-yield evaluation, data collection-management-statistics), and [3] application demonstration and verification (operating principle clarification, large-scale integration, commercialization verification).

(3) Our research topics have four categories: [1] Artificial Intelligence Sensors (In-Sensor·Computational Spectroscopy, Spectral·Infrared Imaging, Single-Pixel Imaging via Coded Apertures, Spectral Gas Detectors and Thermometers), [2] More-than- and Beyond-Moore Devices (Optical Interconnects, Topological-Insulator Heterophase Gate Stacks, Topological Semimetal Contacts, Single-Channel Logic Gates), [3] Electron Quantum Optics (Quantum Point Contacts, Negative Refractive Veselago Lenses, Backscattering-Suppressed Klein Collimators, Aharonov-Bohm Interferometers), and [4] Quantum Phase Transitions (Van der Waals Josephson Junctions·Diodes, Transmon·Gatemon Qubits, Mott Transitions, Proximity·Stark·Spin-Galvanic Effects). Please refer to the Research Topic & Briefing page for more details.

(4) Our research methodologies integrate engineering means and goals to form an essential medium that links theories and experiments through various domestic and international academic or industry-academia collaborations. For more details, see the Research Project & Academic Collaboration page.

(5) Our novel devices may lead the next-generation semiconductor industry and potentially solve social problems by offering technical solutions to unemployment, poverty, environmental pollution, climate change, resource shortage, war, aging, etc.

(6) Our group members will receive extensive lessons on [1] balanced weighting for growing as an independent researcher (independence-cooperation system when conducting individual-collaborative research, autonomy-responsibility when dividing roles, creativity-productivity when promoting work, perfection-achievement when producing results, work-life when living in a lab). [2] self-directed training for creative academic activities (setting short-, medium-, and long-term goals, periodic evaluation of achievement and self-reflection, voluntary reinforcement of major foundations and understanding of the latest research trends, contributing to a study atmosphere, and physical-mental health management), and [3] mutual relationship formation to become a researcher that collaborators want to seek out first (strict adherence to research ethics-safety-authenticity, establishment of a culture of respect-trust-consideration, effective communication-feedback, brainstorming new ideas through convergent thinking, raising practical criticism, and positive acceptance).

(7) Our group environment possesses state-of-the-art facilities that serve as the foundation for our research achievements. Please refer to the Facility page for details. We believe that outstanding research outcomes stem from the insight and drive gained through a balanced life, and we place the highest priority on work-life balance. You can find more information on the Contact page.