"Theory can be interesting, but can only go so far on its own"

Kovács-Krausz Zoltán is another promising, young researcher within the 2DSPIN-TECH project. We asked about his work within 2D magnets and spintronics, and how to best encourage young people to study advanced materials and technologies.

⏹ What is your background?

➡️ – I was born in Kolozsvár, Romania, where I went on to study physics at the Babeș-Bolyai University. Then I moved to the Budapest University of Technology and Economics to complete a PhD involving nanoelectronics and spintronics in 2D materials. Currently I am continuing to work at the Department of Physics here as researcher in the field of 2D magnets and spintronics, says Kovács-Krausz Zoltán.

⏹ Could you describe the specific 2D materials you are working with and why you chose them for your research?

➡️ – I have primarily worked with 2D layered materials hosting strong spin-orbit interactions, such as BiTeI and BiTeBr, TMDCs such as MoTe₂, and other novel spin-orbit systems like ZrTe₅ or TaIrTe₄. These materials can easily be exfoliated and stacked into 2D heterostructures to investigate their charge-to-spin conversion, proximity effects, and topological or nonlinear transport properties.

– Lately I am also focused on incorporating novel 2D magnets, particularly Fe₃GaTe₂, which remains a ferromagnet even at room temperature. By combining 2D magnets with the spin-orbit hosting materials, we hope that the practical realization of solid-state magnetic memory becomes possible.

⏹ What is the most exciting part of your daily work as a researcher in this field?

➡️ – I would not say any particular work is the most attractive. Rather, I enjoy the highly varied workflow that my research involves, from planning and thinking about physics, to designing experimental devices, manufacturing them, measuring them and then processing the data, it ensures no work week is too monotonous.

 – However, I would have to say I am partial to the step where the experiment is performed. Particularly, after putting together the measurement setup, and starting to investigate a sample you’ve spent significant time fabricating, there is that moment when you find out the device works as expected and is showing first signs of the very physics you’re intending to demonstrate and quantify. Theory can be interesting, but can only go so far on its own.

⏹ What are some of the potential future applications of your research, or 2D materials in spintronics in general?

➡️ – There are several. Right now, I am most excited about magnetic memory applications. They might seem less glamorous than the grander promises of related fields of interest, such as topological quantum computing, but at the same time it is much easier to foresee a potential timeline to realization and actual real-world results. Not every new technology needs to be a paradigm shift to have a positive effect on the world.

⏹ Could you suggest some of the most effective ways to encourage young people to study and work on advanced materials and technologies?

➡️ – My experience may not necessarily apply to others. But to me as a practically oriented person, what mainly did was the possibility to see and eventually operate sophisticated experimental setups, relying on the latest advances in these technologies, to investigate even newer properties of materials. Early hands-on demos can be useful even for children to spark their interest. The interest in the actual underlying physics can come later, says Kovács-Krausz Zoltán.

✅ Read more about 2DSPIN-TECH here.