Sense Jan van der Molen (2024)

Scientific Biography

Sense Jan van der Molen, Full professor

I studied physics in Groningen, the Netherlands, following an exchange year in Olympia, Washington, USA. My Master project, carried out under the supervision ofProf. Teun Klapwijk, focussed on quantum mechanical interference effects in mesoscopic samples.

Next, I moved to the group ofProf. Ronald Griessenat the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdamto investigateso-called switchable mirrors. These metalhydrides,such asYHx, switch from perfect mirrors to transparent windows upon hydrogen uptake. My work focused on both the fundamentals of the metal-insulator transition and the possibility to manipulate the hydrogen concentration in these mirrors electrically (e.g. by electromigration).

In 2002, I joined the group ofProf. Bart van Weesin Groningen, the Netherlands,to start up a new research line in molecular transport. We put considerable effort in creating and optimizing new techniques to investigate single molecules. In a collaboration withProf. Ben Feringa (Nobel prize in Chemistry, 2016), we focused on light-sensitive, switchable molecular devices (and somewhat on his motors).Furthermore, we explored the exciting field of spin transport through carbon nanotubes.

In 2005, I obtained an NWO talent grant to perform research in the group ofProf. Christian Schönenbergerin Basel, Switzerland. After a pleasant and rewarding stay, I moved to Leiden in 2007.

Leiden

Here, I took up the challenge of building up my own research group. At first my main research focus was on molecular properties, and specifically on molecular charge transport. In November 2009, I received a personal VIDI-grant for my research. Furthermore, I have been part of several national and European research programs.

Presently, my main focus is on the electronic properties of two-dimensional systems. These do include molecular layers, but there is a further emphasis on so-called van der Waals systems. These materials consist of weakly coupled atomic sheets (put) on top of each other. An example is twisted bilayer graphene which features two graphene layers at a small twist angle. Remarkably, at certain twists, this system becomes a superconductor. Quite exciting!

What makes us rather unique is that we study the electronic properties of such systems not only via conductance measurements, but mainly with an unconventional set of ‘eyes’. We make use of a low-energy electron microscope (LEEM) called 'ESCHER' (financed via a large NWO grant) with a lateral resolution of 1.4 nm. It allows us to apply a versatile set of different experiments on the same sample, including home-developed techniques such as LEEP, ARRES and eV-TEM. For this, I have fruitfully been collaborating withProf. Ruud Tromp(Leiden and IBM Yorktown) and others.

Outreach

In my opinion, outreach and science communication are important tasks for a scientist. Hence, I try to contribute to society by presenting physics in general and our research in particular. My biggest project here, is also the most unconventional one. Together with Ivo van Vulpen and the Stichting TEGEN-BEELD, I am responsible for the wall formulasin Leiden. The project recently won the NWO Science communication prize. With the money awarded, we will spread the concept to other university cities in the Netherlands and Europe.

References:

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