Rice–PSL Global Seed Fund Recipients

2026 Recipients

  1. Quantum Sensing of Novel Phases in Atomically Thin Quantum Materials

Quantum Sensing of Novel Phases in Atomically Thin Quantum Materials

Rice-PSL collaboration to co-develop the world’s most sensitive microwave probes for 2D quantum materials. Rice will contribute expertise in atomically thin quantum materials nanodevice design/fabrication and transport measurements; PSL will contribute superconducting resonator design, microwave engineering, and advanced quantum sensing with the microwave. Activities include: (i) a joint “mini-project” integrating rhombohedral graphene devices with on-chip superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators; (ii) reciprocal short research visits graduate students, postdocs and faculty members to conduct sample exchange, device integration, and measurements in Paris and Houston; (iii) co-development of instrumentation and measurement protocols; and (iv) brainstorming lunches/dinners at Rice and in Paris to engage additional Rice and PSL researchers and seed future multi-group projects for large scale funding opportunities.

Yonglong Xie

Yonglong Xie

Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy, Wiess School of Natural Sciences

Rice University

Takis Kontos

Takis Kontos

Research Director at CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure

Laboratoire de Physique et d’Etude des Matériaux, Ecole Supérieur de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles (ESPCI)-PSL