4/10/2025 Siv Schwink for Illinois Physics
Wang's research in 2D materials has strong implications for quantum information science.
Written by Siv Schwink for Illinois Physics
Illinois Physics Professor Pengjie Wang has been selected for the 2025 2DM Emerging Young Scientist Award by the journal 2D Materials of the IOP Publishing group, "For outstanding contribution to the field of two-dimensional materials research." The award was presented during the 2025 International Forum on Graphene in Shenzhen & International Conference on 2D Materials, held in April 2025 in Shenzhen.
Wang is an experimental condensed matter physicist working in quantum matter and quantum information science. His research focuses primarily on strongly correlated quantum phenomena and emerging topological quantum physics within two-dimensional (2D) crystals and semiconductors.
Wang seeks to uncover novel quantum phenomena in 2D quantum materials and their “twisted stacks”一layered structures of 2D materials with varying rotational alignment一to further elucidate our understanding of quantum mechanics and its applications in quantum devices. In his laboratory in the Materials Research Laboratory at Illinois, Wang fabricates high-quality air-sensitive 2D materials and develops ultra-high-mobility semiconductor quantum devices, which are pivotal for investigating emerging quantum phenomena.
Wang’s primary research goal is to expand our knowledge of quantum physics and to drive innovation in quantum device engineering. His development of ultra-low-temperature experimental tools, such as an ultra-low electron temperature piezo-drive sample rotation system and a platform for far-infrared spectroscopy of quantum materials at milli-Kelvin temperatures, highlights his approach to overcoming the traditional boundaries of physics.
Wang received his Ph.D. in Physics from Peking University in 2018. He went on to do postdoctoral research at Princeton University from 2019 to 2023. joined the Illinois Physics faculty in early 2024.