THE MENTZEL GROUP
Low-dimensional materials are small enough in at least one spatial dimension to restrict the quantum mechanical wave function of the electrons. Some examples are two-dimensional (2D) materials, known as van der Waals materials, and zero-dimensional (0D) structures, such as semiconductor nanocrystals also known as quantum dots. Quantum confinement in these materials leads to enhanced quantum effects and increased electron interactions compared to their bulk counterparts.
In our lab, we aim to discover new states of matter that may arise in these quantum materials, with particular interest in their application in quantum simulators, quantum information and novel optoelectronic devices. As the functionality of low-dimensional materials is exquisitely sensitive to surface and interfaces states, we manipulate the functionality through chemical modification of these states. We then study the electronic transport behavior by integrating the materials into devices.
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PHOTO GALLERY
Principal Investigator
Tamar Mentzel Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at UC Riverside where her research focuses on quantum materials and devices. As the properties of low-dimensional quantum materials are exquisitely sensitive to their surface states, she harnesses chemical methods to modify their surfaces and thereby realize new, emergent states of matter. Her work has focused on charge transport studies in two-dimensional van der Waals materials and semiconductor nanocrystal solids. She holds patents for optoelectronic devices made of semiconductor nanocrystals and for a technique for measuring electrical conductance in extremely resistive materials. She made the first electrically conductive, nanopatterned films of semiconductor nanocrystals.
Tamar Mentzel, PhD
Principal Investigator
Lab: Bourns Hall 232
Office: Bourns Hall A313
951-827-3373
Lab Members
Graduate Students
Xiangxi Yin
Xiangxi received his Bachelor's degree in Materials Science at the University of California, Irvine. He is currently a Ph.D. student. He is a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bence Papp
Bence received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from CSU Long Beach. He is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Riverside.
Undergraduate Students
Shane Revel
Shane is a fourth-year Materials Science & Engineering student at UC Riverside.
Isabel Kumar
Isabel is pursuing her bachelor's degree in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Riverside.
Alumni
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Harsha Antony
Harsha received her bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Riverside. She is currently a Ph.D. student at Georgia Institute of Technology. She enjoys reading, traveling, and cooking in her spare time.
Thomas Su
Thomas completed his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Riverside.
Jiale Chen
Jiale completed his bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from UC Riverside and currently pursuing his Ph.D. at UC Irvine.
Lonnie Calhoun
Lonnie completed his Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from UC Riverside. He is currently pursuing his Master's at University of Southern California (USC).
We are looking for postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates to join us!
Mentoring and training students is a priority in the Mentzel Group. This includes opportunities to participate in grant writing, applying for graduate fellowships, undergraduate research for credit, and summer research internships.
Contact Tamar at tamarm@ucr.edu
We welcomed our first students in 2020 and 2021. We can't wait for more students to join us!
RESEARCH
Chemical intercalation of atoms in
two-dimensional heterostructures
To create materials with properties “on-demand,” we stack atomically thin materials into heterostructures. Chemical intercalation of atoms affords further tunability with a scope as diverse as the periodic table.
Electron transport measurements
We integrate quantum materials into devices to measure at low temperature and high magnetic field. Our measurement capabilities include sensing single-electron fluctuations and a technique to measure extremely high-resistance materials (as much as 1020 Ω with application of about 1 V)
Superlattices of semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots
We are interested in superlattices of semiconductor nanocrystals as a basis of a tunable model system of correlated electrons as well as for optoelectronic devices.
Examples of the physics we pursue
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Enhanced control over the valley degree of freedom in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides for valleytronics or for qubits
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Quantum phase transitions in topological insulators in pursuit of topological superconductivity
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Magnetic order in the 2D limit with a tunable Curie temperature
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Strain engineering in 2D materials to tune properties
NEWS
September 2025: Shane is Awarded UCR Mini-Grant
PUBLICATIONS
Articles
Antony, H; Chen, J; Yin, X; Yesmin, N; Su, T; Luong, D; Papp, B; Revel, S; Sun, H; Yan, X; Fokwa, B.P.T.; and Mentzel, T.S. (2025)
Antibonding–Vacancy Coupling Boosts Hydrogen Evolution Rate in Diborides
Lee, E.; Yapo, J.A.; Bhupathy, A.; Mentzel, T.S.; Yin, X.; Adeniji, S.E.; Kim, S.B.; Fokwa, B.P.T. (2025).
Controlled placement of colloidal quantum dots in sub-15 nm clusters.
Manfrinato,V.R.; Wanger, D.D.; Strasfeld, D.B; Han, H.-S.; Marsili, F.; Arrieta, J.P.; Mentzel, T.S.; Bawendi, M.G.; Berggren, K.B. Nanotechnology 24, 125302 (2013).
Nanopatterned Electrically Conductive Films of Semiconductor Nanocrystals.
Mentzel, T.S.; Wanger, D.D.; Ray, N.; Walker, B.J.; Strasfeld, D.; Bawendi M.G., Kastner, M.A. Nano. Lett. 12, 4404 (2012)
Mentzel, T.S.; MacLean, K; Kastner, M. A. Nano. Lett. 11, 4102 (2011).
The Effect of Electrostatic Screening on a Nanometer Scale Electrometer
MacLean, K.; Mentzel, T.S.; Kastner, M.A. “.” Nano. Lett. 11, 30 (2011).
Charge Transport in Mixed CdSe and CdTe Colloidal Nanocrystal Films
Geyer, S.; Porter, V.J.; Halpert, J.; Mentzel, T.S.; Kastner, M.A.; Bawendi, M.G. Phys. Rev. B, 82, 155201 (2010).
Measuring Charge Transport in a Thin Solid Film Using Charge Sensing
MacLean, K.; Mentzel, T.S.; Kastner, M.A. Nano. Lett., 10, 1037 (2010).
Charge Transport in PbSe Nanocrystal Arrays
Mentzel, T.S.; Porter, V.J.; Geyer, S.; MacLean, K.; Bawendi, M.G.; Kastner, M.A. Phys. Rev. B, 77, 075316 (2008).
Temperature-, Gate-, and Photoinduced Conductance of Close-Packed CdTe Nanocrystal Films
Porter, V.J.; Mentzel, T.S.; Charpentier, S.; Kastner, M.A.; Bawendi, M.G. Phys. Rev. B, 73, 155303 (2006).
High Temperature Pulsed Operation of Quantum Cascade Lasers
Gmachl, C.; Tredicucci, A.; Capasso, F.; Hutchinson, A.L.; Sivco, D.L.; Sergent, A.M.; Mentzel, T.S..; Cho, A.Y. Electronic Letters, 36, 7223 (2000).
Media Coverage
CONTACT US
Tamar Mentzel, PhD
Principal Investigator
Lab: Bourns Hall B232
Office: Bourns Hall A313
951-827-3373