Quantum materials discovery from a synthesis perspective

The synthesis of bulk crystals, thin films and nanostructures plays a seminal role in expanding the frontiers of quantum materials. Crystal growers accomplish this by creating materials aimed at harnessing the complex interplay between quantum wavefunctions and various factors such as dimensionality, topology, Coulomb interactions and symmetry. This Review provides a synthesis perspective on how this discovery of quantum materials takes place. After introducing the general paradigms that arise in this context, we provide a few examples to illustrate how thin-film growers in particular exploit quantum confinement, topology, disorder and interfacial heterogeneity to realize new quantum materials. The exploration of the properties and applications of quantum materials relies on advances in synthesis techniques. The approaches pursued to realize thin films and other materials revealing emergent quantum behaviour are reviewed here.