Material Synthesis and Analysis

A large number of our condensed matter physics faculty are engaged in the synthesis and analysis of novel materials. These materials include carbon nanotubes, biological structures, various semiconductors (including organic, wide-bandgap, and amorphous materials), quasicrystals, polymers, magnetic materials, and metallic glasses. The analysis techniques range from scanning probe microscopy to ion beams to optical techniques to NMR and beyond.

Mike Falvo, Richard Superfine, and Sean Washburn are part of a microscopy research effort that collaborates with Computer Science to develop new imaging techniques and advanced user interfaces to perform nanometer-scale investigations of nanotubes, DNA, cilia and fibrin. The systems under study at present include the mechanical, friction and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes and electromechanical devices made from them. Biophysics studies, in collaboration with Chemistry and Health Sciences, include rheological investigation of biological gels and the mechanical properties of DNA, and fibrin fibers.

Laurie McNeil uses optical techniques such as Raman, Brillouin, photoluminescence, optical absorption and FTIR spectroscopies to understand the structure and properties of carbon nanotubes, organic semiconductors, and magnetic semiconductors.

Nalin Parikh engages in ion-beam analysis and alteration of a variety of materials.

Lu-Chang Qin's research efforts are to develop and apply electron diffraction and microscopy techniques for the characterization, manipulation and measurement of the structure and properties of nanoscaled materials at the atomic level. Synthesis of novel materials of interest, including nanotubes and nanowires is also part of the research endeavor.

Frank Tsui engages in combinatorial MBE synthesis and characterization of novel nanostructured materials, including ultrathin films and heterostructures of novel spin polarized materials and magnetic semiconductors. Activities are focused in synthesis of new spin polarized materials and heterostructures, exploring structural, magnetic and transport effects, particularly those at surfaces and interfaces, and developing novel spin polarized device concepts using the new materials and structures. These involve the use of a variety of advanced experimental techniques that include combinatorial MBE, in-situ scanning probe microscopy/spectroscopy, electron diffraction/spectroscopy, magnetometry, and x-ray microbeam analysis.

Yue Wu applies magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to a vast array of materials including bulk metallic glasses, nanomaterials, and amorphous semiconductors.

Otto Zhou is interested in synthesis, assembly, integration and technological applications of new materials. Current research projects include: developing techniques for controlled fabrication and assembly of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and related materials, investigating the potential of CNTs for energy storage, developing applications of CNT field emitters for display, x-ray and communication devices.