Microelectronic Materials and Processing

Our group's major thrust is relationships among processing, properties and structure as well as the development of new materials and processes. Objectives include novel substrate surface cleaning techniques, kinetics and surface chemistry of reaction processes on silicon substrate surfaces, controlled production of ultra-thin heterostructure layers, and design of new material systems for optical, electronic and nano-electro-mechanical systems. Specific systems of interest include selective atomic layer deposition, ultra-thin high dielectric constant materials, active multiferroic nanostructures, multiple metal oxide nanostructures, atomic layer deposition, metal organic chemical vapor deposition, and in situ probing of surface chemical phenomena during the thin film growth of micro- and nano-electronic materials.

Heterogeneous Catalysis and Surface Chemistry

Our group's thrust is the emergence of a basic new understanding of several key catalytic processes on transition metal and other surfaces at high gas pressures. Time-resolved in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectra of adsorbed species on a subsecond/seconds time scale coupled with in situ infrared spectra, reaction rate measurements in transient experiments (with or without isotopes) and ex situ spectroscopic information are used to obtain hitherto unavailable information concerning the nature, role and kinetic significance of reaction intermediates and adsorbed species in heterogeneous catalytic systems and solid oxide fuel cells at high gas pressures.

Long-term inhibition of bacterial-associated infections in implant devices

Implant-associated infections are potentially serious complications of medical device insertions. Many times, such infections are difficult to treat. Implant-associated infections may arise in the weeks following surgery due to contamination. At later times, infections can arise from hematogenous sources. In joint replacements, treatment entails aggressive systemic and local antibiotic treatment, debridement, and many times implant removal and reimplantation. Despite aggressive antibiotic treatments, eradication of established implant-associated infections is often unsuccessful. In collaboration with orthopedic surgeons, our research and implementation of implant surfaces modified with antibiotics would have a knowledge-driven impact in surgical implants and in particular for implants used by orthopedic surgeons.