Recent RET Projects
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Magnetic Memory Devices
Prof. Caroline Ross - Materials Science and Eng.
This project involves carrying out magnetic measurements on small prototype magnetic memory chips, and/or doing some magnetic computer modeling to understand the results. You will work with two postdoctoral researchers and an undergraduate in the lab.
Surface Wettability with Polymer Coatings
Prof. Michael Rubner - Materials Science and Eng.
In this project, you will examine polymer coatings that can be used to create surfaces that exhibit extreme wetting characteristics. Using a nanoscale, layer-by-layer processing technique, you will fabricate thin film coatings that either completely repel water (superhydrophobic coatings) or that are highly wettable by water (superhydrophilic coatings). The structures that you will create will mimic many surface structures found in nature like the self-cleaning superhydrophobic lotus leaf. The use of these coatings to prevent bacteria accumulation will be examined. Key elements of this project that could impact your classroom activities include an understanding of how nature designs surfaces to create specific wetting effects, an understanding of the factors that control the wetting of surfaces by water, an understanding of basic polymer chemistry and physics and an understanding of nanoscale processing techniques.
Lithium Battery Materials
Prof. Yang Shao-Horn- Mech. Eng.
The project involves working with a postdoctoral researcher to study the transport of electrons and lithium ions in Li x CoO 2 using AC impedance spectroscopy and PITT/GITT methods.
Fabrication of High Quality Gratings and Grids for Short Wavelength Spectroscopy
Prof. Henry I. Smith - Elec. Eng. and Computer Science
You will work with research affiliates of the NanoStructures group on interference lithography and reactive ion etching for the purpose of fabricating high quality gratings and grids, with linewidths of 100 nm or finer. These high quality gratings would be used in short wavelength spectroscopy.
Chemically Directed Assembly of Au Nanoparticles for Electronic Applications
Prof. Francesco Stellacci - Materials Science and Eng.
This project will entail chemically directing the assembly of nanoparticles, which consist of a 5 nm diameter Au core surrounded by organic ligands. The nanoparticles will be assembled onto a gold or silicon dioxide surface via covalent chemicals bonds formed between the organic ligands on the nanoparticle surface and molecules patterned at specific locations on a substrate. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) will be used to both pattern the molecules on the surfaces (using a technique known as Dip Pen Nanolithography) and then to image the patterned molecules and assembled nanoparticles. Different chemical binding strategies and various wet chemistry techniques will be used to assemble a single layer of Au nanoparticles at specific sites on a surface. The application of this project will be to direct the assembly of a Au nanoparticle between two metallic wires to form a single electron transistor.
Cell Imaging
Prof. Krystyn Van Vliet - Materials Science and Eng.
The project involves getting color into PEMs for through-thickness imaging of how cells deform PEMs while they are growing on them, with special focus on how far down the cells are exerting force.
