Research

Nanotechnology, a scientific and technological discipline that takes advantage of new properties on the nanoscale, offers great promises for future applications. It explores unique properties of materials when their dimensions are comparable to the relevant correlation lengths, and requires innovative synthesis and fabrication methods.

We use rational synthesis of free-standing nanoscale objects like nanowires, nanocrystals, and nanotubes and combine spectroscopic techniques, transport measurements and advanced electron microscopy techniques to directly correlate structural and physical properties on the nanometer scale. Our interdisciplinary approach combines the following sub-programs:

• Growth of semiconductor nanowires and nanowire heterostructures with new structural, optical, magnetic, and electric properties.
• Nanowire-based semiconductor quantum optics and novel nanophotonic applications.
• Development of new experimental tools for synthesis and nanoscale characterization of nanostructured materials.  

Experimental techniques and methodologies that are being developed as a part of our research endeavor are generally applicable to any material system where interplay between nanostructure, properties, and performance becomes significant.

We would like to thank our research sponsors:

National Science Foundation

MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering

MIT Center for Materials Science and Engineering

3M

MIT Energy Initiative

Interconnect Focus Center