UB - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Electrical Engineering

Research Area: Microelectronics, Photonics and Materials

Affiliated Faculty: Anderson, Bird, Cartwright, Cheng, Etemadi, Litchinitser, Liu, Mitin, Oh, Shaw, Strasser, Takeuchi, Titus, Verevkin, Whalen, Wie, Yoon

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Wayne Anderson: Electronic materials
  • Dr. Anderson has a wide range of interests in electronic materials and devices. Early work dealt with solid-state microwave devices, Schottky and metal-insulator-semiconductor solar cells, deposition of thin-film silicon, amorphous silicon solar cells, radiation effects in semiconductors, and organic semiconductors. More recent work has included low-cost P/N junction solar cells, heterojunction solar cells, conductive-transparent oxides, high barrier height Schottky diodes and Si:Ge applications. Current work includes Schottky devices on InP, InGaAs or ZnSSe, field effect transistors, thin-film Si for solar cells, applications of thin-film Si, thin-film capacitors, thin-film resistors, superconductors and flat panel displays.
  • Dr. Anderson is funded by the National Science Foundation and Ohmcraft. His recent research efforts include:
    • Hot-Wire Photonics, Science and Technology
    • Thin-Film Transistors on Plastic and Glass Substrates Using Silicon Deposited by Microwave Plasma ECR-CVD
    • Metal-Induced Grown Si Nanostructures for Large-Area-Device Applications
    • Thin Film Transistors on Nanocrystalline Silicon Directly Deposited by Microwave Plasma CVD
Jonathan Bird: Nanoelectronics
  • Electron-Wave Approaches to Quantum Computing
    • Prof. Bird's group is studying the use of coupled quantum wires as a means to realize a scalable, solid-state based, qubit for use in quantum computing. They have recently been successful in providing a demonstration of a quantum NOT gate in this system.
    • Device used to study electron switchingSEM image of a device used to study electron switching. The device is realized on a high-mobility GaAs quantum well and the metal gates (lighter regions) define two quantum wires with a small coupling window (150 nm in the image shown)
  • Spin Transport in Semiconductor Nanostructures
    • This research investigates the unique features of spin-polarized electron transport in nonmagnetic semiconductor nanostructures, in which spin phenomena arise due to the increased importance of many-body interactions in confined electron systems. A recent highlight of this work, which was featured in Science , has been the use of coupled quantum wires to electrically readout the formation of a spin-polarized state in quantum wires. Current work seeks to extend these advances to develop a solid-state, spin-based, approach to quantum computing.
    • device used to detect spin polarizationDevice used for detection of spin polarization in quantum wires. The device consists of two quantum wires coupled by a quantum dot. The formation of a spin-polarized electron system in one wire is then detected in a measurement of the conductance of the other wire. The central quantum dot is 750 nm in size.
  • Hybrid Semiconductor NanoMagnetoElectronic Devices
    • This work seeks to integrate nanoscale magnetic elements with semiconductor nanostructures to realize functionalities such as giant magneto-resistance and magnetic memory. While there has been much work on the development of metallic magnetoelectronic devices in the literature, this work seeks to achieve similar functionality in planar semiconductor structures, compatible with existing integrated-circuit architectures.
Alexander Cartwright: Nanophotonics
  • Dr. Cartwright is interested in semiconductor optoelectronics, sensors, hybrid materials, optical non-destructive evaluation of stress and strain, biophotonics and nanophotonics. His research has been funded by National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research, NYSTAR, Johnson and Johnson, Intel, and AFOSR. He is the Director of Lasers and Photonics at the Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, and the director of the National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Research and Education Traineeship (IGERT) in Biophotonics: Materials and Applications at the University at Buffalo.
  • Dr. Cartwright's research includes femtosecond laser spectroscopy, GaN, characterization of electronic packaging using Moire interference, and polymeric nanophotonics.
P.C. Cheng: Confocal and nonlinear optical microscopy
  • Dr. Cheng is an expert in confocal and nonlinear optical microscopy. He works with many collaborators and a broad range of samples.
  • His recent studies included nonlinear bio-photonic crystal effects revealed with multimodal nonlinear microscopy in which highly optically active nonlinear bio-photonic crystalline and semicrystalline structures in living cells were studied by a novel multimodal nonlinear microscopy. Numerous biological structures, including stacked membranes and aligned protein structures are highly organized on a nanoscale and have been found to exhibit strong optical activities through second-harmonic generation (SHG) interactions, behaving similarly to man-made nonlinear photonic crystals. The microscopic technology used in this study is based on a combination of different imaging modes including SHG, third-harmonic generation, and multiphoton-induced fluorescence. With no energy release during harmonic generation processes, the nonlinear-photonic-crystal-like SHG activity is useful for investigating the dynamics of structure–function relation-ships at subcellular levels and is ideal for studying living cells, as minimal or no preparation is required.
Kasra Etemadi: Plasma and arc technologies
  • Dr. Etemadi conducts studies of arc and plasma systems. He performs characterizations using spectroscopic tools and simulations of plasma and arc systems. He is also interested in plasma spray coating.
Natalia Litchinitser: Photonic Devices
  • Dr. Litchinitser's group is focused on research in photonic devices from the micro- and nano-scale. Specifically, she is interested in two new research areas:
    • Photonic Metamaterials
    • Photonic Crystal Fibers
Pao-Lo Liu: Computational photonics
  • Computational Photonics
    • Dr. Liu works on computational photonics for device and system simulations. Recent projects include simulations of optical chaotic communications systems and the improvement of modulation speed using detuned loading.
    • Today, security of communications systems is a primary concern. Encryption is very effective for file streaming. For real time applications, it is limited to moderate data rate. For high data rate, optical communications, one can operate the semiconductor laser in the chaotic regime. The high frequency chaotic events very effectively mask off the real data. On the receiving side, using an identical laser, the received signal is decrypted to obtain the actual data. His student, Jaya Rao, performed extensive simulations on the effectiveness of chaotic encryption under conditions of various degrees of synchronization, data rate, and multiple modes.
    • The external feedback can modify the behavior of lasers. In addition to the linewidth and chirp reduction, the feedback can also lead to an increased modulation bandwidth. His student, Shubhrangshu Senguptauses rate equations to simulate the dynamics of composite-cavity lasers. A variety of cavity configurations are evaluated. Optimal feedback conditions which lead to a substantial increase in modulation bandwidth are identified. Detuning of the main mode alone may not be sufficient to reach the optimal point. However, it is possible to bring a side mode to the optimal point. The side mode provides the initial response before the main mode builds up. With properly controlled feedback, the bandwidth of direct intensity modulation can increase well beyond what is available from a solitary semiconductor laser.
  • Photonic Device Laboratory
    • In the laboratory, simulations of electrooptic devices, lasers with enhanced modulation bandwidth, photonic bandgap structures, and secure communications systems are performed. We developed our own software for the design and layout of photonic devices, MEMS, and microwave hybrid circuits. The laboratory is also equipped with laser and high frequency microwave equipment for studying dynamics in materials and measuring device performance.
Vladimir Mitin: Nanodevices
  • Hybrid Nanodevices
    • Dr. Mitin is interested in hybrid nanomaterials for multifunctional structures and devices. He is funded by National Science Foundation and NASA.
    • Using functionalized nanoparticles (FNP) as building blocks, which may have the atom-like electronic states, controllable coupling, high sensitivity to bio-chemical agents, high selectivity to electromagnetic quanta, small absolute fluctuations – small noise record scalability, compatibility with organic environment, multifunctional structures and devices can be formed.
    • The mission is to combine efforts in nanoparticle technology with nanoengineering and biophysics to realize new applications with superior performance.
  • Materials, Devices, and Circuit Simulations
    • Modeling nanodevices with single-quantum sensitivity is the mainstream in the research of the Materials, Device and Circuit Simulations Laboratory recently established at the Electrical Engineering Department by Vladimir Mitin, professor, department chair and lab director. The theoretical studies involve investigations of fundamental processes in nanostructures, multiscale simulations, and, finally, design and optimization of novel nanodevices. Experimental tools for nanoscale manipulations are still expensive and resources are limited, so the theoretical research in nanoengineering plays a critical role yielding intellectual results and forming our choices and preferences as a society.
    • Together with Andrei Sergeev, EE research associate professor, Mitin looks at fundamental problems in transport phenomena, investigating how quantum interference of various scattering mechanisms modifies kinetics processes. For example, in metallic nanostructures the interference between electron-phonon and electron scattering from boundaries and defects changes drastically the electron cooling rate. It can be increased or decreased by a few orders of magnitude depending on character of impurities and boundaries. These theoretical results were supported by experiments of Michael Gershenson (Rutgers) who observed record-long 25-millisecond electron relaxation in nanopatterned Hf films at milliKelvin temperatures, and by Juhn-Jong Lin (Taiwan), who demonstrated fast relaxation in metallic alloys with strong substitution disorder. Very recently, measurements by Jonathan Bird, EE professor, demonstrated that the interference phenomena in electrical resistivity of nanocomposite materials can dominate over traditional mechanisms even at room temperatures.
    • With Nizami Vagidov, EE research assistant professor, Mitin investigates solid-state nanoemitting devices that are vital for applications in such areas as medical diagnostics and single-molecule spectroscopy. The nanoemitters radiate in the wide range of electromagnetic spectrum from terahertz to infrared. In their research they moved from modeling structures of the order of hundred nanometers (left part of the Figure) to the ten nanometer structures (right part of the Figure). They take into account the atomistic nature of the structure using advanced, first principles simulation techniques such as sp 3 sd 5 tight-binding model that allow to take into account each single atom or each layer of atoms as shown in the left part of the Figure.
    • Fundamental research is a starting point for device simulations, which are based on high level methods of modern quantum dynamics and kinetic theory, including the quantum transport equation, Keldysh diagram technique for nonequilibrium processes, and the recursive Green's function method. The results of modeling are widely used by experimental groups to construct novel nanosensors with ultimate quantum sensitivity. For example, one of the long-term projects represents joint efforts with Boris Karasik (JPL, Pasadena) to build ultrasensitive detector of submillimeter photons for future NASA astronomy missions, such as Single-Aperture FIR Observatory (SAFIR), Submillimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS), and Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA). Another recently started with UB colleagues Alexander Cartwright, Frank Bright, Mark Swihart, and Andrea Markelz projects are devoted to modeling nanoparticle sensors aimed for medical diagnostics.
Kwang W. Oh: BioMEMS and MicroFabrication
  • Nano/Microfluidic system; nanobiosensors and microactuators; world-to-chip interfacing and packaging; and single cell manipulation, sorting, and detection
  • At Samsung, Dr. Oh was responsible for microfluidics in developing Lab-On-a-Chip (LOC) platforms for clinical diagnostic applications. He has strong R&D skills for problem-solving in many microfluidic systems, with wide knowledge of bio-assay/device miniaturization, micro/nanostructure device design and fabrication, and bio-instrument integration and automation.
  • His research interest is small (hybrid nano & micro) science & technology, including sample-to-answer nano/microfluidic system; nanobiosensors and microactuators; world-to-chip interfacing and packaging; and single cell manipulation, sorting, and detection.
David Shaw: Carbon nanotubes
  • Dr. Shaw conducts research in carbon nanotubes for energy storage and high temperature superconducting materials. He is also involved in developing educational materials for the National Science Foundation science, engineering, technology, and materials program.
Gottfried Strasser: Semiconductor Quantum Structures
  • Focused on research of nanostructured semiconductors
Esther Takeuchi: Nanostructured Materials for Batteries
  • Focused on research of Li:Ion batteries and implantable batteries.
Albert Titus: Analog VLSI design, neural networks
  • Dr. Titus' research interests include analog VLSI implementations of artificial vision, hardware and software artificial neural networks, hardware implementations of decision-making aids, optoelectronics and integrated sensor systems. He is funded by the National Science Foundation, Johnson and Johnson, Intel, and Ultrscan.
  • One of his research projects involves creating electronic vision systems that could be used in robots to explore the oceans, outer space, and harsh environments. Professor Titus and his colleagues developed an experimental version of the o-retina chip, which is about the size of a narrow Post-it Note and is based upon the eye of an Octopus. The chip acts as a retina, a sensory membrane in the eye that distills relevant visual information to be sent to the brain.
  • By using a sea creature, and later broadening optical studies to an eagle or hawk, Titus hopes to create smarter vision systems that see the world in different ways. He plans to electronically inter-connect the structure and functions of different types of animals' eyes and brains, for example, an eagle's brain and an octopus's eyes.
  • Titus's work has attracted the attention of other scientists. "Silicon-retina technology will have widespread use in remote-site exploration, wireless sensor networks and many other places where one needs cheap 'information-extracting' visual interfaces," says Andreas Andreou, an expert on silicon retinas at Johns Hopkins University.
Aleksandr Verevkin: Superconducting detectors
  • Dr. Verevkin recently joined the University at Buffalo EE department. His interests are concentrated on the physics of low-dimension, superconducting and semiconductor structures, and on the design of detectors based on superconductors and other materials, including, large-active-area NbN single-photon superconducting detectors in the ultraviolet to near-infrared range . The following slide highlights his contributions.
James Whalen: Electromagnetic shielding materials
  • Dr. Whalen is an expert in electromagnetic compatibility. He has a project funded by Saint-Gobain testing electromagnetic shielding materials and composites. He also has a student working on broadband horn antenna design and characterization.
Chu Ryang Wie: Semiconductor and photonic devices and materials
  • Dr. Wie is funded by the National Science Foundation. His research interests include semiconductor device reliability under voltage/current stress, radiation (gamma-ray, proton, X-ray) effect; X-ray analysis of semiconductor materials such as metamorphic buffer materials using reciprocal space mapping, and other X-ray methods; Design of Photonic Crystals: new approaches to unitcell design for large photonic bandgap, Structures and materials for shorter wavelengths, and Fabrication; semiconductor nanodevice visual simulation.
  • He received the 2003 Merlot Classics Award for his efforts on Java Applet Courseware; the 1988 National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award; and the 1987 NSF Engineering Initiation Award.
Y.K. Yoon: Nano- and Micro-Systems Research
  • Dr. Yoon in focusing on micro- and nano-fabrication of RF devices.
  • His Multidisciplinary nano and Microsystems (MnM) laboratory pursues research activities intersecting more than one traditional science and engineering discipline in nano and micro scale systems. Its research interests include nano/ microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in radio frequency (RF) engineering, bio medical / microfluidic systems, optical and photonic applications, organic/ inorganic nanomaterials, and nanocomposites
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