Archive for June, 2009

On May 5th, the IMR hosted its last seminar in the 2008-2009 IMR Colloquia Series, a lively talk featuring Dr. Larry “Kaz” Kazmerski, Executive Director of Science and Technology Partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Kazmerski’s colloquium, “Photovoltaics R&D: The Revolution Has Begun” was an entertaining, multi-media presentation of the history of solar energy technology and the future of photovoltaics production and use globally.

This popular event generated many requests for the presentation, and Dr. Kazmerski generously agreed to share it with the IMR community.

Download the slides from Dr. Kazmerski’s presentation.

Eight new research projects were awarded by the IMR in May 2009, for a total investment of $16,000. The eight projects support 10 faculty researchers from four departments within the College of Engineering and the College of Biological, Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

• Characterization of TiO2 Nanowires Grown by Thermal Oxidation on Titanium Alloys Lead Investigator: Sheikh Akbar, Materials Science and Engineering; Co-Investigator: Suliman A. Dregia, Materials Science and Engineering
• Ultra-high spatial resolution FeCNT probes for quantitative Magnetic Force Microscopy analysis of magnetic systems Lead Investigator: P. Chris Hammel, Physics
• A proposal to fabricate low loss ridge-type Ta2O5 optical waveguides using atomic layer deposition and electron beam lithography of SU-8 Lead Investigator: Gregory Lafyatis, Physics
• High Resolution Electron Beam Lithography on Optically Transparent Substrates Lead Investigator: Wu Lu, Electrical and Computer
• Engineering Controlled Deposition of Nano-structured Metal Oxides on Micro Hotplate Devices for Gas Sensing Lead Investigator: Patricia Morris, Materials Science
• Molecular beam epitaxy growth of GaN/AlN superlattice nanorods on Si (111) Lead Investigator: Roberto Myers, Materials Science and Engineering
• Simulation and Characterization on GDC Nano-islands Lead Investigator: Yunzhi Wang, Materials Science and Engineering; Co-Investigator: Suliman Dregia, Materials Science and Engineering
• Semiconductor Nanowire Synthesis by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition Lead Investigator: Fengyuan Yang, Physics and Engineering

Ohio State’s first Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) system to focus on the important field of wide bandgap nitride materials was installed earlier this week, adding new major materials capability to OSU’s already strong materials facility infrastructure. These semiconductor materials have wide technological applications including next-generation solid state lighting, solar power, high data-rate communications, and energy-efficient electric transportation systems. This state-of-the-art system allows nanometer-scale control of III-Nitride semiconductor crystal structures, enabling OSU researchers from several departments, including ECE, MSE, Physics, and ME to make scientific discoveries and invent new technology based on III-Nitride semiconductors.

This new instrument was procured by Professors Siddharth Rajan and Roberto Myers, two new Assistant Professors with joint appointments in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, with resources provided by both departments and the Institute for Materials Research.

Professors Myers and Rajan were brought to OSU in Autumn 2008 as part of IMR’s signature research thrusts in the areas of “Energy for Materials” and “Electronic Materials,” core topics in which IMR has invested by creating and funding teams leading to large interdisciplinary research programs. Support for these areas also comes from the Targeted Investment in Excellence (TIE) program in Advanced Materials and a collaboration with the TIE on Energy – Center for Energy, Sustainability and the Environment.
The III-nitride MBE system is the fourth MBE system at OSU, and is located within the Electrical and Computer Engineering department’s Semiconductor Epitaxy and Analysis Lab (http://www.ece.osu.edu/oepv/mbe.html), the primary center for MBE research, development and services at Ohio State.

For more details on the capabilities and uses of this new instrument, contact Siddharth Rajan (rajan@ece.osu.edu), Roberto Myers (myers.1079@osu.edu) or the SEAL lab manager, Mark Brenner (brennerm@ece.osu.edu).

Photovoltaics R&D:  The Revolution has Begun
 
Dr. Lawrence L. Kazmerski
Executive Director, Science and Technology Partnerships
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(former Director of the National Center for Photovoltaics)
 
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
9:00 – 10:00 AM
The Blackwell Ballroom

Click here for a flyer for this event.