- 3 October 2005 -

Major grant for nanomaterials on semiconductors

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the University of
Wisconsin-Madison Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
(MRSEC) nearly $14.8 million over the next six years to continue its
leading-edge research on the interfaces of materials at the nanoscale.

"These are extremely, extremely competitive grants," said Juan de
Pablo, a professor of chemical and biological engineering and the
centre's director. "Every major university would like to have a centre
like this."

Included in the research studies is a project to study the interfaces
between inorganic materials, such as gallium nitride semiconductors,
and organic molecular structures. The goal is to increase their
understanding of those interfaces so that eventually, they can build
"hybrid" organic-inorganic electronic devices with new and enhanced
properties. Applications for such devices could range from more
efficient lighting to chemical and biological sensing.

In addition, there will be a research focus on semiconductor
nanomembranes which have unique electronic and mechanical properties.
These are a new form of nanomaterials and the University will first be
implementing them on silicon. Their extreme flexibility, structural
perfection and transferability to a wide range of host materials mean
that they have the potential for significant technological advances in
flexible electronics, quantum computation, and in biological and
environmental sensing.