Chemistry Department Seminar, Featuring Prof. Martin Thuo, Iowa State University, "Surface Chemistry Driven Electronic Materials"

Seminar hosted by Prof. Benjamin J. Wiley. Abstract: Need for flexible/wearable electronics, post-CMOS electronics, or ultra-miniaturization of hybrid microelectronics, calls for low temperature and autonomous (self-assembly) fabrication with concomitant need for energy efficiency during and post manufacturing. We couple fundamental surface thermodynamics and bottom-up self-assembly to design material synthesis and processing approaches that can meet these demands. First, this talk discusses the nature of passivating oxide-bulk nanointerface (<10 nm) and underlying liquid plasticity as an ion source for ad infinitum growth of coordination (organometallic) polymers that are precursors for tunable bandgap semiconducting materials. Through a directed assembly of the polymerizing materials, new diodes and gate architectures have been realized. Secondly, besides their synthetic utility, felicitous choice of processing conditions can lead to surface/interface-driven tuning of the thermodynamic energy landscape of an alloy, enabling stabilization of metastable states. This altered landscape enables frugal low energy manipulation of the material by driving relaxation or reactions via low energy pathways. This inverted landscape manifests as metastable states (specifically undercooling), surface composition inversion (chameleon and hedgehog-like surfaces) and inverted (inside-out) thermal degradation to create graphene/graphene oxide macrotubes. An overarching theme of this work is an ability to translate surfaces and interfaces into reservoir of high chemical potential gradients that can be tapped into for neoteric material processing, manufacturing, and energy efficiency. To learn more about Prof. Thuo's research, please visit: https://www.mse.iastate.edu/thuo/