NQPI News Archive 2008
Thank you, Cindy White!
December 6, 2008
Cindy White, administrative assistant, has served NQPI for the past 3+ years. In many ways she has helped the institute to progress. This has included, for example, making arrangements for NQPI to attend the past Ohio Nanotechnology Summits, and other events such as NQPI's recent annual retreats held at Burr Oak Resort and Conference Center.
Cindy has also been extremely helpful in handling various budgetary issues, ordering items for members, and providing financial tracking/accounting for the Institute's research incentive (RI) account. Cindy's significant experience in working with the university has been of great benefit to NQPI, and it's been a pleasure working with her.
We hope that she has many happy and relaxing days as she moves into a well-deserved retirement! At the same time, we will greatly miss her valuable help and contributions. Thank you, Cindy.
-- Arthur Smith, Director of NQPI
SPIRE program sends students overseas, forms three-way nano partnership
November 21, 2008
By Emily Hubbell
For Kangkang Wang, two continents just aren’t enough to satisfy his interest in physics.
Three years ago, the graduate student left his home in China to study physics and astronomy at Ohio University. This quarter, Wang is kicking up dust again—relocating to Hamburg, Germany as part of an international nanoscience research program offered through the office of education abroad and the Nanoscale Quantum Phenomenon Institute.
Wang is the first graduate student from OU to participate in the Spin-Polarized Partnership for Inernational Research and Education.
Funded by the National Science Foundation and designed by four faculty in NQPI, SPIRE allows undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral and journalism students from OU to interact with leading nanoscience specialists at universities located in Hamburg, Germany and Buenos Aires, Argentina. SPIRE is the first program in NQPI's NanoExchange, which promotes international student exchange, collaboration and communication.
“Through SPIRE, we are trying not only to foster research on hot topics with social and technological relevance, but also are encouraging international collaboration,” said Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Dr. Nancy Sandler, who wrote the grant proposal alongside Dr. Arthur Smith, Dr. Saw W. Hla and Dr. Sergio Ulloa.
The team chose to collaborate with two universities—one in Germany and another in Argentina—because the institutions have research interests similar to OU’s and also have materials and equipment not available here, Sandler said.
“We wanted to work with groups that would complement our research, not do the same,” she said, adding that sending students to Hamburg will help them learn technical skills in the field, whereas the researchers in Buenos Aires will help students focus on theoretical skills.
Dr. Smith, Wang’s advisor and professor of physics and astronomy, said Wang is uniquely suited for the program.
“Kangkang is highly motivated, self-sufficient and learns things like a sponge,” Smith said, adding that he talks weekly with Wang on Skype to discuss his experiences in Hamburg.
Low Temperature Learning
Every weekday morning, Wang wakes up early to catch the subway into the city. After an hour-long ride, he finally arrives at the University of Hamburg, ready to start a full day of seminars and lab research at the college’s institute of applied physics.
During seminars, Wang is with a group of 60 students, about 10 of whom are international like him. For lab research, students are divided into subgroups lead by a group leader. Each group focuses on a particular research topic.
Wang’s research group is currently conducting experiments in low temperature facilities largely unavailable at OU.
"The most important thing I have learned so far is how cryogenic systems work and how to operate them," Wang said. “I think part of the reason they sent me here is to learn how to operate low temperature facilities.”
Temperature control is crucial when studying the magnetism of small structures such as nanosized islands and single atoms, which are usually only stable at low temperatures, Wang said. He has been learning to handle, refill and operate liquid helium and liquid nitrogen so that he can work in these facilities, which have temperatures around -450 degrees Fahrenheit.
OU is in the process of acquiring a liquid helium recycling facility, which will make Wang’s training in Hamburg especially useful when he returns, Smith said.
For the rest of his time abroad, Wang said he is looking forward to scanning thin iron films using a variable temperature scanning tunneling microscope, an instrument he should be finished constructing within the next few weeks.
Talking the Talk
When he’s not in the lab, Wang is out experiencing a country that he says is just plain “different than Athens,” where there is a greater emphasis on environmental awareness and where citizens often seem to “drink beer instead of water.”
"The science part of this trip is great, but I also really like the cultural aspect," Wang said.
On weekends, he spends time traveling. Thus far, Wang has visited Berlin, Reeperbahn—Germany's version of Court Street—and numerous European castles and palaces.
These weekend travels put Wang’s German language skills to the test.
To prepare for his time in Hamburg, Wang took an introductory German course at OU. He says that speaking about numbers, saying 'How are you?' and greeting people with 'Good morning' are about the extent of his German language proficiency.
"Sometimes I stand beside German speakers in the lab and language is definitely a barrier," Wang said. "I'm somewhere in between understanding what they mean, and that's the most difficult part."
Wang has also had to make other adjustments while in Germany.
Stores close at 8 p.m. daily and are not open on Sundays. This means leaving the lab early some nights just so that he can buy groceries—a different routine from Athens, where Kroeger's is always open, Wang said.
Homeward Bound
Extended grocery store hours are not the only thing Wang misses about Athens.
He also misses knowing the lab’s progress, meeting weekly with Dr. Smith and spending time at Strouds Run during the autumn months.
But when Wang returns to Athens on Nov. 21, he says the first thing he will do is sleep after a long day of traveling.
After that, it’s back to work in the lab to prepare for a December conference he will attend in Boston.
"I can directly use what I have learned here when I go back to Athens,” Wang said. “I would definitely recommend SPIRE to other students. It’s a fun program.”
Professor talks nano ethics
November 20, 2008
By Emily Hubbell
Although ethical issues have always been a part of science, emerging fields such as nanoscience provide scientists with the opportunity to incorporate ethics into the classroom and the lab, said Dr. Arthur Zucker in his presentation at the 5th International Congress of Nano-Bio Clean Tech.
“It’s not just nanoscience—it’s taking advantage of something new that people are looking at and changing the way scientists are taught to see science,” said Zucker, chair and associate professor of philosophy and member of NQPI.
Considering the public’s perception of science and the problems the public may have with it is an important aspect of ethics. “Doing science” should include thinking about the social and ethical implications of that science, preferably before performing research, he said.
Ethical issues in nanoscience include its possible effects on public health, privacy, self-identity and military uses.
Professionals in nanoscience are already doing a good job focusing on ethics. Still, there is a need for more discussion of ethics in curriculum, taught by the scientists themselves and not separate ethicists, Zucker said.
“The goal is to think about these issues before problems arise,” he said.
Physics alumnus returns for speech on patenting, tech transfer
November 4, 2008
By Emily Hubbell
Ohio University alumnus Dr. Howard Lee Mosbacker returned to his alma mater in November to discuss ways for researchers to marketing their technology and ideas to businesses.
Mosbacker, who earned his bachelors of science in physics at OU, held a small discussion with NQPI members prior to giving a colloquium entitled, “The Physics of Entrepreneurship.”
When it comes to marketing one’s research to companies, creating a business plan and finding a niche market are important, the alumni said. He added that securing a patent for one’s ideas is crucial because once a researcher goes outside of a university with an idea, it is no longer protected.
Mosbacker started Traycer Diagnostic Systems—a Columbus-based company that specializes in the use of microwave and tetrahertz imaging for medical applications—in 2008. He stressed that the entrepreneur route of tech transfer is less risk averse than selling an idea to a large corporation that provides little room for error.
This process is 1 percent the technology and 10 percept the business idea. The rest of the process is up to the business team that finds a market for the technology, he said.
“The technology is rarely the hurdle. It’s about gauging the market’s receptiveness to buy,” Mosbacker said, adding that scientists see things horizontally, which makes them natural at developing products.
During the discussion, the alumni and NQPI members discussed the hurdles of bringing industry to Southeastern Ohio.
One strategy is to build a “technology pipeline that you’re a key component to.” Another is to network with other state universities, Mosbacker said.
After completing his undergraduate studies at OU, Mosbacker completed his graduate work at Ohio State University. He developed the idea for Traycer Diagnostic Systems while working there.
Athens hosts international conference
October 30, 2008
By Emily Hubbell
NQPI was showcased on an international level this summer when Athens hosted the joint NSS5-SPSTM2 conference.
The conference, consisting of lectures, poster presentations and social activities, was held in Baker University Center over four days this July. Previous conference hosts include Tokyo and Hamburg.
More than one hundred experts and grad students from fourteen countries traveled to OU to discuss current issues in nanoscience and to present their latest research.
The conference consisted of two parallel sessions, the NSS5—Nanoscale Spectroscopy and Nanotechnology 5, chaired by Dr. Saw-Wai Hla, associate professor of physics and astronomy—and SPSTM2—Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy 2, chaired by Dr. Arthur Smith, professor of physics and astronomy.
Attendees could follow their own interests and attend lectures from both sessions.
Top international and national experts also delivered plenary lectures, said Mala Braslavsky, conference coordinator and NQPI’s special event and outreach coordinator.
Creating an open, scientific discussion between experts and students from around the world was top priority during the conference planning, Braslavsky said, adding that the planning was a group effort.
“It was really important to create a space for all the people at the conference to communicate with each other,” she said. “The conferference brought the world here to Athens and to Ohio University.”
Nightly dinners and group outings encouraged students and scientists to spend time together, Braslavsky said.
Graduate students also discussed their latest research with experts through oral presentations and poster projects.
“If the conference weren’t in Athens, I would’ve had to travel far to present my research to an international audience,” said OU physics and astronomy graduate student Swati Ramanathan, who participated in the graduate student poster session at the conference.
NQPI teams recognized at 2008 poster competition
October 28, 2008
By Emily Hubbell
NQPI teams had a strong showing at this year’s CMSS/NQPI/BNNT Poster Session, winning first, second and third place and two honorable mentions.
Finishing first was an NQPI research team composed of Yeliz Celik, Natalya Petra and Ido Braslavsky.
The team’s poster, “The Control of Growth and Melting of Ice Crystals by Ice Binding Proteins,” was chosen out of 30 eligible projects to receive the first place prize, a $250 research award that can be used to cover research-related supplies or travel expenses.
Second place and a $150 research award were presented to NQPI members Eric Abrams and Jeff Rack for their poster titled, “Synthesis of Chelating Sulfoxides for Picosecond Isomerization in Ruthenium Sulfoxides.”
NQPI members Alyssa Thomas and Hugh Richardson won third place and a $75 research award for their research, “Growth of Thin Film Water and Implications for Ice Nucleation on Alpha-A1203 (0001).”
Two NQPI teams also received honorable mentions at the competition.
Pedro Hernandez and Alexander Govorov were recognized for their research project, “Energy Transfer and Photothermal Effects in Nanocrystals.”
Also receiving an honorable mention was the poster, “Photoluminescence Excitation in Coupled Quantum Dots,” presented by Mauricio Garrido, Kushal C. Wijesundara, Swati Ramanathan, M. Scheibner, A.S. Bracker, D. Gammon and E.A. Stinaff.
Graduate students react to summer conference
October 28, 2008
By Emily Hubbell
When physics and astronomy graduate student Gayani Perera learned she would be presenting a lecture on her research at this summer’s NSS5-SPSTM2 Joint International Conference, she had no idea what kind of audience to expect. As she walked on stage, she was greeted by a packed Baker Theatre, filled with students and renowned scientists representing more than 12 countries.
The warm reception Perera received during her lecture is a reflection of the experience many Nanoscale Quantum Phenomena Institute graduate students had at the conference.
“It was a conference for exchanging new ideas among professors, but it was also a conference for graduate students to present their research” and “to communicate with each other,” said physics and astronomy graduate student Kangkang Wang, who is currently studying in Hamburg as part of the SPIRE study abroad program.
The biannual conference, consisting of lectures, poster presentations and social activities, was held in Baker University Center over four days this July. Tokyo and Washington, D.C. have hosted previous conferences. Experts and grad students traveled from as far away as Japan, the Netherlands and Germany to discuss current issues in nanoscience and to present their latest research.
Wang found the presentations well focused and pertinent to his own interests. He learned new techniques for detecting surface confined electronic waves and for preparing STM probes, skills he said he will incorporate into future research.
While graduate students learned from scientists during the lectures, they conversely presented their current findings to a diverse group of nanoscience experts through poster projects and oral presentations.
The most difficult aspect of creating her presentation was framing her research in a “more physics-friendly way,” said chemistry graduate student Alyssa Thomas.
“Physics and chemistry have different perspectives, so I had to alter my presentation to fit the audience,” said Thomas. In her research, she excites bimetallic nanoparticles and then measures how much ice those particles can melt. Her findings could have implications for the pre-application side of cancer therapy, she said.
Although she thought the poster sessions were well organized, Thomas found that lecture sessions often ran longer than expected and took time away from the graduate student presentations. She added that it might have been helpful to have all the projects in one room instead of in three separate ones.
Despite minor issues with the poster setup, students stressed the perks of being able to attend an international conference in Athens at no financial cost to them.
“If the conference weren’t in Athens, I would’ve had to travel far to present my research to an international audience. We just don’t have the funding for that,” said physics and astronomy graduate student Swati Ramanathan. She added that a highlight of the conference was meeting a scientist from her hometown in Bangalore, India.
The conference also showcased NQPI on an international level that will boost the university’s reputation, Thomas said.
But for some, having the conference in Athens benefitted more than just their academic pursuits.
“Having these advantages within walking distance from home, at the ease of still going to Big Mama’s Burrito for lunch [makes this conference] better than any conference I have been to,” Wang said, adding that his only suggestion is that next time the conference provide better food.
Roland Wiesendanger, NSS5/SP-STM2 Conference Plenary Lecturer
August 7, 2008
By Stephanie Laird
Summary: Roland Wiesendanger, a plenary lecturer at the recent joint NSS5/SP-STM2 international conference, discussed his research in understanding magnetic interactions at the single-atom layer using a subkelvin spin-polarized STM. During his presentation, Wiesendanger discussed the oscillatory behavior of the magnetic exchange coupling, which is critically impacted by distance, local environment and the substrate. Wiesendanger's research is paramount to the development of magnetic data storage devices, as he probes deeper into understanding the magnetic properties of single adatoms.
Roland Wiesendanger, a prominent nanoscientist conducting research on magnetic nanostructures at the single-atom level, delivered a plenary lecture at the recent Nanoscale Spectroscopy & Nanotechnology 5 and Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy 2 (NSS5/SP-STM2) international conference entitled, “Oscillatory magnetic exchange coupling at the atomic level: a direct real-space study by a subkelvin spin-polarized STM.”
According to Wiesendanger, the current focus of his research is “to develop techniques to probe magnetic states of individual atoms and molecules; to understand the number of atoms or molecules needed to form a stable bit for storing information; to understand magnetics and spin fluctuations; and to determine the limitations for fast magnetic switching.”
In the past twenty years, spin-polarized (SP) STM, based on vacuum tunneling of spin-polarized electrons, has successfully been applied to study atomic-scale spin structures of ferrimagnetic, antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic material systems. During his presentation, Wiesendanger presented recent studies of ground-state magnetic properties of individual magnetic adatoms on non-magnetic substrates as well as the interactions between them, which have become possible with the recent development of subkelvin SP-STM.
With the subkelvin SP-STM “we can now get single-spin sensitivity, resolve individual atoms, and probe the magnetic interactions at extremely small energy scales simultaneously,” said Wiesendanger. “This is needed because the energy scales involved in the various interactions are becoming very small. We can do very exciting measurements with the SP-STM system on individual atoms at surfaces and investigations on magnetic semiconductors,” he added.
“The principles underlying the indirect magnetic exchange interactions at the sub-milli-electronvolt energy scale are based on magnetic atoms or molecules on the surface that are interacting with the metallic substrate,” said Wiesendanger. “We can tune interactions by selecting particular types of magnetic substrates and atoms. This is needed to transfer information from one magnetic atom or molecule to another; this kind of transfer of information is mediated by the substrate.” We typically work with metal substrates in our research such as copper, gold or platinum, said Wiesendanger. “There are a great number of different substrates in order to tune the interaction of the magnetization of individual atoms and molecules.”
In his lecture, Wiesendanger presented SP-STM experiments performed at temperatures of 300 mK exhibiting indirect magnetic exchange interactions between individual paramagnetic adatoms as well as between adatoms and nearby magnetic nanostructures, which could directly be revealed in real space up to distances of several nanometers.
In both cases an oscillatory behavior of the magnetic exchange coupling, alternating between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic, were observed as a function of distance. Wiesendanger went on to demonstrate that “long-range oscillatory magnetic interaction between individual magnetic adatoms has significant consequences for their magnetic behavior which depends critically on the local environment.”
“We now can understand the interaction mechanism on a much smaller atomic scale, which gives hope that we can use the knowledge we have gained in a similar way as for magnetic multilayer systems,” said Wiesendanger. “Magnetic multi-layers are one dimensional – made of billions of atoms – but now we can study magnetic interactions at a much smaller scale. We are developing lots of ideas for how to use this information to create memory and logic devices. What we have studied here will form the basis for future concepts of magnetic data storage developments.”
The oscillatory behavior of the magnetic exchange coupling, alternating between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic, illustrates these interactions are strongly distance dependent, said Wiesendanger. “Depending on the distance between atoms and molecules, we can determine the magnetic moment of an individual atom or molecule. This gives us a lot of possibilities for designing the right geometry for the position of atoms or molecules in a magnetic device,” according to Wiesendanger.
By arranging atoms or molecules in a way we would like to have them we can gain full control over the type of magnetic interactions. Indirect exchange coupling is only one possibility for transferring data, he added, since we can also have a super-exchange mechanism. The dipole interactions that are present can also be used to transfer magnetic information. In all cases, the substrate plays an important role in mediating interactions, as does the distance, Wiesendanger stressed.
The role played by the local environment in determining the magnetic behavior of atoms and molecules is given by the substrate and by other atoms and molecules sitting close by, said Wiesendanger. “The spin state of a given atom is determined by many atoms in a given local environment. This can of course lead to a much more complex scheme of determining the spin state of an individual atom and transferring information. Many atoms in the neighborhood might determine the spin state of a given atom. If you design more complex arrangements, multiple interactions occur,” according to Wiesendanger, though it is important to start with simple arrangements in order to understand the interactions between two atoms or molecules. “In order to gain fundamental understanding, we need to start with the most simple arrangements; the next step is to study the interactions in a more complex case,” he said.
For measuring magnetization curves of single adatoms, the magnetic probe tip is positioned above a single atom sitting on a surface, then the spin-polarized current flow is measured as a function of an external magnetic field which is also applied, explained Wiesendanger. “In the case of a ferromagnetic atom we see a very nice hysteresis curve, which is a great surprise for a single magnetic atom on a non-magnetic substrate.”
According to Wiesendanger, these findings are significant because “we can combine atomic resolution and spin resolution, which has applications for magnetic semiconductors and molecular based systems as well as for magnetic metals. We can also study interactions between molecules, which is important because molecular spintronics is very promising. In addition to getting insight into the atomic structure of individual molecules we can now add the information about the spin dependent and magnetic properties of the molecule. The spin degree of freedom plays an important role in understanding interactions between molecules.” While Wiesendanger and his team have made significant leaps in understanding the oscillatory magnetic exchange coupling at the atomic level, there are still some challenges this research poses. “We are primarily working on a very detailed understanding of manipulating the spin state of single atoms or molecules,” said Wiesendanger. “Now we are going into a direction to manipulate the spin state purposely with the STM tip to develop a complete new concept for magnetic recording. All the information processing and magnetic storage devices today are mediated by magnetic stray fields. But by purposely increasing the spin polarized current, you can change the spin state of a single atom by making use of the spin transfer torque.”
Wiesendanger's research is concentrated on magnetic materials, but he is also doing a lot of measurements on molecular systems in general to provide a basis for understanding biological functions and interactions, he said. “One can probe the atomic structure of molecules and their electronic states, and progress has even been made in probing the vibrational states of molecules by the atomic force microscope. We can apply this technique to any kind of molecule, because the atomic force microscope does not rely on a conductive substrate.”
Wiesendanger's presentation on his current research illustrates promising advances in the area of magnetic interactions at the atomic level and its relevance in future magnetic data storage applications.
Paul Weiss, NSS5/SP-STM2 Conference Plenary Lecturer
August 5, 2008
By Stephanie Laird
Summary: Paul Weiss, a plenary lecturer at the recent joint NSS5/SP-STM2 international conference, discussed his research in understanding, measuring and controlling molecular functions and inter-molecular interactions at the atomic scale. During his presentation, Weiss discussed the progress and results of his research into various molecular properties and functions in three sections: self- and direct-assembly concerning the placement of molecules; molecular electronics and driven motion; and complex assemblies of molecules. The research Weiss has accomplished thus far shows promise for the precise assembly of functional parts and for understanding and designing molecular interactions, which will have vast implications in the nanoscience realm.
Paul S. Weiss, a prominent figure in the nanoscience community, delivered the first plenary lecture at the recent Nanoscale Spectroscopy & Nanotechnology 5 and Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy 2 (NSS5/SP-STM2) conference. His scientific presentation entitled, “Designing, Measuring and Controlling Molecular- and Supermolecular-Scale Properties for Molecular Devices” addressed numerous advances in the understanding of molecular functions, interactions, assemblies, switching, measurements, and driven motion generated by his research.
During his college years, Weiss became interested in how electrons could be used to control chemical reactions. This led to his work in manipulating electrons on surfaces and using that process to understand and to control the chemical dynamics of the molecules, he said. Around this time, the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was invented, which was an ideal tool for him since it allowed scientists to look simultaneously at the atomic and electron structure of the surface for the first time. Today, Weiss is a distinguished professor from the Departments of Chemistry and Physics at Pennsylvania State University, where his research group focuses on atomic-scale measurements and control in chemistry, physics, electronics and biology.
The scientific investigations conducted by Weiss and his group “use molecular design, tailored syntheses, intermolecular interactions and selective chemistry to direct molecules into desired positions to create nanostructures, to connect functional molecules to the outside world, and to serve as test structures for measurements of single or bundled molecules,” according to an abstract by Weiss.
It is known that “interactions within and between molecules can be designed, directed, measured, understood and exploited at unprecedented scales,” said Weiss. With this scientific precedent, Weiss is “looking at how these interactions influence the chemistry, dynamics, structure, electronic function and other properties of molecules, since such molecular interactions are advantageous in the formation of precise molecular assemblies, nanostructures, and patterns, and to control and to stabilize function,” according to his abstract.
Weiss' current research involves selecting and tailoring molecules to determine the intermolecular interaction strengths and the structures formed with the film. In addition, Weiss and his associates are “employing some of these approaches in directed assembly to enable bioselective and biospecific binding.” According to Weiss, his research is also focused on the selective testing of hypothesized mechanisms for molecular function such as electronic switching by varying molecular design, chemical environment, and measurement conditions in individual molecules and assemblies in order to enable or to disable the proposed mechanisms of function.
In order to understand the variations of molecular function and control stemming from their extensive research, the development of a system capable of making tens to hundreds of thousands of independent single-molecule measurements was essential since this is the means for developing sufficiently significant statistical distributions that can be compared to those of ensemble-averaging measurements, according to Weiss.
Additional nanoscience forays in which he is involved include: “quantitatively comparing the conductance of molecule-substrate junctions and demonstrating the importance of these junctions in conductance switching of single molecules,” according to Weiss. The preceding strategies are now being applied to photo-driven, electrochemically-driven, and chemically-driven motion in both single molecules and assemblies of molecules.
This molecularly based research “enables us to address how concerted nanoscale motions can be used to drive motion at larger scales, which we hope will be the key to technological innovations in motion in coming years,” said Weiss. His findings at the atomic scale provide surprising details and a glimpse into the limitations and potential applications of cooperative motion.
During his presentation, Weiss discussed the progress and results of his research into various molecular properties and functions in three sections: self- and direct-assembly concerning the placement of molecules; molecular electronics and driven motion; and complex assemblies of molecules.
In the first part of his lecture, Weiss noted some of the themes and challenges associated with self-assembly, including: controlled assembly via intermolecular interactions; controlling type and density of defects to control structure at the nanometer scale; and controlling and patterning chemical functionality. For single-molecule measurements, one of the challenges posed is recording substantial data sets on single molecules and/or particles.
Weiss learned to control the positions of molecules by controlling their chemistry, interactions, motion and defects. In addition, he is able to “select interactions and interaction strengths to guide and to stabilize structures,” said Weiss, adding that being able to control the type and density of defects is advantageous in controlling molecules.
Using nanometer-scale phase separation to produce patterns at the few-nanometer scale in self-assembled monolayers, Weiss demonstrated that molecules remain mobile even after absorption. The defects in self-assembled monolayers play a crucial function in both patterning and pattern dissolution, he said. One can selectively study molecules at or away from step edges on the surface, said Weiss, using research on an Au substrate as an example for how molecules can be inserted after vacancy islands and step edges are largely eliminated. Domain boundaries in the molecular layers are additional defects that result in sites where single molecules can be selectively inserted.
In discussing directed assembly and placement of molecules, Weiss said he uses self-assembly, intermolecular interactions, deposition and processing to select film structure. Moving on to a soft lithography called microcontact insertion printing, Weiss discussed how molecules can be isolated across the surface of a substrate. “We can make it so two molecules are rarely close to each other and we can also capture large molecules such as proteins on the basis of their function,” said Weiss, who is interested in determining the structures of single molecules and molecular complexes. In order to do so, he fashions a matrix and then uses the known defects to insert single molecules in it.
According to Weiss, defects mediate absorption, exchange and insertion. Some ways to control defect densities and types by processing films include: varying chain length; varying chain functionality; varying terminal functional group; and varying head group (S, Se for different purposes), he said. Another defect Weiss discussed involved the structures of multi-component films. Codeposition is used to create a mixed film, said Weiss, utilizing “sequential deposition to insert a small amount of a second component at defect sites; use/enhance soft lithography to pattern; and remove/displace part of film and replace with a second component.” This is done to probe the diffusion of marker molecules, study phase behavior, and enhance pattern precision to the molecular scale, he added.
The remaining portion of Weiss' lecture focused on molecular electrons and driven motion and the function of molecules in electronics and motion. In Weiss' research on molecular switches and other devices, he “measures isolated and bundled molecules in known and controlled environments.” He found that “switching can be controlled and stabilized via tailored interactions, and that key information can be lost when one cannot control the environment of what they're measuring.” In following and operating molecular switches, Weiss discovered that “molecules change their apparent protrusion from the matrix, which can also be driven, and this can be used to determine the state of the switch.”
In addition, many isolated switches can be monitored simultaneously, by using the matrix to control and to insert more isolated switches, which can be tracked automatically, said Weiss. The switching rate depends strongly on local matrix density and order. Using an electrical field generated by a scanning tunneling microscope tip, Weiss is able to switch single molecules on and off, he reported, and that motion is in part responsible for controlling switching activity.
The hypotheses tested by Weiss and his fellow researchers on what functionality is required for molecular switching include: chemical functionality; coordinated motion of pairs or larger clusters of molecules; internal molecular rotations; molecular tilts and associated bonding changes to the substrate.
Weiss' molecular research also concerns bias-dependent switching mechanisms, in which the one electric field direction switches mostly on and the other switches mostly off. For this mechanism, switching is correlated to the interactions between the electric field from the STM tip and the molecular dipole; these states are made stable by hydrogen bonding, both aspects are handles for molecular design, said Weiss.
While they study controlled switching with electric field polarity and intermolecular interactions, there is not yet a good way to measure the tilts of molecules, according to Weiss. It is known, however, that a significant dipole magnitude is required to drive switching and that inverting molecular dipole inverts the polarity of the switch. Also, Weiss discussed hybridization changes via molecular tilt as a potential switching mechanism, which can produce quite a significant redistribution of electrons between the molecules and the surface to which they are attached.
According to Weiss, there are “lots of things we want to measure at the same time, which means we need new methods to understand the events happening at the atomic scale.” Also, there is a statistical problem in understanding these molecular systems since it is so complicated due to all the variations in the assemblies measured.
The intended applications for Weiss' research include gaining control over single molecular components and understanding the entire systems, he said. “There are unique advantages in studying motion, electronics, and patterning down to those scales,” said Weiss about molecules' chemical and electronic interactions. In addition, they are trying to make assemblies in a direct way and to organize their data in such a way as to increase both function and the measurements of function so that this research can be applied throughout science and engineering fields.
The research Weiss has accomplished thus far shows promise for the precise assembly of functional parts and for understanding and designing molecular interactions. His continued commitment to understanding these fundamental processes and advancing this emerging technology are imperative to the expanding realm of nanoscience.
NQPI Partner Wojciech Jadwisienczak Awarded OURC Grant
July 2, 2008
By Stephanie Laird
The Ohio University Research Committee recently awarded Wojciech Jadwisienczak, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, a grant for $8,000 to build an instrument capable of measuring magneto-optical properties of ferromagnetic materials.
Jadwisienczak, a Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute partner, received notification in May that he would be receiving this highly competitive award, which he has applied for three times since becoming a faculty member at Ohio University.
According to Jadwisienczak, an OURC award is generally recognized as seed money for faculty to support creative activities, research and to start new projects. Since 1995, OURC has awarded $1.15 million in start-up funds from the Vice President for Research to bolster faculty research and creative enterprises on campus. This spring, the OURC awarded ten grants ranging from $4,300 to $8,000 each to faculty from a variety of disciplines.
The OURC award is particularly helpful to new faculty who are starting their research at the university, said Jadwisienczak. “Typically it is for starting new projects, which should eventually attract more funding from outside the university based on the data collected with the OURC award.”
As one of the OURC grant recipients, Jadwisienczak plans to build an instrument to measure magneto-optical properties of materials, which will be available to researchers within the Russ College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Arts and Sciences, according to Jadwisienczak.
The budget Jadwisienczak proposed for this grant requested funding to expand his experimental magneto-optic Kerr Effect (MOKE) spectrometer, a piece of equipment that is part of his experimental database. For Jadwisienczak's research in magneto-optics, this “in-house” constructed instrument will give him an additional angle in experimental work and new flexibility, he said.
Jadwisienczak feels lucky to have an electro-magnet in his lab, which is part of a system that works in conjunction with other equipment already in place. With the addition of a MOKE in his lab, Jadwisienczak “hopes to get a chance to investigate magneto-optical properties of materials grown on campus,” he said.
Jadwisienczak relies on the materials grown by others, he said. “I believe my colleagues will be supported in their research,” said Jadwisienczak on the addition of this new component to his lab and research. In assembling the equipment available to Jadwisienczak to measure magneto-optical properties of semiconductors, this OURC grant award will strengthen his personal research capacity and that of his colleagues.
“I am very pleased that my effort was recognized, and hope that I will succeed with what I proposed,” said Jadwisienczak. “We are already getting the preliminary data, however there are some limits with using the current system, such as the old electromagnet power supply. The first step is to collect preliminary data and then attract more money to get a brand new system, fully computerized and capable of conducting experiments at low temperatures” to further his research, said Jadwisienczak.
The OURC program will expand this fall to include a second cycle of funding opportunities for faculty members who are paving the way for a brighter future for Ohio University and its affiliates.
Single-Atom Magnetization Curves Reveal Magnetic Interactions
June 4, 2008
Technological innovations in the nanoscience field now allow physicists to ascertain the magnetic interactions and properties of single atoms, a paramount discovery in the quest to increase novel device memory and computing capacity and efficiency.
A recent report in Science magazine by a group of world-class researchers demonstrates “the ability to measure magnetization curves of individual magnetic atoms absorbed on a nonmagnetic substrate with use of a scanning tunneling microscope with a spin-polarized tip.” Their findings challenge the fundamental theoretical understanding generally accepted on the polarization of atoms in response to a magnetic field; suggesting that further theory work may be necessary to explain the empirical phenomena of increased oscillatory spacing discovered in the polarization switching of single atoms due to their proximity to the monolayer, according to Arthur R. Smith, director of the Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute at Ohio University.
The findings reported in “Revealing Magnetic Interactions from Single-Atom Magnetization Curves,” by Focko Meier, Lihui Zhou, Jens Wiebe and Roland Wiesendanger of the Institute of Applied Physics and Microstructure Research Center at the University of Hamburg in Germany, a partner institution in the PIRE Spin Triangle with NQPI, demonstrate the ability to study the individual magnetic properties of single atoms using the unique SP-STS technology.
Since the dawn of magnetism research, scientists have explored the magnetization response of samples to an external magnetic field, known as a magnetization curve. Modern technological advancements are allowing researchers to gather magnetism information on smaller and smaller samples, now extending to the atomic level.
Their investigations of “magnetic nanostructures consisting of a few atoms on nonmagnetic substrates (adatoms) are explored as model systems for miniaturized data storage and spintronic devices for the implementation of quantum computing.”
By using magnetization curves, a sample's magnetic moment – the strength and direction of the dipole – and magnetic anisotropy energy is deduced. Ever-increasing sensitivity and detection methods are essential to studying the magnetic properties and individual spins of smaller and smaller samples.
In their experiments, the Hamburg researchers used the spin-polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy (SP-STS) method, which is ideal for detecting “single spins stabilized by direct exchange to (anti)ferromagnetic layers.” In the past, the experimental challenge posed by spin instability has prevented the detection of individual spins in a nonmagnetic environment, they reported.
By using the SP-STS method, the researchers were able to “demonstrate the direct detection of the magnetization of single adatoms on a nonmagnetic metallic substrate as a function of an external magnetic field.” To do so, Cobalt (Co) adatoms were placed on a strongly polarizable platinum (111) substrate, to form significant and measurable magnetic moments, which have a strong out-of-plane anisotropy.
In their initial experiments, the Hamburg researchers “intent was to measure the magnetic interaction between stripes of one atomic layer of Co grown at room temperature and the individual adatoms deposited at about 25K on the bare Pt(111).” Their results are crucial to understanding why variations in magnetic properties exist between evidently identical adatoms due to different local environments induced by temperature change. By creating monolayer stripes that are magnetized perpendicular to the surface, they were able to develop a calibration standard for the magnetic properties of the SP-STM tip.
Subsequent experimental results “imply the dominance of a temperature-independent switching process, for example, quantum tunneling of the magnetization or current-induced magnetization switching by inelastic processes,” they reported. To determine the magnetic moment of the individual Co atoms, the researchers fitted the measured magnetization curves to the data gained through prior experimental procedures, revealing a corresponding fit superbly reproducing single-atom magnetization curves.
They determined the variation in the magnetic moments observed was induced by a magnetic interaction between the adatoms at a specific energy scale. “This is consistent with an increase variance only at very low temperatures,” according to the report. “Direct exchange and dipolar interactions can be neglected because of the large separation of the adatoms. Therefore, we assume that indirect exchange via the Pt substrate is responsible for the variance.”
In assuming the validity of this hypothesis, the Hamburg researchers expected a long-range coupling between the adatoms and the monolayer stripes. Using SP-STS, the behavior of adatoms observed varies significantly between those close to and those distant from the monolayer. The closer adatoms' behavior corresponds to typical ferromagnetic behavior, switching its magnetization to align with the direction of the magnetic field.
When the magnetization is in the downward direction, the atoms produce a greater response, while the same atom has a smaller response to a magnetic field in the upward direction. In addition, when the SP-STS tip magnetization is parallel to that of the atom, a greater response is measured in comparison to when the tip is antiparallel to the Co atom. The parallel alignment of the atom with the tip occurs when the magnetic field is introduced.
The magnetic field is applied using a circular superconductive electromagnet, which carries a large current while refraining from dissipating energy and creating heat. When a magnetic field is not present, the spin and magnetic orientation of the spins on the surface are haphazard; the application of the magnetic field therefore aligns the atoms with the direction of the magnetic field.
These experiments reveal that single-atoms of Co can be magnetized, and that when the magnetic field is turned off, the magnetization of atoms is the same for those closer to and further from the monolayer stripe. In studying the interaction of the monolayer stripe and the spin and magnetization curves of individual atoms, the Hamburg researchers discovered that some atoms are polarized even when they're close to the stripe without the application of a magnetic field, and that those closer to the stripe have the propensity to polarize in a certain direction.
An oscillating effect is created due to the proximity of the atom to the monolayer stripes; the further away the atom is, its polarization changes from up to down. The spacing observed between the polarization switches of the atoms is larger than predicted by the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) theory. This raises the question of whether this long-standing theory is appropriate, or if these experiments are an indication that the fundamental theoretical understanding we have about the polarization of atoms needs to be reassessed.
The study of the magnetic interactions from single-atom magnetization curves suggests that in the future single atoms may be utilized for storing information in practical devices. This will be possible because when the magnetic field is turned off, the magnetization of the single-atoms close to the monolayer stripe is fixed. If the magnetization of the atoms was not fixed in the absence of a magnetic field, the ferromagnets used as a storage medium would lose their information.
The development of novel devices implementing single-atom technology would increase storage capacity dramatically to that of our current disc drive capabilities, said Smith. “As a ball park estimate, you could store roughly thousands of times more information per square inch, due to the increased capacity and the smaller storage space necessary.”
The Hamburg group's pioneering research on single-atom magnetization curves and magnetic interactions is crucial to the development of novel devices with increased storage capacity and efficiency. By demonstrating a single-atom's magnetization can be fixed in the absence of a magnetic field, when it is in close proximity to the monolayer, single-atoms are now viable candidates for storing information – the beginning of the technological revolution at the atomic scale is upon us.
International Nanoscience Conference to be Hosted at Ohio University
May 24, 2008
By Stephanie Laird
Scientists from the international nanoscience community will be traveling to Athens this July to participate in the joint Nanoscale Spectroscopy & Nanotechnology 5 and Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy 2 (NSS5/SP-STM2) international conference. This event combines two previously established conferences into one major event that will gather prominent members of the nanoscience community to engage in over three days of stimulating scientific presentations, discussions, networking opportunities, and outdoor and cultural activities.
“We are proud to host this premier international nanoscience conference in Athens this year,” said Arthur R. Smith, director of Ohio University's Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute. “We are looking forward to a week filled with interesting and inspiring presentations along with stimulating discussions.”
First class researches representing more than ten countries will be participating in the NSS5/SP-STM2 conference, either as guests or featured presenters. An estimated 90 participants are expected to attend, including 30 invited speakers giving presentations about their specific research, methodologies, and scientific advancements pertaining to their areas of expertise.
In addition to providing a forum for discussion on this highly interdisciplinary and globally-oriented field, commercial exhibitors will be attending the conference, featuring the latest technological equipment available to facilitate nanoscience research. Confirmed sponsors for this distinguished gathering of nanoscience professionals include; the Condensed Matter and Surface Sciences Program, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Biomimetic Nanoscience and NanoTechnology effort, as well as the Vice President for Research Office at Ohio University. The US Office of Naval Research is also providing external support for the event.
The major topics to be discussed in the NSS5/SP-STM2 conference include: nanoscale spectroscopy, atom/molecule manipulation, and spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. The conference will be divided into two parallel sessions to accommodate the specialized areas, said Smith. Session A will primarily consist of the NSS5 topics, whereas session B will focus on SP-STM2 and atom manipulation. An opening reception and closing banquet will celebrate this convergence of nanoscience experts; and participants will have the opportunity to travel to Techumseh!, the outdoor historical drama that depicts an influential period of our region's cultural history.
The International Workshop on Nanoscale Spectroscopy and Nanotechnology began as a biannual meeting series to share information on the latest science and technology advances in the nanometer realm. Topics traditionally covered during this conference include: electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical and transport properties of nanoscale systems and nanoscale devices, as well as nanomanipulation.
The Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy international workshop started in 2006 with the first edition held in Hamburg, Germany. In keeping with the theme of SP-STM1, this year's event will focus on recent advances in instrument developments, experimental methods, theoretical concepts, and applications of spin-polarized imaging/spectroscopy.
Ohio University's continued dedication to the nanoscience effort has yielded significant scientific advancements through ongoing, cross-campus collaborations that address numerous aspects of this rapidly evolving field.
The NSS5/SP-STM2 joint international conference will be held at the new Baker Student Center on the conference floor. This immense facility offers participants a comfortable, technologically-advanced and spacious environment for hosting an event of this magnitude. The conference will begin on July 15 and continue through July 19.
For additional information on the NSS5/SP-STM2 conference, including a complete schedule, information for exhibitors and sponsors, and information on local accommodations please visit the conference website or contact Mala Braslavsky, conference coordinator, at 740-593-1757 or mala@phy.ohiou.edu.
NQPI Student wins prize at the Research & Creativity Expo 2008
May 22, 2008
By Mala Braslavsky
Congratulation to three NQPI Students who wine prizes from the Research & Creativity Expo 2008:
Gayani Perera (Dr. Hla student)
Poster title: Molecular switch made from charge transfer complexes.
Kangkang Wang (Dr. Smith Student)
Poster title: A comparative study of MnGa growth on Ga- and N- polar GaN
Daniel Hoy (Dr. Kordesch Student)
Poster title: Photoabsorption and conduction in the InN/TiO2 bilayer for photovoltaics
NQPI researchers weigh in on spintronic supercomputers
May 10, 2012
By Ben White
As anorexic iPods grow leaner each year, scientists work daily to improve electronics, making them faster, smaller and dependent on less energy. In the past decade, technology has seen the biggest leap in storage capacity per square millimeter in the history of electronics. Consumers can easily find Micro SD cards the size of a pinky fingernail that hold 64 GB, the equivalent of 14,000 songs. But how small can technology go?
Recently, computer research has shifted toward a strange, small domain with its own world of laws which even Einstein called “spooky.” Researchers dub the next generation of computing spintronics, named after an abstract property of quantum physics that man still has yet to fully grasp.
In 2007, European physicists Albert Fert and Peter Grünberg received the Nobel Prize for independently discovering a phenomena dubbed the Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) effect a decade earlier. First, they stacked multiple thin strips of magnetic metals between layers of nonmagnetic film. When scientists introduced a magnetic field over the Kit-Kat-like semiconductor, its electrical resistance drastically decreased. This discovery led to virtually immediate and profitable results in computer memory. Sensors that read magnetic information in hard drives became much more delicate, allowing memory to be stored in smaller pieces.
Hard drives with GMR read heads hit the market quickly, creating an explosion of small, high-capacity media players and hard drives.
GMR works because it exploits spin, a characteristic of the electron. This abstract property, intrinsic only to subatomic particles, can best be described as angular momentum – a magnetic force either pointed up or down. Dr. Eric Stinaff, a physicist working on quantum information processing at Ohio University's Department of Physics and Astronomy, compares spin to a penny, either face up or face down.
Stinaff and other quantum physicists aim to use spintronics (short for spin transport electronics, also known as magnetoelectronics) in the realm of logic devices. In other words, scientists want to use an electron's spin as the bit in binary code. Current technology manipulates an electron's charge to direct it to a sensor. Whether an electron represents a “one” or “zero” depends on if the sensor recognizes a group of electrons in a certain slot. Since an electron's spin has the potential for two states (spin-up and spin-down), computers could store at least twice as much information with the same number of electrons. This would make computers faster, smaller and more energy-efficient.
Some scientists believe that D-Wave Systems, a Canadian technology company, achieved this in 2010, though much of the scientific community met their research with stiff criticism. D-Wave claims to have produced several quantum computers, using spintronics to create working spin manipulation systems. The company's original computer, Orion, drew a great amount of press when Google programmers used it to train their newest image classifying system. Now, D-Wave markets a $10,000 supercomputer which can only perform discrete optimization, a complex and limited function used in computer science and mathematics. Several scientists publicly doubted the reliability and impact of D-Wave's machine, and the consensus remains that a true leap in quantum physics stands in the way of creating a true quantum computer.
In the last week, two separate publications appeared that may signify the quick-moving nanoscience community planting its feet and leaning over its haunches in preparation for the immanent quantum leap.
In the April 26 edition of Nature, a group of scientists from the National Institute of Science and Technology explained how they created the largest-to-date quantum simulator, a simplified skeleton of spin manipulation technology. In a device known as a Penning Trap, researchers in effect created a two-dimensional plane onto which they inserted 300 beryllium ions. After cooling the entire “special-purpose analogue processor” to near-absolute zero, they manipulated the spin of the ions' outermost electron, catalyzing interactions between the quantum bits (qubits) that followed the accepted model of quantum behavior. Other laboratories had produced similar experiences, but on a much smaller and less applicable scale.
The most obvious hurdle for a commercially-viable quantum leap remains the fact that no one has ever conducted such an experiment near room temperature. However, an article published in the May 4th edition of Physical Review Letters suggests a new nanomaterial could solve this problem in the future. A team of theoretical physicists from the Universities of South Florida and Kentucky discovered through complex computations that graphene, a honeycomb-like sheet of carbon only one atom thick, could be used in combination with cobalt to achieve a surface which holds a net spin at room temperature.
The theorists believe that if physicists replace single carbon atoms at certain points in the lattice with cobalt atoms, the majority of the graphene sheet's spin could be controlled and manipulated at room temperature. Graphene excites many nanoscience researchers because of its high conductivity and toughness (graphene's breaking strength is 200 times greater than steel's). But all scientists believe a revolution remains far on the horizon.
Dr. Ian Appelbaum, an authority on spintronics from the University of Maryland, believes “there is a lot of hyperbole about how spintronics will change technology. I tend not to subscribe to this.”
Appelbaum maintains that a complete upgrade to quantum computing will pose too much of a technical challenge for tomorrow's scientists. In the short term, he believes spintronics will have a more dramatic impact on lasers, which research has shown can operate under half their current power when manipulated with spin technology.
Stinaff also doubts the “quantum leap” will extend to all electronics, but remembers modern computers evolved over a century. Instead of an overnight revolution in computing, he expects processors, video cards and other electronic components will soon incorporate spintronics with existing technology on a hybrid silicon chip.
While he admits that science requires a revolution in the theory and practice of quantum mechanics, Stinaff believes “if you can harness quantum properties of the spin, you have a whole new set of possibilities.”
NQPI is sponsoring the NSS5 SPSTM2- joint international conference
March 5, 2008
This joint international conference combines two important events into a unique opportunity for the participating communities. The purpose is to gather distinguished scientists from around the globe for 3 ½ days of exciting scientific presentations, discussions, and outdoor cultural/networking opportunities. The conference will be divided into two parallel sessions. Session A will consist mainly of nanoscale spectroscopy and imaging, whereas session B will consist of a combination of spin-polarized STM and atom/molecule manipulation.
Small Graphene Wires May Be Poor Conductors
February 26, 2008
By Stephanie Laird
Physicists from the Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute researching the electron properties in graphene ribbons recently discovered that narrow wires made of this material may not behave as good conductors.
Dr. Nancy Sandler, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Ohio University, in collaboration with postdoctoral fellow Mahdi Zarea, began researching the electron phenomena present in graphene wires over a year ago. Graphene – a single planar sheet of carbon-bonded atoms that forms graphite in its layered form – is considered to be the natural successor for silicon – the semiconductor material that dominants present-day electronics.
According to Sandler, under certain conditions carbon is a better conductor than silicon, because only a minimum push is required to stimulate electrons to move in graphene. They also move faster and refrain from deviating from their path, even at room temperatures.
When graphene is made into very thin wires however, the conduction properties of the material change dramatically. Sandler and Zarea's findings on the 'minimum widths' below which graphene ribbons fail to be good conductors at room temperatures due to the natural repulsion of like charges when they are confined, was recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters and in the Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology.
Click this link for the full article.
Grant Offers International Education Opportunities in Nanoscience
February 20, 2008
By Stephanie Laird
Physicists from Ohio University’s Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute researching electron spin at the nanoscale recently received $3.3 million from the National Science Foundation to launch an array of nanoscience education and research programs for students from a variety of scholastic backgrounds.
Grant impact and background:
NSF, through its Partnership for International Research and Education (NSF-PIRE) program, granted researchers $2.5 million for a five-year period to develop educational programs that expose students to nanospintronic and nanomagnetism research initiatives in the global scientific community. Development of university approved certificate programs for undergraduate and graduate students will be part of the new SPIRE grant program. In addition, the grant will establish the PIRE ‘Spin Triangle,’ an international research collaboration specializing in both the experimental and theoretical realms of nanoscience exploration, which includes three participating research institutions located in Germany, Argentina and the US.
“This grant will create a new international collaboration which will be unlike anything currently available in the United States,” said SPIRE grant project director Arthur R. Smith, founding member and current director of OU’s Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute. “Students will gain international research experience as they work on degrees, thus enabling a more global perspective on research.” Forging an international research partnership will also enable the physicists to proceed more effectively in their research and to stay abreast of global developments in this highly interdisciplinary field, Smith added.
The U.S. team, led by SPIRE director Smith along with co-directors Saw-Wai Hla, Nancy Sandler and Sergio Ulloa, will partner with the Institute of Applied Physics at the University of Hamburg, Germany and the condensed matter theory research group at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, and at Centro Atomico Constituyentes, Buenos Aires, Argentina to form a focused, integrated and complementary collaboration.
“The international collaboration will expose our students to international nanoscience research environments,” said Smith. “We selected these two foreign partners because of their expertise in the areas we’re working in – nanomagnetism and nanospintronics.”
The three leading nanoscale research institutions will also be welcoming students from five different scholastic levels – journalism and Honors Tutorial undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and senior researchers – to participate in multinational nanoscience research programs and experimental projects that coincide with team research initiatives.
The focus on international nanoscale research and forging a coherent collaboration with cutting-edge institutions in the global arena will open up many educational and research opportunities for OU students and promote scientific advancements in spintronic research from a diverse group of participants, said Smith.
“SPIRE opens up new collaborative channels and increases OU’s visibility as a research oriented institution,” said Smith, who hopes the scientific partnership will attract students who are interested in international research and also increase OU’s visibility as an institution devoted to international research initiatives. Smith hopes this effort may serve as a model for other universities seeking to establish similar research partnerships.
Study abroad programs to Hamburg and Buenos Aires through the SPIRE project will be incorporated in OU's Office of Education Abroad offerings. This cooperative effort will ensure the sustainability of the SPIRE study abroad programs, which will welcome OU students from an array of disciplines at various points along their educational path to study nanoscale science in an international setting and gain practical experience engaging in nanoscale research projects and courses.
SPIRE student impact and involvement:
Over the five-year PIRE grant period, an estimated 30 students –10 graduate and 20 undergraduates – will engage in international nanoscience research. Visiting, studying and doing research at foreign institutions will foster student experience in cultivating international research expertise and connections with the nanoscale community, said Smith.
Participating undergraduate students from the Honors Tutorial College or from the College of Arts and Sciences will be studying abroad for a ten-week period following their junior or senior year; gaining exposure to international research, and immersing themselves in the language and culture of the country they visit while participating in collaborative research projects at the partner institution.
Undergraduate journalists from E. W. Scripps School of Journalism will be continuing the nanoscience journalism program launched through the recent National Science Foundation – Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team (NSF-NIRT) grant at OU. These students will gain international science exposure, spending up to two weeks abroad: “working on journalistic reporting of science, documenting research projects in the collaboration, and exploring the differences or similarities of the research expertise in different countries,” stated the PIRE grant proposal. The study abroad trip is the culminating experience for undergraduate journalists following a 9-month nanoscience internship, which gives participants practical experience writing and reporting on developments in the nanoscience community both for scientific and lay audiences.
Graduate researchers will engage in collaborative research while abroad and will take specific coursework; each student will travel to partner institutions on up to two separate trips for a combined time of 20 weeks, according to the PIRE grant proposal. In addition, post-doctoral scientists will be traveling abroad for five-week periods to perform intensive experiments or calculations at the participating institutions at pivotal points in research projects.
Certificate program:
The SPIRE project also includes the development of an official, university-approved certificate program in international nanoscience research for undergraduate and graduate students interested in studying nanoscience. These cross-disciplinary certificates, similar to a minor, will include courses in foreign language, history, and culture, as well as science. The courses included in each certificate program will draw from classes that are already offered at OU. According to Smith, the certificate programs are currently under development, and should be available as early as the beginning of the 2008-09 academic year.
Research:
In addition to developing interdisciplinary educational opportunities for OU students to study nanoscience in the international scientific arena, the researchers involved with the PIRE grant will carry out research projects initiated or inspired by work under the previous NSF-NIRT grant. Several new investigations into experimental and theoretical aspects of the nanoscience field will also be initiated through the PIRE grant to further fundamental understanding of electron spin and the fabrication, manipulation and potential to control spin in materials.
The PIRE grant offers students a unique opportunity to engage in nanoscale research on an international level, and delve into this rapidly evolving scientific frontier with the advantage of research and experimental facilities from foreign collaborations such as those participating in the SPIRE project.
Physicists engaged in the SPIRE project are trying to understand how electrons communicate through spin, and how to manipulate, control and fabricate this interaction. While the PIRE grant includes many scientific objectives and experimental and theoretical initiatives, it also offers numerous opportunities for students to engage in nanoscience educational programs that include opportunities to study abroad.
With the development of university approved certificate programs for undergraduate and graduate students, more OU students will have the opportunity to gain international exposure to collaborative nanoscience research in this fascinating field that has an immense potential to revolutionize and reinvent technology.
NQPI Receives University Base Funding for Grad Education and Research
February 12, 2008
By Stephanie Laird
Ohio University's Graduate Education and Research Board (GERB) recently awarded the Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute $169,000 in base funding to support research initiatives and graduation education that will bolster the national and international prominence of the program.
“The university created the GERB to develop and implement a process to prioritize specific research and creative activity initiatives to recommend to President Roderick J. McDavis and Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Krendl for strategic investment of central funds consistent with the Graduate Education and Research Academic Priorities established in Vision Ohio,” according to a recent university release.
The Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute and the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English both received base funding through GERB totaling $300,000. The decision to award these programs base funding was derived from their existing strengths in research and graduate education that could raise the national prominence of the university's graduate programs, said Krendl in a recent university release.
“This has been a long, hard effort spanning over a year,” said Arthur R. Smith, NQPI director and associate professor of physics and astronomy. The process began with the submission of a letter of intent to the GERB last January, along with a full proposal detailing the program's viability as a contender for base funding. The proposals that passed the internal review process were sent to a separate external review committee for final consideration. Of the six finalists competing for the base funding, the nanoscale and creative writing programs received overwhelmingly positive responses from both committees.
“Now we have to decide how to strategically invest the GERB funding in the best way,” said Smith. Institute members will be meeting within the next few weeks to determine how to maximize the impact of the new funding.
According to Smith, the GERB funding will most likely be used to strengthen research collaborations within the university and with other institutions; to increase the support for graduate education initiatives; and to expand the infrastructure and support of the graduate nanoscale program. In addition, NQPI in considering the purchase of a helium liquefier – an instrument needed to cool microscopes to the temperatures required to study atoms at the nanoscale – as well as hiring a business manager and a research technician to assist faculty researchers in their work.
Of the seven departments affiliated with NQPI from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, three played instrumental roles in the development of the GERB proposal, said Smith, though this was a team effort that will substantially impact the support and scope of graduate education in the nanoscience program.