Nanotechnology Nano- and micro-electromechanical systems (NEMS/MEMS) are useful for applications ranging from chemical sensors to relays and logic devices. Examples include:
- The design of MEMS accelerometers, gyroscopes, electrostatic actuators, and microresonators;
- Interfacial engineering for NEMS/MEMS;
- Biosensors, magnetic biochips, in vitro diagnostics, cell sorting, magnetic nanoparticles, spin electronic materials and sensors, magnetic inductive heads, and magnetic integrated inductors and transformers;
- Flexible substrates for electronics, sensors, and energy conversion platforms;
- Nanofabrication and nanopatterning technologies, including self-assembly for device fabrication.
Here are a number of Stanford faculty who work in Nanotechnology research:
Zhenan Bao
Synthesis of functional organic and polymer materials for numerous energy
applications, such as nanostructured polymers for low-cost, stretchable
batteries and PV cells, and thin-film organic PV cells. Printable,
electrically conductive gel for potential use in energy storage and biofuel
cells. Nitrogen-doped porous carbon for CO2 capture.
Stacey Bent
Understanding and controlling surface and interfacial chemistry, and
materials synthesis. Applying this to new materials and processes for next
generation low-cost solar cells, fuel cells and catalysts
Matteo Cargnello
Developing materials for heterogeneous catalysis and photocatalysis using
nanoparticles and nanocrystals, especially of titanium dioxide. Applications
include hydrogen and methanol generation through photocatalysis, reduction
of methane emissions, PV solar cells, solid oxide fuel cells and batteries.
Will Chueh
Fundamental and applied electrochemistry: solar fuels, fuel cells, and
batteries.
Yi Cui
Fabrication of nanoscale materials, and study of their electronic, photonic,
electrochemical and catalytic properties. Applications include lithium ion
batteries, supercapacitors, CIGS solar cells, transparent electrodes and
using carbon nanotubes in microbial fuel cell electrodes
Hongjie Dai
New ways to synthesize graphene and carbon nanotube architectures for
potential future device applications, such as fuel cells, catalysis, and
lithium-air and nickel-metal batteries. Tungsten disulfide nanoflakes as a
catalyst for producing hydrogen from water.
Jonathan Fan
Photonic band gap materials and nanoscale photonic devices.
Thermophotovoltaics. Control of thermal radiation. Nanostructured solar
cells. Wireless charging of electric cars.
Roger Howe
Developing energy efficient electronic solutions. Circuit, architecture and
application optimization tools to minimize energy needed for each task.
Applications from server farms to imagers in mobile platforms.
Eric Pop
Nanomaterials for energy-efficient electronics, including transistors, data
storage, integrated circuits, and sensors. Energy harvesting through
thermoelectrics. Carbon nanotubes, graphene, and other 2D materials for
electronic and thermal applications. Fundamental limits of current and heat
flow at the nanoscale.
Olav Solgaard
Material processing and fabrication technology for solar concentrators based
on graded-index and optical meta-materials to improve output and lower cost
in thermal solar and photovoltaic cells.
Jelena Vuckovic
Tiny, highly efficient semiconductor laser for optical data interconnects
that use light to communicate with higher speed and smaller energy
consumption than conventional electrical interconnects
Shan Wang
Magnetic nanotechnology, spintronics and integrated inductors, with
applications in energy conversion and storage.
H.-S. Philip Wong
Multijunction photovoltaic cell using nanowire-based subcells connected in parallel and a plasmonic electrode serving both
