The Nanoionics and Electronics Lab uses ions as both a tool for exploring transport in new materials and as active device components that makes possible new electronic devices and smart materials with functionalities that cannot be achieved using conventional materials. Specifically, we use ions to control transport in two-dimensional (2D) materials including graphene, semiconductors and metals. And we create polymer films that triggerably degrade when exposed to salt water to address the global problem of plastic waste in the ocean.
Research interest include nanoionic 2D memory (NSF-ECCS/GOALI, NSF-DMR-EPM/CAREER, AAAS), electrostatic double layer (EDL) gating of 2D crystals for low-power electronics (LEAST center, SRC/DARPA), exploring the strain-induced semiconductor to metal transition in MoTe2 (NSF-DMR), ion-gating for hardware security (NSF-ECCS-EPMD), two-dimensional metals (NSF MRSEC), and polymer electrolytes for reconfigurable plasmonic and photonic elements (DARPA A2P). We also have funding from the (NSF Division of Graduate Education) to test a Personalized Learning Model for STEM graduate education.
