SURE/SROP
SROP/SURE Projects in MSE:
Directions: Below are listed the most recent descriptions of 2013 SURE and SROP projects available in Materials Science and Engineering. Please consider this list carefully before applying to the SURE or SROP program.
http://www.engin.umich.edu/gradadmissions/sure/index.html
Once you submit your application to the CoE, the next step would be to meet with MSE faculty you are interested in working with and once a project has been identified, write a 1 page research proposal. The proposal should include your motivation, challenge and potential solution, and a brief description of the required work. Please submit the proposal to Renee Hilgendorf, Grad Coordinator in MSE at reneeh@umich.edu no later than February 20, 2013.
Please see the College of Engineering SURE/SROP website for more information:
http://www.engin.umich.edu/gradadmissions/sure/selection.html
Available Projects:
MSE Project 1:
Title: Simulations of Growth of Indium Gallium Nitride Ring Structures for Light-Emmitting Diode Applications
Faculty: Katsuyo Thornton - kthorn@umich.edu
Description: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can produce illumination at much greater efficiency than conventional incandescent or even fluorescent light sources. Switching to LED-based light sources would considerably lower world-wide energy consumption; however, the costs of LED-based devices must improve before they are widely adopted for general illumination. Indium Gallium Nitride (InGaN) is a commonly used semiconductor material for LEDs. The efficiency of InGaN-based devices can be enhanced by growing a ring-shaped structure of InGaN using a growth technique called Selective Area Epitaxy. In this project, a phase-field model will be used to simulate growth of structures from ring-shaped masks. The surface area structures’ facets relative to the volume will be analyzed to predict LED efficiency. Students will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of simulation methods in materials science and the chance to run their simulations on high-performance computing systems with thousands of CPUs. Programming experience in MATLAB, Fortran, C++ or another language is advantageous but not required.
Requirements:
- Familiarity with computational tools such as Matlab
- Strong interest in materials science for energy technologies
MSE Project 2:
Title: Combinatorial printing and characterization of organic solar cells and LEDs
Faculty: Max Shtein - mshtein@umich.edu
Description: Guard flow-enhanced organic vapor jet printing enables the fabrication of organic semiconductor devices at ambient conditions for energy conversion and information display applications. The project will build skills in organic semiconductor device fabrication and characterization. Candidates must possess excellent grasp of math (calculus), chemistry (kinetic theory, chemical structures), physics (Newtonian mechanics, gas kinetic theory), and mass and energy balances.
MSE Project 3:
Title: Modeling and fabrication of novel organic solar cell architectures
Faculty: Max Shtein - mshtein@umich.edu
Description: Conventional organic solar cells rely on materials having low radiative efficiency and long exciton lifetimes to promote efficient exciton diffusion and dissociation at heterojunctions. A novel design approach utilizes materials with high radiative efficiency and short exciton lifetimes, but utilizes optical microcavity effects to quickly dissociate excitons and efficiently generate photocurrent. The project will build semiconductor device modeling, fabrication, and testing skills. Candidates must possess excellent knowledge of math (calculus, matrix algebra) and physics (electromagnetism) to build upon.
MSE Project 4:
Title: Modeling of organic solar cells and LEDs
Faculty: Max Shtein - mshtein@umich.edu
Description: The design of state-of-the-art organic-based energy conversion devices increasingly relies on sophisticated, multi-scale, multi-physics computer models that couple ray tracing, thin-film optics, non-linear optics, and nanoscale charge and energy transport to predict the macroscopic behavior of a device or a system based on its internal structure and composition. This project will focus on building a user-friendly interface / front end to the existing device simulation modules developed by our lab. Successful completion of initial software development can transition to improving the physical models themselves. Candidates should possess an excellent knowledge of math (calculus, matrix algebra, finite element methods), and a working knowledge software design design (C, MatLab, user interfaces).
MSE Project 5 (SROP only):
Description: Work closely with a graduate student to demonstrate technologies for low cost, very high efficiency solar cells based on organic or ZnSe or other II-IV materials systems
Prerequisites: Rising juniors or seniors in engineering or the physical sciences.
MSE Project 6:
Title: We're sorry, but this project is no longer available.
Faculty:
MSE Project 7:
Title: Nanoscale Patterning of Semiconducting and Metallic Nanostructure Arrays
Faculty: Rachel Goldman rsgold@umich.edu
Objective:
The objective of this summer project is to compare the formation and optical properties of focused-ion-beam (FIB)-fabricated and E-beam-fabricated Ga nanodroplets on GaN surfaces. These nanodroplets are of interest for several possible applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and photonics. For example, ordered arrangements of metallic nanostructures within semiconductors would enable 3D negative index metamaterials which selectively operate within the infrared and visible frequency ranges. In addition, ultra-high density semiconductor quantum dot (QD) arrays are promising for record efficiency photovoltaic cells. Finally, metal-semiconductor core-shell nanostructures, which enable controlled coupling of surface plasmons to fundamental excitations, are promising for coherent plasmonic sources. |
Our approach involves the fabrication of arrays of nanoscale metal droplets on compound semiconductor surfaces. The nanodroplets are subsequently overgrown by semiconductor layers or converted to QD arrays via exposure to a group V flux prior to overgrowth. Presently, we utilize a focused-ion-beam (FIB) to fabricate metal nanodroplets. However, this method is limited to group III droplets. E-beam lithography would enable the use of potentially any metal. |
Tasks will include nanodroplet fabrication, using FIB, photolithography, E-beam lithography; and structural and optical characterization using atomic force microscopy and optical spectroscopy. |
Minimum Qualifications: A strong interest in experimental science and/or engineering is required. Completion of Introductory Chemistry and Physics Labs is preferred but not required. MSE Project 8:Title: "Quantitative Characterization of Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Behavior in Light Alloys”Faculty: John Allison - johnea@umich.edu Description: The goal of this project is to develop a quantitative understanding of microstructural evolution and the impact of microstructure on mechanical properties of advanced lightweight metals. Such quantitative knowledge is essential for development of integrated computational materials engineering tools. Materials of interest are advanced alloys of aluminum, magnesium and titanium. The summer researcher will utilize advanced characterization tools to quantify the effects of deformation and heat treatment on microstructure and tensile properties. The student will gain experience in physical metallurgy, mechanical behavior and microstructural characterization. Requirements: - Undergraduate education in Materials Science and Engineering - Successful completion of a materials science and engineering laboratory course is preferred. - Strong interest in metals MSE Project 9:Title: Thin film solar cells Faculty: Stephen Forrest - stevefor@umich.edu Description: Work closely with a graduate student to demonstrate technologies for low cost, very high efficiency solar cells based on organic or GaAs materials systems. Prerequisites: Rising juniors or seniors in engineering or the physical sciences. MSE Project 10 (SROP Only)Title: Growth and characterization of low cost, and high efficiency nanostructured p-n heterojunction solar cells through eutectic solidification. Faculty: Akram Boukai - boukai@umich.edu Description: The proposed research will focus on the growth and characterization of low cost, and high efficiency nanostructured p-n heterojunction solar cells through eutectic solidification. Eutectic solidification causes the self-assembly of lamellar or rod-like domains with length scales from hundreds of nanometers to micrometers, which are ideal for the efficient extraction of minority carriers in metallurgical-grade (impure) materials. To date, no solar cells have been constructed with eutectic composition. The proposed research, therefore, will be the first to determine the impact of eutectic composition on solar cell efficiency. It is expected that earth abundant metallurgical grade materials with eutectic composition will allow for the development of low-cost and high efficiency solar cells. The major tasks of the proposed research include: 1. The controlled growth of bulk crystals of impure silicide−silicon heterojunctions with nanostructured eutectic composition inside of an induction furnace. 2. The materials characterization of these nanostructured crystals by x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. 3. The controlled electrical doping of these materials. 4. Determination of the minority carrier diffusion length in these materials via electron beam induced current measurements. 5. Developing these crystals into functional solar cells. 6. Measurement of the solar cell efficiency to determine the effects of nanostructured eutectic composition. 7. Optimization of the lamellar spacing and interface between each heterojunction to maximize efficiency. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ MACRO Project 1Title: Silsesquioxanes as Components in Hybrid Photovoltaics Faculty: Richard M. Laine - talsdad@umich.edu |
Description: Silsesquioxanes are polyhedral structures that consist of an inner silica cage to which are appended functional organic groups. Selected structures are shown below. The iodo T8 compound provides access to a wide variety of materials and especially to polymers (not shown). All of these materials seem to show 3-D conjugation in the excited state even in polymer chains…suggesting semiconducting behavior rather than the behavior expected for an insulating cage. The project will involve synthesis and/or characterization of the properties of these materials.
MACRO Project 2Title: Aqueous Two Phase System Cell Micropatterning Faculty: Shuichi Takayama takayama@umich.edu |
Description: Behaviour of a single cell can have consequences on the morphological and functional behaviour of a tissue. Manipulating single cells within a multicellular system cannot be done with currently available technologies. We have developed a magnetically responsive aqueous two-phase polymer system, to address the issue. This project will entail preparing aqueous two phase systems, microfabricating magnetic profiles applied to cells in culture, , at single-cell resolutions. Once validated, the system will be used to identify the mechanism by which the mechanical activities of a single cell can have far-reaching consequences on tissue behavior.
MACRO Project 3Title: Aqueous Two Phase System Biomarker Assays Faculty: Shuichi Takayama takayama@umich.edu |
Description:
No one molecular biomarker can predict disease accurately. What is required is a method to analyze multiple protein biomarkers simultaneously from small volumes of bodily fluids. This project well developed the use of aqueous two-phase systems to develop a multiplexed immunoassay system with no assay crosstalk. The technique relies upon the use of aqueous two-phase systems to localize antibodies while allowing free diffusion of antigens. The student on this project will be expected to perform aqueous two-phase system formulation optimization, running of immunoassays on biological and clinical samples, doing data analysis, and preparation of custom assay devices.MACRO Project 4Title: 3D Cell Cultures for Drug Discovery Faculty: Nicholas Kotov - kotov@umich.edu |
Scaffolds will need to be constructed in well plates using the combination of self-assembly of colloidal crystals and microfabrication techniques.
MACRO Project 5Title: Ultrastrong Nanocomposites from Natural Renewable Fibers Faculty: Nicholas Kotov - kotov@umich.edu |
MACRO Project 6Title: Preparation of Transparent Ultrastrong Materials for Military Applications Faculty: Nicholas Kotov - kotov@umich.edu |
MACRO Project 7Title: Energy Applications of Nanomaterials Faculty: Nicholas Kotov - kotov@umich.edu |
Description:
This project is focused on the preparation of new types of batteries from nanocomposites. Cathode, anode and ion-conductive separators are of interest for this study. Preparation of these materials, their testing and design of the hardware for their production in a mass scale will be a subject of the work.