Muller Group Research

Muller Group Research
Understanding Materials, Atom by Atom


The primary thrust of our research is to explore how electronic structure changes on small length scales affects the macroscopic properties of materials. In particular: how interfaces affect transport properties (eg. in 5-atom thick gate oxides we have used atomic-scale electron energy loss spectroscopy to place fundamental physical limits on device scaling - Nature paper and and comments); the role of electronic structure in controlling the cohesion of interfaces (Phys. Rev. Lett.); and the first detection and real-space characterization of individual dopant atoms and clusters buried inside crystals (Nature, Nature Materials, comments and Opinion). In many cases, our tool of choice will be an atomic-resolution electron microscope, and we are always looking to develop new methods that advance the technique. Areas of interest: Atomic-scale perovskite heterostructures: atom-by-atom design of materials that do not exist in nature, explored for extreme dielectric and nonlinear properties. Physical limits placed by interfacial electronic structure and atomic-scale chemistry on the scaling of integrated circuits. Development of high-resolution, low-dose methods for electron imaging and tomography of organic and biological nanostructures. Nanoparticle-based waveguide lightsources at telecommunications wavelengths - growth and physical characterization Development of new electron microscopy methods and instrumentation





Nanostructured Materials - Electron and Spin Transport (CCMR IRG-A) Nanoparticle-based light sources and nonlinear optical elements for telecommunications (CNS Seed Grant) Interfacial Chemistry and its effects on adhesion and electromigration of Copper Interconnects (SRC) Media examples: