Site Menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Molecular Electronics Local Probes of Nanoscale Systems Chemical and Biological Sensing Nanotube and Nanowire Electronics


Quantum Transport in Nanoscale Systems
Our group is interested in the nanometer-scale transport properties (charge, energy, spin, ...) of molecular and super-molecular systems. These systems are of rising interest both from the technological (possible future nanoelectronics!) and fundamental points of view. In order to study the electronic properties, we must first connect nanometer size objects to the outside world. To this end we use a variety of nanofabrication techniques including optical lithography, electron beam lithography, thin film deposition and etching approaches. Much of our work relies on facilities in the University of Pennsylvania Micro/NanoFabrication Laboratory. Once we have a molecular circuit, we measure its properties using a variety of techniques including: low-temperature magnetotransport, thermal conductivity measurement, and hybrid scanning probe techniques that let us measure local electronic properties with nanometer-scale resolution.


Johnson Group


From left to right: Charlie Johnson, Yaping Dan, Alex Fried, Danvers Johnston, Sujit Datta, Doug Strachan, Michelle Chen, Luke Somers, Mary Dratman, Bob Johnson, Sam Khamis, Kumhyo Byon
 
News
Sujit Datta Wins APS LeRoy Apker Award for Undergraduate Achievement in Physics


Penn graduate Sujit Datta has been selected this year's recipient of The Leroy Apker Award of the American Physical Society. Two Apker Awards are given annually to recognize outstanding achievements in physics by undergraduate students. The award consists of $5,000 to the recipient, and an allowance for travel to the APS meeting at which the award is presented. In addition, the Penn Physics Department will receive a $5,000 award to support undergraduate research.

As an undergraduate at Penn, Datta studied the physics of electrons at the nanoscale in Prof. A. T. Charlie Johnson's group. He used experimental and computational tools to study the structural, electronic, and sensing properties of one- and two-dimensional nanostructures including few-layer graphene, carbon nanotubes, and devices for single-molecule electronics. Datta is co-author of 5 publications, including three Nano Letters (2 as first author), and a Physical Review Letter. Datta's research accomplishments included the use of Electrostatic Force Microscopy to better understand Thomas-Fermi screening of relativistic charge carriers in few-layer graphene, and the demonstration of a straightforward method by which graphene can be "carved" into nanoscale structures with crystallographic edges. Financial support for his research came from Penn's Nano/Bio Interface Center, among other sources.

While at Penn, Datta was recognized for his achievements through a number of awards. These include the Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Challenge Scholarship, Class of 1971 Robert J. Holtz Endowed Fund for Undergraduate Research Award, University of Pennsylvania Dean's Scholar, Vagelos Undergraduate Research Award, Communicating Within the Curriculum Emerging Scholar, and William E. Stephens Prize in Physics and Astronomy. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honor societies.

Datta graduated in May 2008 with B.A. (with honors) and M.S. degrees in Physics, and a B.A. in Mathematics. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Physics at Harvard University. His current research interests include experimental soft condensed matter physics and physical biology.

 

Selected Recent Publications