Academics:

Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Aug 2000 ~ ), Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN       Primary Area: Solid State Devices and Materials       Major research field: Molecular electronics (Nanotechnology)

 

Master of Science Education in Physics Education (1993 ~1995), Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

              Primary Area: Optics (Microlithography)  

              Thesis; “The image deformation under Dummy Diffraction Mask”

 

Bachelor of Science in Physics Education (1989 ~ 1993), Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

            

 Research:

  "A Nanostructured Gas Sensor: Coupling a Selective Molecular Level Event to an External Circuit"

    In this project, we are trying  to make a new type of gas sensor with direct electrical readout using a Au nanocluster array with selective molecular linkers.

The macroscopic contact pads consist of interdigited Au finger patterns with various spacings formed on a SiO2 surface with conventional UV lithography, e-beam evaporation, and liftoff. To enhance the contact continuity between the cluster film and the Au fingers, thin metallization (10 nm) is used. Thicker Au layers are used on the probe pads for stable probing. High quality monolayer arrays of either 5 nm diameter or 10 nm diameter Au clusters, that are encapsulated by alkanethiol molecules, are formed on a water surface and picked up by a flat elastomeric pad of polydimethylsiloxane. The arrays are subsequently transferred to the contact pad structures by stamping.  The procedure is repeated a second time in order to form a cluster bilayer on the substrate.  A bilayer provides a more flexible structure for intercluster linking. 

We are currently in the process of inserting porphyrin molecules as intercluster linkers.  It is expected that the substitution of various metal atoms in the porphyrins will provide selective docking, and therefore selective recognition of various gas species.  This structure has the potential to provide selective and highly sensitive gas sensing, and can be easily integrated with CMOS control circuitry.

 

Interests:

   My interest is on making a three terminal device with molecules. To do this, I would try to get a small gap between metal electrodes for self-assembly of molecules with various ways.