Personnel
Laboratory Director: Efstathios (Stathis) I. Meletis, Professor
Research Associate: Dr. Shaoxin You
· Graduate students
Cristian Cionea (Ph.D.)
Jie He(Ph.D)
Philip Jone(Ph.D) |
Pankaj Hazarika (MS)
Gunjan Shebe (MS)
Desai Pruthul (MS)
Varad Sakhalkar (MS)
Lee-Chun (Mandy) Su (MS)
Giancarlo Rios (MS)
Michael Franks (MS)
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Funding
NSF, DARPA, NIH, NASA, SERDP, DOE, DOT, NAVAIR, ARO, state and industrial sources.
Research Activities
Research activities at SaNEL are concerned with basic and applied processing-structure-property relationship with emphasis on nanotechnology and small-scale materials (nano materials, surface treatments and layers, thin films, coatings, materials for MEMS and NEMS and nano devices).
· Vacuum and Electrolytic Plasma-assisted Processing
We have developed and work on surface engineering by novel (patented) vacuum and electrolytic plasma-assisted processes that can produce functionally gradient layers and surface films/coatings for a wide range of applications from aerospace to biomaterials. Vacuum processes are centered on intensified plasma-assisted nitriding for surface hardening, coating and surface modification treatments addressing surface-sensitive properties such as tribological, corrosion, fatigue crack initiation, biocompatibility and etc. Electrolytic plasma processing is a relatively new process that can combine effective cleaning and coating in a wet environment. Present activities are concerned with replacement of toxic electroplated Cd, Cr and Ni with environmentally friendly coatings.
· Multifunctional, Nanoparticle and Multilayered Nanocomposites
In the nano-composite thin films area, we are focusing on nano-particle and nano-layered multifunctional films where the components act synergistically and can offer a combination of desirable properties (mechanical, tribological, magnetic, electronic, electrochemical, biological, biocompatibility, etc.). For example, one of the nano-composites we are currently pursuing is multifunctional Co-DLC (diamondlike carbon) films where self-assembling of 5 nm diameter Co nanorods can take place providing an excellent potential to use these films in high density storage, biosensors, MEMS, microdevices, etc. We also pursuing the possibility to use the self-organized Co structures as a nanocatalyst to grow guided arrays of single-wall CNTs that can lead to really exciting electronic applications.
· Self-organized, Epitaxial Oxide Nanostructured Films
The last few years, we were the first to observe and report self-assembling in epitaxial perovskite -type oxide films. We currently exlpores ways to manipulate this process and to develop a novel “bottom-up” nanofabrication technique for sensors, optical, electronic and magnetic nanodevices.These research activities are supported by a NIRT/NSF grant.
· Nanotribology
Research Activities Concentrate on (i) Ultra low friction nanocomposite DLC films and understanding nano particle effects on thin film wear behavior and (ii) understand scale effects on tribological behavior of nanostructured metals and ceramics.
Facilities
· Plasma-assisted Material Processing
Intensified plasma-assisted nitriding system
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PVD/CVD vacuum system (DC, pulse and RF magnetron sputtering guns)</
*Electrolytic plasma processing set-up
*Plasma - enhanced Ino Nitriding
· Mechanical Surface Testing/Tribology
*Pin-on-disc tribometer with lubrication/environmental cells (CSM Instruments, TRB)
· Electrochemical Testing/Corrosion
*Potentiostat/Galvanostat (EG&G 273), computer controlled and appropriate software
*Stress corrosion cracking/Hydrogen embrittlement, alternate immersion testing
Selected Publications
A Non-probe/lithography Approach to Nanotrench/Nanochannel Fabrication, X. Nie and E.I. Meletis, International Journal of Nanomanufacturing (2007). in print
Synthesis.
Tribological Behavior of Nanocrystalline Nickel, D. Guidry, J.C. Jiang, K. Lian and E.I. Meletis, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. [invited]
Effects of N-doping on the Microstructure, Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Cr-DLC Thin Films, S.K. Pal, J.C. Jiang and E.I. Meletis, Surface and Coatings Technology 201, 7917-7923 (2007).
Interface Modulated Structure of Highly Epitaxial (Pb,Sr)TiO3 Thin Films on (001) MgO, J.C. Jiang, Z. Yuan, C.L. Chen and E.I. Meletis, Applied Physics Letters 90, 051904 (2007).
Three-dimensional Epitaxial Nanorods in Oxide Thin Films, J.C. Jiang, K.I. Gnanasekar, C.L. Chen, L.L. Henry and E.I. Meletis, Recent Research Development of Solid State Ionics 3, 23-50 (2006). [invited review]
Characterization and Properties of Intensified Plasma-assisted Nitrided IN-718 Superalloy, V. Singh and E.I. Meletis, Surface and Coatings Technology 201, 1093-1101(2006).
Ordered, Self-organized Co Nanodots in Co-Diamond-like Carbon Thin Films, E.I. Meletis and J.C. Jiang, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 6(6), 1807-1810 (2006). (invited)
Nanofabrication by Self-organization of Three-dimensional Epitaxial Oxide Nanorods, J.C. Jiang and E.I. Meletis, Thin Solid Films 515, 39-45 (2006).
Human Micro-vascular Endothelial Cell Seeding on Cr-DLC Thin Films for Mechanical Heart Valve Applications, N. Ali, Y. Kousar, T.I. Okpalugo, V. Singh, M. Pease, A.A. Ogwu, J. Gracio, E. Titus, E. I. Meletis and M. J. Jackson, Thin Solid Films 515, 59-65 (2006).
Local structure of Composite Cr-containing Diamond-like Carbon Thin Films, V. Singh, V. Palshin, R.C. Tittsworth and E.I. Meletis, Carbon 44(7), 1280-1286(2006).
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