The Lab
Our experiments investigate electron transport in nanoscale devices and the interactions between biological molecules and these nanoelectronic devices. The lab opened in January 2007 and is part of the Department of Physics at Oregon State University.
The group pursues both fundamental investigations and new applications for nanoelectronics in biophysics and medicine. This research leads to a range of interdisciplinary opportunities. For example, we work with a biophysics group to develop improved measurements of protein binding kinetics and a computational physics group to understand the electric fields around biogically active proteins. We also collaborate with researchers in chemical engineering to find surface treatments that protect against non-specific binding and researchers in the Department of Pharmacy to identify low-concentration protein markers at the early stages of cancer.
Please contact Ethan Minot to learn more about opportunities for PhD projects and undergraduate research experience.
Lab facilities
The lab is equiped with an Asylum Research Atomic Force Microscope, a table-top carbon nanotube growth furnace, a probe station for electrical characterisation and fume hoods/wet benches for device fabrication and protein preparation. Photolithography facilities on campus are used for making electrical contacts to nanotubes. Electron-beam lithography is available at University of Oregon (45 minute drive).
(above) 3 micron scan of proteins coating a silicon oxide substrate. The proteins have been pushed around by the AFM tip to form the OSU logo. The proteins pile up during the writing process, like snow on the side of a ploughed road. The surface roughness corresponds to individual proteins.
For more images from our research visit the image gallery.