Washington State University — Department of Physics & Astronomy Simulated X-ray scattering pattern The Collins Group Our research is highly interdisciplinary, straddling physics, materials science, electrical engineering, and chemistry. We specialize in developing and using synchrotron X-ray techniques to investigate carbon-based materials designed for novel optoelectronic applications. We strive to understand how interactions […]
Graduate student Devin Grabner’s work on characterizing and optimizing microfluidic flow cell geometry for in situ resonant soft X-ray characterization of molecular nanostructures has been published in the RSC Journal: Lab on a Chip. This work directly characterizes the deformation of silicon nitride (SiN) membranes used as windows under experimental conditions for various cell configurations. […]
State of the art simulation and modeling Core X-ray Methods Calculation Probe Depth Unique Capabilities RSoXS 2 nm – 3 μm Nanostructure + chemistry: Domain purity, molecular orientation, and interfacial composition RSoXR 1-500 nm Buried interfaces: Layer thickness, density gradients, and interfacial roughness GIWAXS 0.1 Å to 5 Å Crystal Structure: (Non-resonant) Crystallinity, crystalline/polycrystalline disorder, […]
The WSU Insider has highlighted Tammanna Khan’s recent work in Advanced Materials. Commissioned artwork for the publication shown above depicts a new Fastlane for the red ions that can be opened or closed at the molecular level. The artwork was done by Ryan Allen at Second Bay Studios. Other news media has picked up the […]
Recent graduate, Tamanna Khan has had her PhD work published in in Advanced Materials. Her work titled “Local Chemical Enhancement and Gating of Organic Coordinated Ionic-Electronic Transport” reports on the discovery of how ion transport can be concentrated, accelerated, and gated inside a nanochannel ‘ion superhighway.’ This was achieved by lining the nanochannel with either […]
Graduate student Harlan Heilman won the Neville B. Smith Award for 1st Place in the ALS Student Poster Competition. “Combining DFT-based optical models with resonant x-ray reflectivity to measure orientation at buried interfaces.” As part of the award, Harlan gave a plenary talk the next day to over 200 people at the main morning session […]
Current graduate student Devin Grabner and former student Dr. Thomas Ferron (2019) were invited to speak on the Early Career Panel at the 2024 Advanced Light Source (ALS) Users Meeting. Devin Grabner was recently hired part-time by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division while finishing his last year of graduate school. Dr. Ferron is […]
Devin Grabner, a member of our group, has dedicated the past few academic years to developing an “Academia to Industry” colloquium series for the physics department, which has since expanded to become a university-wide speaking event. As a result of his efforts to bring these resources to our department and university, Dr. David Giltner, the Founder/CEO […]
Graduate students Harlan Heilman, Acacia Patterson, and Tanner Melody presented their current research at the 78th Annual Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM) of the American Chemical Society, held this year at WSU. Our summer REU student Sydney Pfleiger was also able to attend, providing her with a unique opportunity to learn about other fields of research […]
Gradstudents Acacia Patterson and Tanner Melody presented their work at the Spring MRS meeting in Seattle. Alumnus REU student Ally Hurd also joined the group to present her project, extended at her home institution Macalester College, MN with her mentor Prof. James Doyle. Prof. Collins also presented an invited talk in the Symposium “Beond 20% […]