Welcome to Micro/Nanoelectronics and Energy Laboratory (MNEL)!
Research interests:
- Nonvolatile memory and artificial synaptic devices for artificial intelligence (AI), neuromorphic computing, and in-memory computing systems
- MEMS/NEMS for sensing and actuation in chemical, biomedical and harsh environments
- Microneedles for transdermal drug delivery, implantable neural interface devices for electrophysiological recording/stimulation and brain-machine interfaces (BMI)
- Clean energy, renewable energy, photovoltaic, solar cells
- Wide bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN and Ga2O3) high voltage/power and high frequency devices
- Nanomaterials (graphene, rGO, …) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based chemical and bio sensors
We are grateful to our project sponsors for their supports of our research.
(1) Nonvolatile memory and artificial synaptic devices for artificial intelligence (AI), neuromorphic computing, and in-memory computing
Project sponsor: NSF
We are investigating new-generation and sustainable nonvolatile memories, memristors, and artificial synaptic devices for AI, neuromorphic computing, and in-memory computing systems. Our research have been reported by many news media (Google “honey computer chips”).
NSF Research News: Engineers use honey to make brain-like computer chips
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) “All Science. No Fiction”: At a WSU Vancouver lab, researchers test a sweet solution to faster, cleaner computers (Youtube: Could honey be the secret to greener computing? | All Science. No Fiction.)
AIP Scilight article: Fructose film tested as a natural, nonvolatile resistive switching layer
Applied Physics Letters featured article: Nonvolatile resistive switching memory based on monosaccharide fructose film
WSU Insider: Honey holds potential for making brain-like computer chips
MSN: Using honey to make brain-like computer chips? WSU says it’s possible
The Columbian: WSU Vancouver professor, team research using honey to make advanced computer chips
(2) MEMS/NEMS for sensing and actuation in chemical, biomedical and harsh environments
Project sponsor: NSF
Single crystalline 4H-SiC microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) are mechanically robust, chemically inert, electrically stable and biocompatible, desirable for operation in harsh environments such as high temperature, high pressure, radiation, chemical, corrosion, biomedical, ……
However, due to the extreme chemical resistance, undercut SiC to release suspended structures by conventional wet chemical etching is not possible. We have developed a novel dopant-selective photoelectrochemical etching (PEC) process to solve this challenge, and with this process we have fabricated actuators and resonators.
(3) Microneedles for transdermal drug delivery and implantable neural interface devices for electrophysiological stimulation/recording and brain-machine interfaces (BMI)
Project sponsors: NIH, industry, WSU Vancouver
We are developing microneedles for transdermal drug delivery and sample collection. The videos below show insertion tests of Si in-plane microneedles on raw chicken. We are also developing implantable neural interface devices (multi-electrode array “MEA”) for electrophysiological stimulation/recording and brain-machine interface (BMI).
(4) Clean energy, renewable energy, photovoltaic, solar cells
Project sponsor: WSU (Commercialization Gap Fund)
Currently we are developing a novel technology to significantly improve conversion efficiency of metal-oxide solar cell.
(5) Wide bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN and Ga2O3) high voltage/power and high frequency devices
Project sponsor: DoD, industry, WSU Vancouver
1. SiC, GaN and Ga2O3 high voltage/power devices for power electronics and power ICs
Applications:
- Switch mode power supplies
- Compact DC-DC converters
- AC motor drives
- Battery chargers
- Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
2. SiC and GaN high frequency transistors for RF and microwave
Applications:
- Radar
- Radio communications
- Test instrumentation
- Amplifiers
- Jammers
- Base station
(6) Nanomaterials (graphene, rGO, …) and surface plasmon resonance based chemical and biomedical sensors
We are developing lab-on-a-chip nanomaterials (graphene, rGO, …) and SPR based chemical and bio sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity for sensing in water and other aqueous medium.
