Nanostructures Center of Economic Excellence

Inception:
2003

About the CoEE:

This CoEE, a component of the USC Nanocenter, concentrates on research in experimental nanoscale physics. The program has five major focus areas: (1) synthesis/characterization of nanowires in metals and semiconductors for novel magnetism in electronic circuits; (2) development of high-power LEDs, transistors, and optoelectric properties of materials; (3) development of nanomagnetics, high-frequency switching, and spintronics; (4) development of novel superconducting states/materials; and (5) discovery of novel concepts for nanoscale sensors for magnetic and structural properties.

This CoEE’s research achievements include progress in understanding the “coherence in magnetic nanostructures” and the importance of “biological systems in potential electronic applications.”

To date, the CoEE has received over $3.7 million in federal and private research funding. In 2008, the U.S. Army Research Office renewed its funding for the CoEE’s sensors program. CoEE faculty, along with 16 national and international scientists, are forming an international materials institute with a concentration in Nanomechanics in Novel Materials. The institute has garnered a number of industrial
partners, including a new industrial partnership with IBM T.J. Watson Research Center regarding magnetic tunnel junctions used for information storage. IBM supplies the devices while researchers conduct measurements.

Funding level:
$4 million

CoEE Endowed Chair:

Drs. Soumitra Ghoshroy and Douglas Blom of the Nanostructures CoEE use the JEOL 2100F aberration-corrected STEM to study the composition and structure of nanomaterials in USC’s Electron Microscopy Center.