Kenneth Douglas

Research in Dr. Douglas's group is directed toward both fundamental issues and technological applications of nanotechnology. The development of nanometer scale technology, i.e., materials and devices structured on the nanometer length scale is recognized as an overall number of structures (~10¹²) achievable in a macroscopic area opens exciting possibilities for nanostructured devices and materials which active electronic, chemical, or optical functions. Our approach to nanotechnology places strong emphasis on an inter-disciplinary approach incorporating elements of biology, chemistry, and materials science. The principal experimental tools are scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electron microscopy.

Our approach to nanotechnology stresses parallel (as opposed to serial) processing and self-assembly techniques and we have invented and demonstrated a basic parallel nanofabrication process that will enable a wide variety of nanoscale structures to be made. The process of Nanometer Molecular Lithography employs two-dimensional biomolecular crystals as patterning elements in the parallel fabrication of structures on the 1-10 nm length scale. We have further demonstrated the fabrication of composite biomolecular/solid state heterostructures of nanometer dimension (nano hetero structures). We are presently supported by the NSF, the DOE, and the DOD to pursue central issues in the development of nanotechnology such as the understanding of control fluctuations and structural variations as well as applications of our nanofabrication process. Examples of materials and device applications include the formation of monodisperse arrays of silicon quantum wires for possible optoelectronic use and the selective incorporation into nanostructures of electronically active biomolecules for the development of prototype molecular devices.
 

Selected Publications

• "Biomimetic Approaches to Nanostructural Fabrication," K. Douglas, Stephen Mann, ed., in Biomimetic Materials Chemistry, VCH Publishers, New York, (1995).
• "Biologically Derived Nanometer-Scale Patterning on Chemically Modified Silicon Surfaces," B.W. Holland, K. Douglas, N.A. Clark, Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 330, 121 (1994).
• "Transfer of Biologically-Derived Nanometer-Scale Patterns to Smooth Substrates," K. Douglas, G. Devaud, N.A. Clark, Science257, 642 (1992).
• "Direct Observation of Defect Structure in Protein Crystals by Atomic Force Microscopy," G. Devaud, P. Furcinitti, J.C. Fleming, M.K. Lyon, K. Douglas, Biophys. J. 63, 630 (1992).
• "Biomolecular/Solid State Nanoheterostructures," K. Douglas, N.A. Clark, K.J. Rothschild, Appl. Phys. Lett. 56, 692 (1990).
• "Nanometer Molecular Lithography," K. Douglas, N.A. Clark, K.J. Rothschild, in Molecular Electronic Devices: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on 'Molecular' Electronic Devices, F.L. Carter, R.E. Siatkowski, and H. Wohltjen, (editors), Elsevier (North-Holland), Amsterdam, p. 29 (1988).
• "Nanometer Molecular Lithography," K. Douglas, N.A. Clark, K.J. Rothschild, Appl. Phys. Lett. 48, 676 (1986).

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