by Benjamin White

Recent Ohio University physics graduate Kangkang Wang recently received the prestigious Hoffman Award at the American Vacuum Society’s (AVS) 58th International Symposium and Exhibition and a postdoctoral research position at Argonne National Laboratory.

Wang, who studied under NQPI director Dr. Arthur Smith, won the Hoffman Award for his research involving spin mapping of magnetic nitride surfaces and antiferromagnetic nanoscale pyramids.

“Our work is very well received,” Wang said of the distinction. “I am very happy to see that they like it and approve it. Standing on stage and receiving the award felt very good.”

By mapping the spin of magnetic nitride surfaces, Wang demonstrated how manganese atoms arrange themselves on the surface of gallium nitride. By depositing an ultra-thin layer of manganese, the surface of gallium nitride converts into a magnetic surface. Future scientists will be able to use this knowledge in the creation of spin injection devices, spintronics and high-density memories.

Wang’s recent research on antiferromagnetic nanoscale pyramids, recently published in Nano Letters, explores the details of magnetism of little surface pyramids between 20 and 100 nanometers.

Currently, Wang works as a postdoctoral researcher at Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, where NQPI member Dr. Saw-Wai Hla recently accepted a position. Wang conducts cutting-edge research and pursues scientific innovations while continuing to publish papers. In the future, he hopes to become a research scientist in academia or industry.

The Hoffman Award, established in 2002, is one of five top-level “named awards” given by the AVS. Other finalists attended Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern, Berkeley and Georgia. The award includes a cash prize funded by a bequest from Dorothy M. Hoffman, who served as president of AVS in 1974.