Associate Professor (Physics and Astronomy)

O: Clippinger 252C
T: 740-593-1727
F: 740-593-0433
Email: hla@ohio.edu

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Program Scope:
The needs to develop smaller devices with higher functionalities continue to dominate research in large sector of nanoscience. If the current miniaturization trends were to continue, the scale of devices will soon reach to that of single atoms and molecules. It is therefore vital to investigate properties of single atoms and molecules to develop novel device architectures with useful functionalities. The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) manipulation, imaging, and tunneling spectroscopy enable to probe properties of individual atoms and molecules on surfaces at an atomic limit. Using STM tip as an analytical or engineering tool, artificial structures can be constructed, novel quantum phenomena can be probed, and properties of single atoms and molecules can be studied at the atomic level. STM is not only an instrument used to “see” individual atoms by means of imaging, but also a tool used to “touch” and “take” atoms and molecules or to “hear” their vibration by manipulation. In this perspective, STM can be considered as the “eyes,” “hands” and “ears” of the scientists connecting our macroscopic world to the exciting atomic and nanoscopic world.
In our research projects, we combine atom/molecule manipulation schemes with a variety of tunneling spectroscopy measurements to investigate properties specific to the type of atoms on molecules on surfaces. The innovative experiments are tailored to address several critical issues covering both for fundamental understanding, and for the development of novel atoms/molecules based nano-devices. Our research areas include atom/molecule manipulation, molecular spintronics, molecular electronics, molecular switches, molecular nano-machines, nanobiotechnology, and nano-materials for the atomistic for alternative energy.