2007 Summer Scholars

Every year, college undergraduates-- ranging from sophomore to senior year-- apply to MIT for a chance to explore cutting edge research in electronics, the life sciences, nanotechnology, emergent materials, etc.

This year the MPC/CMSE sponsored program has taken in sixteen budding researchers from across the country.

kristen basiagaProject: Vertically-Aligned Carbon Nanotubes & Electrospraying
Kristen Basiaga (Physics, University of Connnecticut)
Prof. Jing Kong, EECS

In this 8-week program, I will be growing vertically-aligned, multiwall carbon nanotubes through chemical vapor deposition. By varying the length of time in various steps as well as the temperature and substrate, we will determine the effects of these conditions on the growth height. Simultaneously, I will be using an electrospraying technique to plate a dispersion of carbon nanotubes onto glass slides, thereby imparting electrical conductivity.

It is my goal, by the end of the summer, to have grown vertically aligned nanotubes to a height of at least 1mm. Also, I would like to be able to build a larger scale electrospraying device that could coat a relatively large area with the nanotube dispersion.

randy carney

Project: Synthesis Methods for Gold Nanoparticles
Randy Carney (Chemistry, University of Arkansas)
Prof. Francesco Stellaci, DMSE

My name is Randy Carney and I'm working under Dr. Stellacci, with graduate student Gretchen DeVries. I am working with gold nanoparticles attempting to create long chains for use in optoelectronic devices. Clumps of interwoven nano-chains could also potentially be used as a nano-filter. My group has successfully been creating gold nanoparticles by guessing and testing methods over the past few years. My primary goal is to hone the synthesis by varying each step of the process. The current chains are somewhat short, so a secondary goal is determining whether or not the chains size select from the particles. Finally, I'm performing the synthesis with silver particles to see how the rate of reaction, particle size, and time effects differ with different metals. On the side, I'm also writing a Java plug-in for the imaging program, ImageJ, to help the group count particles on TEM pictures to find average size and distribution, rather than hand counting.
connie cheng Project: Polyelectrolyte multilayer films for biological applications
Connie Cheng (Engineering Sciences, Harvard University)
Prof. Michael Rubner, DMSE

The aim of this project is to fabricate polyelectrolyte multilayer patches for novel biological applications. These patches are created using photolithographic techniques and layer by layer deposition. My goal for this summer is to characterize these patches and investigate their uses for biological applications.

marissa goldbeck

Project: Electrical Contact of Nanowires
Marissa Goldbeck (Mathematics, Mary Baldwin Clg.)
Prof. Silvija Gradecak, DMSE

This research group focuses on nanowire research and thus requires a way to test the electrical properties of individual nanowires. I am working to refine such a process. Using optical microscopy, lithography, and evaporation deposition, I determine the locations of individual nanowires on a substrate and define electrical contacts.

jack hanson

Project: Error-Reducing Quantum Codes
Jack Hanson (Physics/Mathematics, Rutgers University)
Prof. David Cory, NSE

Error prevention is essential to producing a viable quantum computer; error-preventing encodings have been created to address this problem. I am working to implement two encodings which protect against isotropic magnetic noise: one with four physical qubits to one logical qubit, the other with 3 physical to one logical. Ultimately, I hope to implement simple quantum computational gates on these systems and help determine which is more viable.

angelo herrera

Project: Carbon nanotube blending with conducting polymer actuators
Angelo Herrera
(Mechanical Engineering & Mathematics, University of Wyoming)
Prof. Ian Hunter, MechE

My goal this summer is to examine the effects of blending single-walled carbon nanotubes with a known conducting polymer, poly(3-hexyl)thiophene. My first task was to determine a polymer/nanotube concentration that would be conducive to a mechanically stable film. Once an effective concentration was established, I began testing the actuation properties of the polymers, and I also rolled the films in order to align the polymer chains and the nanotubes. The aim of rolling the films is to cause asymmetric actuation along different directions in order to create a more functional actuating polymer. By using wide angle x-ray scattering, I am able to determine any possible orientation within the films; and by using an electrochemical dynamic analyzer, I can test the magnitude of actuation for them as well.

irene hu

Project: Ink Jet Deposition of J Aggregates of Cyanine Dyes
Irene Hu (Electrical Engineering, Princeton University)
Prof. Vladimir Bulovic, EECS

The purpose of the project is to develop the ink-jet printing method of depositing J aggregates of cyanine dyes onto organic substrates. J aggregates have narrow and relatively high intensity optical absorption and fluorescence peaks, making them potentially useful in efficient OLEDs which emit highly saturated hues. However, current methods of aggregating and/or depositing the dye result in unwanted complications, such as the oxidation of the underlying poly-TPD substrate in layer by layer dipping from aqueous solutions. This project focuses on the alternative deposition method of printing droplets of dye in methanol solvent, which have been shown to form J aggregates as the methanol evaporates. We hope to develop and fine-tune the printing process, and then use the printed J-aggregate films to produce OLEDs or other devices.

cory lindhProject: Modeling Quasiparticle Interference in the High Temperature Superconducting Material Bi-2201
Cory Lindh (Physics, Bethel University)
Prof. Eric Hudson, Physics

The theoretical explanation of high temperature superconductors remains one of the greatest mysteries in physics. In search of explanations, the lab group of Prof. Eric Hudson is currently using a homemade Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) system that is capable of producing atomic-resolution images of superconducting materials in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) at temperatures as low as 4 Kelvin. My project is two-fold: first, to design a mechanical part capable of cleaving these materials in situ once UHV has been obtained; and second, to analyze the reciprocal space of images of the high-temperature superconductor Bi-2201 in an effort to form a working model of quasiparticle interference, a phenomenon pertaining to the energy-dependent movement of electrons within the material.
katharine lyonProject: Metal ion functionalized thin films for protection against acutely toxic chemicals
Katharine Lyon (Polymer Fiber Chemistry, Clemson University)
Prof. Paula Hammond, ChemE

The summer goal of this project is to use layer by layer technology to create films containing either Iron (II), Silver (I) or Copper (II) ions. Once these films are created, we want observe how they react with toxic industrial compounds. The long term project mission is to use these created films against acutely toxic chemicals in the next generation of Army gas masks, Army uniforms, and industrial air filters.
daniel macayaProject: Application of Biorubber to urological implants for drug delivery
Daniel Macaya (Materials Science & Engineering, Cornell University)
Prof. Michael Cima, DMSE

Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) also known as Biorubber, is a biodegradable elastomer with very promising biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The goal of the project is to develop a biodegradable version of a silicone rubber based bladder implant currently undergoing animal testing. The implant should allow for a controlled release of drugs, while avoiding irritating the bladder or being voided out prematurely. I will be investigating the compatibility of the polymer with the target drugs, the degradation profile in artificial urine, and the drug release profile in comparison to the currently used non-biodegradable device.
martin mcbriartyProject: Electrode-Electrolyte Effects in Single-Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Martin McBriarty (Materials Science & Engineering, University of Florida)
Prof. Yang Shao-Horn, MechE

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are highly efficient energy converters that can run on hydrocarbon fuels, such as methane, with significantly lower carbon emissions than combustion methods. Recent single-chamber SOFC designs eliminate the existing problems of intricate manifolding and gas separation; additionally, new materials have been studied and optimized to increase performance at lower temperatures. The goal of this project (this summer) is to fabricate a high performance single-chamber SOFC, using advanced ceramics and simpler fabrication techniques for an effective but straightforward design. With this research, single-chamber SOFCs may be made more affordable, paving the way for widespread fuel cell use without the need for hydrogen fuel.
meredith mcfarlandProject: Determining the Elastic Moduli of Hydrogels via AFM-indentation and Instrumented Nanoindentation
Meredith McFarland (Biochemistry, Simmons Clg)
Prof. Krystyn Van Vliet, DMSE

Hydrogels are an ideal substrate for cell growth, because they can mimic surroundings of cells in the body. If a hydrogel's mechanical properties are in close range to the mechanical properties of a specific cell type, then the cells will be able to grow on that substrate in a very similar fashion to their growth in the body. Elastic modulus is the main mechanical property being focused on for this project. The goal is to run samples of hydrogels consisting of different molar percents of acrylamide, sodium acrylate, and bisacrylamide on the Atomic Force Microscope and Nanoindenter to determine the elastic moduli of each. Then the results will be compared to literature values of particular tissue elastic moduli (liver tissue, bone marrow, etc.) to conclude if any of the hydrogels would be an ideal substrate for that specific tissue type.
priyanka narayanProject: Engineering Swellable Polyelectrolyte Multilayers Using the Oscillating Belousov-Zhabotinskii Reaction
Priyanka Narayan (Chemistry, Stanford University)
Profs. Rubner/Hammond/Cohen, DMSE/ChemE/???

This project focuses on the development of a swellable polyelectrolyte multilayer. The well-known Belousov-Zabotinskii reaction is a transition metal-catalyzed oxidation of malonic acid. During the reaction a Ruthenium catalyst undergoes oscillation in its oxidation state (between Ru II and Ru III). We expect that with covalent incorporation of this catalyst into the multilayer, the Ruthenium change in oxidation state will induce a change in the layers' charge density which will in turn, as a result of changes in osmotic pressure, generate periodic swelling of the polyelectrolyte multilayer.
paul roggeProject: Breaking the Far-Field Diffraction Limit via Absorbance Modulation
Paul Rogge (Mechanical Engineering, University of Nebraska)
Prof. Henry Smith, EECS

Far-field optical lithography in the semiconductor industry is currently limited by the diffraction limit of light. Absorbance modulation utilizes a photochromic material, which when exposed to wavelength 1, it is transparent and when exposed to wavelength 2, it becomes opaque. My project is to design a dichromat diffractive lens that will focus wavelength 1 to a focal spot and focus wavelength 2 to a ring. This creates a transparent area that allows a photoresist under the photochromic material to be exposed. Through this technique, the resolution of exposure on the photoresist can be increased from 1/3 of wavelength 1 (diffraction limit) to 1/13 of wavelength 1.
michael sternProject: Development of a PDMS based 2-D Continuous Flow Bio-Separator
Michael Stern (Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University)
Prof. Jongyoon Han, EECS

Bio-separators are important in DNA and protein analysis but often are slow batch operations such as gel electrophoresis. 2-D separators greatly increase output by allowing continuous operation. The focus of this project is to develop an easily fabricated device using arrays of tightly packed colloidal spheres and an overall microstructure imprinted in PDMS polymer.

devin underwoodProject: Optical Near-Field Interference of Surface Plasmon Polaritons through Absorbance Modulation
Devin Underwood (Physics/Mathematics, University of Wisconsin)
Dr. Rajesh Menon, EECS

Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPPs) are electron dense waves that oscillate at the interface between a conducting metal and a dielectric material. SPPs optical features at a subwavlength scale have generated much interest in nanolithography. Through Absorbance Modulation we are able to create periodic boundaries, which allow us to utilize optical near-field interference patterns generated by SPPs. From a program MEEP, which does Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) calculations to Maxwell's equations; we are able to simulate SPP interference between the interface of Ag and a Photoresist.