Announcement

Post-graduate research in Nano-science and Nanotechnology at Wits

We are developing a programme dedicated to research in nano-electronics under the broad area of experimental condensed matter and materials physics in the School of Physics, at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Under the clean room environment we are constructing some state-of-the-art facilities for measurements of electronic device transport in nano-scale and device fabrication integrated with nano-materials synthesis for the first time within the African continent. For nano-device characterization we are employing a fully automated cryogen-free cryostat (measuring at temperatures down to 300 milli Kelvin and magnetic fields up to 12 Tesla), other liquid helium based cryostats to achieve even lower temperatures and also a cryogenic probe station (measuring at temperatures down to 4K, at 2.5T magnetic fields and at high frequencies up to 67 gigahertz). For nano-materials synthesis we use a pulsed YAG laser combined with a furnace and a hot-filament CVD system. These projects are funded mainly by the National Research Foundation under the National Nanotechnology Flagship Programme and also National Nanotechnology Equipment Programme. Within the School of Physics and Materials Physics Research Programme we use a wide range of materials characterization tools including micro-Raman (JY T64000 triple spectrograph), TEM (with EELS), Focused Ion Beam, multimode AFM, diffractometers, ion implanters etc. We also work in close association with the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence of Strong Materials and in close collaboration both with neighboring universities in our city and with premier national research institutes in near proximity and internationally. The ongoing research activities of the group are based on three closely related projects.

Project I: Synthesis of nano-materials for nano(opto)-electronics and spintronics

We synthesise one and two-dimensional carbon superstructures and semiconductor nanowires by laser ablation and CVD techniques. In order to develop electronic devices, under this project, electronic transport in a range of low-dimensional carbon superstructures e.g. quantum wells, nanocrystalline diamond, graphene and also superlattices of nanotubes are being studied.

Project II: Nano-electronics of low-dimensional carbon and related semiconductor superstructures

This project focuses on the measurements of electrical (magneto-) conductance in carbon superstructures (at 300 mK and 12 T) and novel device characterization at 4 K, 2.5 T and 67 gigahertz frequency.

Project III: Computational nano-electronics of carbon nanostructures related to high-speed transport

We shall investigate high-speed quantum transport in 2D carbon including graphene and carbon quantum wells and also in 1D semiconductor (metal incorporated) nanowires and functionalized nanotubes.

Recently we have started this programme with the involvement of a graduate student and a post doctoral fellow in synthesis of nano-materials and characterization of nano-electronic devices, respectively. Two other post-doctoral fellows from overseas are joining the group within a month to participate in project II and III. We are also actively looking for an expert at the post-doctoral level in device physics. At this time we seek highly motivated students for research at the post-graduate and doctoral level in order to enrich the activities for our group and offer a unique training programme in nano-science and nanotechnology. Bursaries for students are available from the National Nanotechnology Flagship Programme for 2009 onwards for all these projects.

Successful candidates will be expected to work in at least one of the following areas: Synthesis of carbon and semiconductor nanostructures, electronic-magnetic characterization of low-dimensional carbon films and quantum wells, measurements of Hall and magneto-resistance in carbon tunnel devices and nanotubes. Prospective applicants should contact Professor Somnath Bhattacharyya to the following address:

Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya

School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Phone: 27 (0)117176811

Fax: 27 (0)117176879

Email: Somnath.Bhattacharyya@wits.ac.za