(Supported by NSF-NSEC, DOE-BES, NIH-CCNE, AFOSR-MURI, ANL)

The advances in modern materials and phenomena often rely on innovations in synthesis, functional architecture, their characterization and localized measurements. There is growing and compelling evidence that spatially and dimensionally constrained materials (see above) will undoubted play a decisive role in advancing materials research in next decades.

Our activities in this theme scan a considerable breadth, ranging from size- and shape-specific aqueous synthesis of colloidal nanostructures to site-and shape-specific nanopatterning to localized property measurements.

We are developing innovative synthesis approaches for magnetic nanostructures, and site- and shape-specific nanopatterning for fabricating intricate materials architecture on arbitrary substrates, including insulating plastics and ceramics. These nanostructures are being characterized extensively using advanced microscopy, spectroscopy and analytical techniques.

Representative Publications:

1. Su M, Dravid VP et al., "Moving beyond molecules: Patterning solid-state features via dip-pen nanolithography with sol-based inks", J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 124 (8): 1560-1561 (2002).
2. Donthu S, Dravid VP et al., "Facile scheme for fabricating solid-state nanostructures using e-beam lithography and solution precursors" Nano Letters 5 (9): 1710-1715 (2005).
3. Pan ZX, Dravid VP et al., "Directed fabrication of radially stacked multifunctional oxide heterostructures using soft electron-beam lithography", Small 2 (2): 274-280 (2006).

Links to Other Dravid Group Research Themes:

Spatially and Dimensionally Confined Structures
Interfaces and Defect Phenomena
Integrated Nanosystems for Biochemical Sensing & Diagnostics
Multifunctional Nanostructures for Biomedical Imaging & Therapeutics
Novel microscopy and Analysis