Molecular Foundry Seminar

"Nanowires: Current & Future Opportunities in Energy & Life Sciences"

Professor Charles Lieber, Department of Chemistry, Harvard University
Tuesday, October 25th at 1:30 pm, Bldg. 66 - Auditorium

View the Foundry Seminar Schedule

Abstract:

Advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology depend critically on the development of increasingly complex nanostructures with unique properties and/or capabilities. Here we highlight the power of semiconductor nanowires, which provide the capability for synthetic design to realize unprecedented structural and functional complexity in building blocks, as a platform material for exploring new science and technology. First, a brief review of the synthesis of complex modulated nanowires in which rational design can be used to precisely control composition, structure and most recently structural topology will be discussed. Second, the unique functional characteristics emerging from our exquisite control of nanowire materials will be illustrated with several selected examples from nanoelectronics, quantum electronics and nano-enabled energy. Third, the remarkable power of nanowire building blocks will be further highlighted through their capability to create unprecedented active electronic interfaces with biological systems. Recent work pushing the limits of both multiplexed extracellular recording at the single cell level and the first examples of intracellular recording will described, as well as the prospects for truly blurring the distinction between nonliving and living information processing systems.