Surface Engineering of Gallium Nitride with Biomolecules

该奖项的研究目标是开发一种通用的方法来设计氮化镓（GaN）的表面特性，GaN是一种用于制造不同微电子器件的半导体材料。这项工作将从利用一个格拉布？S催化剂以前用于聚合物合成。Grubb吗?S催化剂将能够使用烯烃交叉复分解反应修饰具有各种不同官能团的表面。在表面放置不同化学功能的一般途径的可用性对于（生物）传感器的发展至关重要。从开发GaN表面上的催化反应到优化所有的反应条件，使几类生物分子可以锚定在GaN表面上，同时仍然保持它们的识别特性和特异性。该奖项的交付成果将包括氮化镓上烯烃交叉复合选择性的经验模型。该模型将通过执行一组表面表征测试来推导，以便量化改性氮化镓的化学，形态和机械性能。如果成功，这项研究的结果将增加对提高氮化镓性能的可能方法的理解。这些知识可用于设计利用更健壮和功能更强的GaN的新型器件和接口。例如，基于GaN的晶体管器件可以受益于高化学稳定性，并且如果在表面上存在所需的化学基团，则可以用于更可靠和无标签的生物传感器方案。本科生和研究生，以及工程专业的女性等代表性不足的少数群体，将参与研究工作，并与当地中学生开展外展计划。通过与这项工作相关的外展活动，学生们将向观众宣传他们的研究成果，传达他们科学调查的兴奋，描绘他们研究的积极形象，并为年轻的服务员（中学生和高中生）提供榜样。

The research objective of this award is to develop a versatile method to engineer the surface properties of gallium nitride (GaN), a semiconductor material used for the fabrication of different microelectronic devices. The work will start by utilizing a Grubb?s catalyst previously used in polymer synthesis. The Grubb?s catalyst will enable to modify the surface with a variety of different functional groups using an olefin cross metathesis reaction. The availability of a general route to place different chemical functionalities on the surface is essential for the development of (bio)sensors. The work progresses from the development of the catalysis reaction on the GaN surface to the optimization of all the reaction conditions so that several classes of biomolecules can be anchored on the GaN surface while still retaining their recognition properties and specificity. Deliverables of this award will include an empirical model for selectivity of olefin cross metathesis on GaN. The model will be derived by performing a set of surface characterization tests in order to quantify chemical, morphological and mechanical properties of the modified GaN.If successful, the results of this research will increase the understanding of the possible ways to enhance the properties of GaN. The knowledge can be used to design new types of devices and interfaces that utilize a more robust and functional GaN. For example, GaN based transistor devices can benefit from high chemical stability and be used in more reliable and label free biosensor schemes if desired chemical groups are present on surfaces. Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as underrepresented minorities such as women majoring in engineering will be engaged with the research efforts as well as an outreach program with local middle school students. Through the outreach activities associated with this work, the students will be to educate the audience on their research efforts, to convey the excitement of their scientific investigation, to portray a positive image of their research and to provide role models for the younger attendants (middle and high school students).