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设备的半导体材料。这项工作将从利用以前用于聚合物合成的格拉布？S催化剂开始。格拉布？S催化剂将能够通过烯烃交叉复分解反应，对表面进行多种不同官能团的改性。在表面放置不同化学功能的一般路线的可用性对于(生物)传感器的开发是至关重要的。这项工作从GaN表面催化反应的发展到所有反应条件的优化，使得几类生物分子可以固定在GaN表面，同时保持其识别特性和特异性。该奖项的成果将包括一个关于GaN上的烯烃交叉复分解选择性的经验模型。该模型将通过进行一系列表面表征测试来获得，以量化改性GaN的化学、形态和机械性质。如果成功，这项研究的结果将增加对提高GaN性质的可能方法的理解。这些知识可以用来设计利用更强大和功能更强的GaN的新型设备和接口。例如，GaN基晶体管器件可以受益于高化学稳定性，并且如果表面上存在所需的化学基团，则可以用于更可靠和无标记的生物传感器方案。本科生和研究生，以及少数族裔，如工程专业的女性，将参与研究工作，并与当地中学生开展外联计划。通过与这项工作相关的外展活动，学生们将教育观众他们的研究努力，传达他们对科学调查的兴奋，描绘他们的研究的积极形象，并为年轻的参与者(初中生)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).