Lourdes G. Salamanca-riba

Biography

Education  Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1985 Research Interests  Nanocomposites of ferroelectric-/-magnetic oxides, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), metals containing nano-carbon structures called Covetics; 4H SiC based MOSFETS for high temperature, high power applications, transmission electron microscopy of semiconductor nanowires, optical properties of materials, hybrid phtovoltaic nanocompostites. Current Research Projects  Dr. Salamanca-Riba's research is in the areas of self-assembly of semiconductor nanowires and liquid crystal nanocomposites for hybrid photovoltaic applications, DNA-based biosensors and radiation sensors on GaAs, and materials with high C content in the form of nanocarbon called “covetics,” wide band gap semiconductors (4H SiC) for high power, high temperature electronics. Dr. Salamanca-Riba’s research involves the use of the transmission electron microscopes and the atomic force microscope at the Advanced Imaging and Microscopy  (AIM) Laboratory.  The project on covetics involves the understanding of the role of nanocarbon on the structure and properties of metals.  The incorporation of C enhances several properties of the host metal, such as, the thermal and electrical conductivity, the oxidation and corrosion resistance and the yield strength.  Covetics can be deposited as thin films and used as contacts in photovoltaics and other electronic applications.  This work is in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory and DGC Industries.  In collaboration with the Army Research Laboratory, Auburn University and Rutgers University, Dr. Salamanca-Riba’s project on 4H SiC MOSFETs consists of the investigation and analysis of electron energy loss spectra (EELS) across the interface between the 4H SiC substrate and the SiO2 oxide layer for samples with different oxidation process and post oxidation treatments.  Analysis of the EELS spectrum imaging maps is carried out using principal component analysis. Her project on DNA attached to GaAs aims at understanding the anchoring mechanism between thiolated DNA and GaAs that gives rise to arrays of single stranded DNA molecules oriented normal to the surface of GaAs. These structures could be used for the fabrication of biosensors and radiation sensors. Dr. Salamanca-Riba’s has an additional project focusing on the growth and characterization of semiconductor nanowire arrays of ZnO for the fabrication of light emitting devices. The nanowires are combined with liquid crystals for applications as hybrid photovoltaics in which the liquid crystal is the whole conductor and the ZnO the electron conductor. These solar cells are expected to have higher efficiencies than all organic solar cells and be less expensive to produce than all inorganic solar cells. Education  Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1985 Research Interests  Nanocomposites of ferroelectric-/-magnetic oxides, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), metals containing nano-carbon structures called Covetics; 4H SiC based MOSFETS for high temperature, high power applications, transmission electron microscopy of semiconductor nanowires, optical properties of materials, hybrid phtovoltaic nanocompostites. Current Research Projects  Dr. Salamanca-Riba's research is in the areas of self-assembly of semiconductor nanowires and liquid crystal nanocomposites for hybrid photovoltaic applications, DNA-based biosensors and radiation sensors on GaAs, and materials with high C content in the form of nanocarbon called “covetics,” wide band gap semiconductors (4H SiC) for high power, high temperature electronics. Dr. Salamanca-Riba’s research involves the use of the transmission electron microscopes and the atomic force microscope at the Advanced Imaging and Microscopy  (AIM) Laboratory.  The project on covetics involves the understanding of the role of nanocarbon on the structure and properties of metals.  The incorporation of C enhances several properties of the host metal, such as, the thermal and electrical conductivity, the oxidation and corrosion resistance and the yield strength.  Covetics can be deposited as thin films and used as contacts in photovoltaics and other electronic applications.  This work is in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory and DGC Industries.  In collaboration with the Army Research Laboratory, Auburn University and Rutgers University, Dr. Salamanca-Riba’s project on 4H SiC MOSFETs consists of the investigation and analysis of electron energy loss spectra (EELS) across the interface between the 4H SiC substrate and the SiO2 oxide layer for samples with different oxidation process and post oxidation treatments.  Analysis of the EELS spectrum imaging maps is carried out using principal component analysis. Her project on DNA attached to GaAs aims at understanding the anchoring mechanism between thiolated DNA and GaAs that gives rise to arrays of single stranded DNA molecules oriented normal to the surface of GaAs. These structures could be used for the fabrication of biosensors and radiation sensors. Dr. Salamanca-Riba’s has an additional project focusing on the growth and characterization of semiconductor nanowire arrays of ZnO for the fabrication of light emitting devices. The nanowires are combined with liquid crystals for applications as hybrid photovoltaics in which the liquid crystal is the whole conductor and the ZnO the electron conductor. These solar cells are expected to have higher efficiencies than all organic solar cells and be less expensive to produce than all inorganic solar cells.

Research Interest

Nanocomposites of ferroelectric-/-magnetic oxides, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), metals containing nano-carbon structures called Covetics; 4H SiC based MOSFETS for high temperature, high power applications, transmission electron microscopy of semiconductor nanowires, optical properties of materials, hybrid phtovoltaic nanocompostites.