Mark C. Hersam, Assistant Professor
Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Northwestern University

E-mail: m-hersam@northwestern.edu
Phone: 847-491-2696

BS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1996)
MPhil, University of Cambridge, UK (1997)
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2000)

National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2002)
Arnold and Mabel Beckman Young Investigator Award (2001)
Finalist, Discover Magazine Innovation Award in Electronics (2001)
Searle Center for Teaching Excellence Junior Fellow (2001)
Finalist for the Experimental Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (2000)
Gregory Stillman Semiconductor Research Award (2000)
IBM Distinguished Graduate Fellowship (1999)
Frederic T. & Edith F. Mavis Fellowship (1999)
American Vacuum Society Graduate Research Award (1999)
Koehler Graduate Fellowship (1998)
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship (1997)
British Marshall Scholarship (1996)
All-USA Academic Team Member (1996)
Knight Award (1996)
Harvey H. Jordan Award (1996)
E. C. Jordan Award (1996)
MacClinchie Scholarship (1995); IBM Scholarship (1995); Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship (1995)
Illinois State Lincoln Academy Laureate (1995)

Research Areas
The importance of molecular nanotechnology has recently been underscored by increased media, public, and government awareness of the subject. The Hersam research group aims to capitalize on emerging nanotechnology opportunities by performing research on single molecules. A newly developed technology, called feedback controlled lithography (FCL), intentionally creates atomically precise templates on the technologically significant Si(100) surface in an ultra-high vacuum environment. Utilization of selective surface chemistry then allows single molecules to spontaneously self-assemble onto these templates.

Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy is employed to characterize the inter-molecular and intra-molecular electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the isolated molecules. Interfacing these characterized molecules to macroscopic electrical contacts will allow for the development of electronic devices, sensors, and actuators based on the properties of a single molecule.

The monolayer hydrogen passivation layer of the Si(100) surface is chemically inert even under ambient conditions. Consequently, wet chemistry can also be performed on FCL patterns. Organic, inorganic, and biological molecules are isolated in this manner. Ex situ characterization can then be accomplished with an ambient atomic force microscope. Overall, this inter-disciplinary research program will explore the boundaries between several disciplines including materials science, physics, electrical engineering, chemistry, and biology.

Related Publications
"Current saturation and electrical breakdown in multiwalled carbon nanotubes," P.G. Collins, M.C. Hersam, M. Arnold, R. Martel, Ph. Avouris, Phys. Rev. Lett., 86, 3128 (2001).

"Atomic-level study of the robustness of the Si(100)-2x1:H surface following exposure to ambient conditions," M.C. Hersam, N.P. Guisinger, J.W. Lyding, D.S. Thompson, J.S. Moore. Appl. Phys. Lett., 78, 886 (2001).

"Silicon-based molecular nanotechnology," M.C. Hersam, N.P. Guisinger, J.W. Lyding. Nanotechnology, 11, 70 (2000).

"Isolating, imaging, and electrically characterizing individual organic molecules on the Si(100) surface with the scanning tunneling microscope," M.C. Hersam, N.P. Guisinger, J. W. Lyding, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A, 18, 1349 (2000).

"An approach for efficiently locating and electrically contacting nanostructures fabricated via UHV-STM lithography on Si(100)," M.C. Hersam, G.C. Abeln, J.W. Lyding, Microelectronic Engineering, 47, 235 (1999).

"Potentiometry and repair of electrically stressed nanowires using atomic force microscopy," M.C. Hersam, A.C.F. Hoole, S.J. O'Shea, M.E. Welland, Applied Physics Letters, 72, 915 (1998).