Chris Wolfe
B.S. Physics, Class of 2015
Chris Wolfe developed a photolithography procedure in Dr. Eric Stinaff’s lab to produce micron (one millionth of a meter) scale metallic devices to ultimately use in the study of nanostructured materials. This involved significant effort to identify the optimal parameters to produce working device structures.
These structures will be used in conjunction with various optical spectroscopy and imaging techniques to study new materials and nanostructures including arrays of colloidal quantum dots, quantum wires, and hybrid structures.
One goal was to study the response of these nanostructures to an applied electric field. Often the fields need to be quite large, which can be achieved by using small structures. By varying the applied field, we may better understand processes such as energy transfer in these materials.
“I mainly spent most of my time this summer developing a methodical procedure for achieving nanostructures via photo lithography,” Wolfe explained. “The procedure is being used this semester for further research with electric field studies with quantum dots.”
“The biggest challenge was developing the procedure down to very precise quantities, in such a way that others could simply walk in and do the procedure without any prior knowledge,” Wolfe continued. “The structures’ physical nature made this quite difficult. I overcame this by altering the procedure’s variable parameters once at a time, and made a logical change after.”
“The highlight of my summer research was when I created my first successful nanostructure after long days of not achieving them. Finally my work was making progress! It was very pleasant working with Dr. Stinaff. He is very approachable and he is very helpful with questions and experimental advice. I would recommend working with him to anyone who may be going into an experimental physics; especially light or optical physics, career or further studies later on,” Wolfe said.
Chris Wolfe – Intern with Dr. Eric Stinaff – senior at Ohio University – College of Arts & Sciences – physics major
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