Philip G. Collins

Picture of Philip G. Collins
Professor, Physics & Astronomy
School of Physical Sciences
Faculty Member, California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2)
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1998, Physics
M.S., University of California, Berkeley, 1995, Physics
B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990, Physics
B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990, Electrical Engineering
Fax: (949) 824-2174
Email: collinsp@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
222 Rowland Hall
Mail Code: 4576
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Nanoelectronics, Carbon Nanotubes, and Molecular Electronics including Sensors and Bioelectronics
Appointments
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1998 - 1999
I.B.M. T.J. Watson Research Center, 1999 - 2001
Research Abstract
Our research group focuses on the electronic properties of novel, nanometer scale materials. At the nanometer scale, properties tend to be significantly different than for bulk materials. These differences can lead to very unusual electronic devices - some of which are useful for new practical applications while others open new doors for investigation of physics at the nanoscale.

For example, nanoscale devices have unusually high ratios of surface area to bulk volume. Some nanowires, such as the hollow carbon nanotube, are essentially all surface. Surface scattering contributes to the resistance of all conductors, but in nanowires it can be the dominant process. This allows us to investigate surface effects with a wholly new precision, extending to the point that we may measure the effect of a single adsorbed molecule on the resistance of a wire.

Recent research indicates these nanoelectronic devices may find a wide range of applications. These include fast, ultrahigh density transistors to compete with silicon technology, high speed high power field emission devices for microwave applications, and chemically sensitive circuits for chemical or biological sensors. Our research investigates the physical mechanisms which make these devices work in order to understand their fundamental limits of operation.

This work uses a wide variety of cross-disciplinary techniques. It requires a combination of materials sythesis, physical chemistry, semiconductor fabrication technology, electron microscopy, and precision electronic measurements. Students in the group gain experience with all of these technologies.
Available Technologies
Publications
For publication list, please see http://www.physics.uci.edu/~collinsp/
Grants
NSF Career Grant, 2003-2008
NSF Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT), 2004-2008
Professional Societies
American Physical Society (APS)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Materials Research Society (MRS)
Biophysical Society
Electrochemical Society (ECS)
Other Experience
Senior Scientist
Nanomix, Inc. 2001—2002
Teach for America Charter Corps
Pasadena High School 1990—1992
Last updated
01/18/2023