Events Calendar

Towards Integrated Nanoscale Systems

Presented by Jeff WeldonAbstract:
Nanotechnology has been recognized for its tremendous potential to produce smaller, more efficient and more cost-effective systems. The ability to control materials at the atomic and molecular scale has generated opportunities in a variety of disciplines including engineering, computer science, biology, physics and chemistry. However, realizing the potential of nanotechnology for systems-level applications requires a fundamental understanding of both the system requirements and the capabilities of the underlying nanoscale material. One promising nanoscale material is the carbon nanotube, a material with exceptional electrical and mechanical properties.This talk will demonstrate how rethinking the fundamental nature of systems and electronics can lead to dramatically smaller and potentially more capable solutions. The presentation will begin with a discussion of a traditional design approach in which a CMOS integrated circuit was designed to facilitate system-on-a-chip integration. To leverage the benefits of novel nanoscale devices and improve upon current technology, a paradigm shift, away from standard block-level design, will be needed. To facilitate this shift requires a thorough understanding of the new nanoscale materials and devices. As an example, we will discuss how a single carbon nanotube can be designed to function as a complete radio receiver. In addition, we will present a novel nanoelectromechanical oscillator with the potential for significant size reduction and improved performance compared with current solutions. Biography:
Dr. Jeffrey Weldon received a B.S. in Engineering Physics and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. His dissertation research in the area of RF CMOS integrated circuits has been widely adopted by industry and is frequently cited in journals and conferences. Dr. Weldon received the 2001 ISSCC Lewis Award for best overall paper and was the recipient of the 1998 ISSCC Jack Kilby Best Student Paper Award. He has also served as a consultant in several Silicon Valley companies. Since 2006, Dr. Weldon has been a Postdoctoral Scholar with the Center for Integrated Nanomechanical Systems, a multidisciplinary research center established to study the use of nanoscale materials for electronic and mechanical applications, and the Department of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley. His current research focuses on novel nanoscale electronics with an emphasis on the applications of carbon nanotubes. Dr. Weldon has been investigating carbon nanotube resonant structures and carbon nanotube-based sensors. His work on carbon nanotube radios has gained international media attention and has been featured in Scientific American.

Location: Von Kleinsmid Center For International & Public Affairs (VKC) - 152

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Hazel Xavier