Summer School for Silicon Nanotechnology

Lectures are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9-11 AM. Topics include: • Introduction to porous silicon—background and overview • Semiconductor fundamentals • Etching and electrochemistry of silicon • Photoluminescent Si "Quantum Dots" • Passive optical nanostructures—photonic crystals, optical diffraction, Fabry-Perot layers and multilayers • Characterization including porosity measurements, optics, FTIR, SEM, BET, Contact Angle • Freestanding porous silicon microparticles, nanoparticles, nanowires • Chemistry of silicon nanostructures • Biomaterials and medical applications of silicon nanostructures, including targeted drug delivery and in vivo systems • Metal and polymeric composites with porous silicon • Energy related materials including Li-ion anodes and thermoelectrics • Optical biosensing, chemical sensing.

Hands-on laboratory training sessions are held each weekday, after the lectures. Researchers are trained in preparation and characterization methods and relevant to silicon nanomatierials: • electrochemical anodization to prepare porous silicon • stain etching • preparation of photonic crystals • surface chemical modification under anaerobic conditions • thermal processing • optical reflectance spectroscopy (RIFTS, SLIM) • photoluminescence spectroscopy • Raman spectroscopy • infrared spectrodcopy • porosimetry (surface area, pore size, porosity measurement) • scanning electron microscopy • contact angle measurement.

The “Discovery Project,” is an independent research project implemented by a team of 2-4 students under the mentorship of a current research group member. The research topics of the Discovery Projects harmonize with ongoing research projects in the Sailor Research Group. Many SSSiN students arrange to stay longer (up to 12 months) to complete a more extensive project, with the goal of initiating a longer-term collaboration, completing a thesis chapter, or producing a scientific publication. Many high school participants have translated their projects into California Science Fair, Lego Robotics Challenge, or Intel/Regeneron Science Talent Search competitions.