Marcus Nanotechnology Research Center

Marcus Nanotechnology Research Center. A premier academic facility dedicated to advanced research at the nanoscale, it is a core component of the Georgia Institute of Technology and a cornerstone of the Georgia Tech Research Institute. The center provides state-of-the-art cleanroom and laboratory resources to scientists and engineers from academia, industry, and government, driving innovation in fields ranging from semiconductors to biomedical engineering. Its mission is to enable groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and educate the next generation of leaders in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

History

The center was established in 2008 following a transformative philanthropic gift from Atlanta-based philanthropists Bernard Marcus and Billi Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot. This gift, one of the largest in the history of the Georgia Institute of Technology, was instrumental in constructing the 190,000-square-foot facility located within the Technology Square research complex. Its creation was a strategic response to the growing national emphasis on nanotechnology, championed by initiatives like the National Nanotechnology Initiative. Since its opening, the facility has undergone several expansions to house increasingly sophisticated tools, cementing its role as a critical node in the Southeastern Nanotechnology Infrastructure Corridor and a user facility within the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure network.

Research and facilities

The center operates one of the largest university cleanrooms in the United States, a multi-level Class 100/1000 facility that supports advanced microfabrication and nanofabrication. Core research thrusts include the development of novel two-dimensional materials like graphene, next-generation photonics and optoelectronics, MEMS and NEMS devices, and nanoscale systems for drug delivery and biosensors. Key equipment includes multiple electron beam lithography systems, atomic layer deposition tools, a suite of scanning electron microscopes, and advanced metrology instruments for characterization. Research here has directly contributed to advancements in flexible electronics, quantum computing components, and energy harvesting technologies.

Key personnel

The center is directed by Dr. Elena Vance, a noted expert in nanomaterials synthesis and a fellow of the American Physical Society. Leadership also includes Dr. Arun Majumdar, former director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, who holds a chaired professorship. The technical staff comprises over fifty scientists and engineers, including experts in lithography like Dr. Samuel Cho and in molecular beam epitaxy like Dr. Linda Ferguson. Faculty from across Georgia Tech colleges, such as the College of Engineering and the College of Sciences, lead research groups utilizing the facility, including professors affiliated with the Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience.

Collaborations and partnerships

The center fosters extensive collaborations with major federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It maintains strong industrial partnerships with corporations such as Intel, Texas Instruments, Micron Technology, and Boeing, which engage in sponsored research and workforce training. Academic partnerships extend globally to institutions like the Max Planck Society in Germany and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan. Within the University System of Georgia, it is a shared resource for researchers from Emory University, the University of Georgia, and other members of the Georgia Research Alliance.

Notable achievements and impact

Researchers have made seminal contributions, such as developing ultra-sensitive plasmonic sensors for early disease detection and creating high-efficiency thermoelectric materials from nanowires. The center's work was pivotal in the DARPA-funded Mesodynamic Architectures program, exploring new computing paradigms. Its educational programs have trained thousands of students and professionals, many of whom now hold key positions at companies like GlobalFoundries and Applied Materials. The facility's open-access model is credited with accelerating the launch of numerous startups in Atlanta's technology sector and has significantly bolstered Georgia's standing in the global semiconductor industry and advanced materials research.

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