Atul Konkar

Assistant Professor

Research Topics

Research Overview

Structure-Property relationship of nanoscale materials, surfaces, and interfaces

Objectives: Research the fundamental structure-property relationship in nanoscale materials/structures composed of semiconductors and their interfaces with soft organic materials; apply the understanding towards synthesis of devices useful for the manipulation of information and energy.

1. Defect engineering in semiconductor nanocrystals and quantum dots: Study the structural nature of extended defects and their impact on the properties. Identify mechanisms for defect formation and apply principles of defect engineering to exploit their beneficial properties.
2. Interfacing of organic materials with single crystal semiconductor surfaces: Synthesize and examine the nature of interface formed between semiconductor surface and organic materials via nanoscale structural and electrical characterization techniques.
   Facilities: A Philips 420 analytical electron microscope for combined nanoscale structural/chemical studies and an Akashi 002B transmission electron microscope for high resolution electron microscopy is available in CEMMA. Synthesis/fabrication facilities and instrumentation for nanoscale electrical studies in Dr. Konkar’s group are being designed/constructed/acquired.
   Recent Publications:

Contact Information

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Web Site:
Laboratory for Microscopy of Integrated Nanostructures

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E-mail:                       
konkar@usc.edu

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Mailing Address:      
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
University of Southern California
925 Bloom Walk, HED 110
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1211                

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Office Location:       
HED 110

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Office Phone:          
( 213) 821-2965

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Fax:                         
(213) 740-8053 

 

Education

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Dr. Konkar received his B.Tech (Metallurgical Engineering) from Institute of Technology, BHU in 1991, and M.S. and Ph.D from University of Southern California, both in Materials Science and Engineering, in 1993 and 1999, respectively. Dr. Konkar was a Senior Staff Scientist at the Process and Materials Characterization Laboratory in Motorola (1998-2001) where he developed and applied Scanning Capacitance and Tunneling Atomic Force Microscopies for nanoscale electrical characterization of electronic devices. He was a Member of Technical Staff at Agere Systems (2001-2003) researching the failure modes and reliability physics of advanced high-speed digital and analog lasers. 

Research Images

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Selected Publications

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1. A. Konkar, S. Lu, A. Madhukar, S.M. Hughes, and A.P. Alivisatos, "Integration of Nanocrystal Quantum Dots With Crystalline Semiconductor Substrates: Structure, Stability, and Optical Response", Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 854E, U.4.7.; (www.mrs.org, 2005).

2. A. Madhukar, S. Lu, A. Konkar, Y. Zhang, M. Ho, S.M. Hughes, and A.P. Alivisatos, "Integrated semiconductor nanocrystal and epitaxical nanostructure systems: structural and optical behavior", Nano Lett. 5, 479 (2005).

3. A. Konkar, S. Lu, A. Madhukar, S. M. Hughes, and A. P. Alivisatos, "Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots on single crystal semiconductor substrates: High resolution transmission electron microscopy", Nano Lett. 5, 969 (2005).