Yiping Zhao, assistant professor of physics, has developed a technique that is considered a breakthrough in nanostructure manufacturing processes. This method will enable scientists to grow nanosquare springs and other 3-D structures that can be placed on a chip. Consequently, this will provide faster computers and highly sensitive environmental and biological sensors.
Where scientists used to take many steps to develop photonic crystals, Zhao now does it in one step. Photonic crystals are materials that transmit signals with light rather than electrons and make it possible to build computers and electronic devices that are much faster than ones present today.
Zhao’s research has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Nanoscience. Other original structures Zhao has formed include triangles, pentagrams, spring-like structures, and even “nanoflowers.”
