Robert Nemanich

Regents' Professor,

Department of Physics

Other ASU affiliations

Instructor, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

PSB 353 TEMPE, AZ 85287
Mail code: 1504

Campus: Tempe
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Long Bio

Robert J. Nemanich received his bachelor's and master's degrees in physics at Northern Illinois University before continuing on to obtain his doctorate at the University of Chicago. He joined North Carolina State University’s faculty and remained there for nearly 20 years before joining Arizona State University as a professor for the Department of Physics in 2006. Academics aside, Professor Nemanich is also heavily involved the fields of research including: diamond and other wide bandgap semiconductors, nanostructures, semiconductor surface processing, heteroepitaxy on Si, silicide formation, Raman scattering and surface science.

Education

Ph.D. Physics, University of Chicago 1976
M.S. Physics, Northern Illinois University
B.S. Physics, Northern Illinois University

Curriculum Vitae

Research Website URL

Research Website

Research Interests

Modern electronic devices will be based on complex nanometer scale materials structures, and biological and chemical sensors will employ multifunctional nanostructures that integrate molecular, biological and electronic materials. It is only recently that techniques have been developed to image the dynamics of nanometer scale structures and to determine their properties. Our group has applied advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to characterize the growth and properties of thin film interfaces and nanostructures. We have led the developent of photo electron emission microscopy (PEEM) with tunable UV light from a free electron laser. Our students have explored the dynamics and interactions of nanostructures as they grow or evolve. Scanning probe systems have also been used as a basis for imaging polar materials including ferroelectric materials and wurtzite structured semiconducting materials such as GaN. These techniques offer the possibility to develop nanopatterning approaches that can drive self assembly of molecular, biological and electronic nanostructures.

Research Group

The NanoScience Lab (NSL) at Arizona State University involves an interdisciplinary group of researchers dedicated to the study of semiconductor surfaces, interfaces, and processing, with a focus towards electronic and optoelectronic applications. Students from physics, electrical engineering, and materials science work together under the direction of Dr. Robert J. Nemanich

Publications

J. Garguilo, L. Hong, G.S. Edwards , R.J. Nemanich, and J.D. Simon . 2007 . The surface oxidation potential of melanosomes measured by free electron laser-photoelectron emission microscopy . Photochemistry and Photobiology . 83 . 692-697

J. N. Hanson, B. J. Rodriguez, R. J. Nemanich and A. Gruverman . 2006 . Fabrication of metallic nanowires on a ferroelectric template via photochemical reaction . Nanotechnology . 17 . 4946-4949

W-C. Yang, B.J. Rodriguez, A. Gruverman1 and R.J. Nemanich . 2005 . Photo electron emission microscopy of polarity-patterned materials . J. Phys.: Condens. Matter . 17 . S1415-S1426 File:

Photo electron emission microscopy of polarity-patterned materials

F.A.M. Koeck, J.M. Garguilo and R.J. Nemanich . 2004 . On the thermionic emission from nitrogen-doped diamond films with respect to energy conversion . Diamond and Related Materials . 13 . 2052-2055

Research Activity

Scowen,Paul Andrew*, Nemanich,Robert John, Yu,Hongbin. Building a Better ALD - Use of Plasma Enhanced ALD to Construct Efficient Interference Filters for the FUV. NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CTR(1/1/2016 - 12/31/2018).
Petuskey,William T*, Buttry,Daniel A., Chan,Candace Kay, Crozier,Peter, Goodnick,Stephen Marshall, Nemanich,Robert John. At the Interface: Hybrid Materials Leading to New Energy Conversion And Energy Storage Platforms. AZ BOARD OF REGENTS(1/1/2015 - 6/30/2016).
Nemanich,Robert John*. Diamond epitaxy and ALD dielectric layers for RF Devices. MIT(12/1/2014 - 9/30/2016).
Chowdhury,Srabanti*, Nemanich,Robert John. Ultimate Switches (US). UNIV OF CA AT SANTA BARBARA(3/10/2014 - 3/9/2017).
Nemanich,Robert John*, Chowdhury,Srabanti, Goodnick,Stephen Marshall. Diamond Power Transistors Enabled by Phosphorus Doped Diamond. DOE-ARPA(2/20/2014 - 3/31/2016).
Nemanich,Robert John*. In situ X-ray and UV Photoemission Spectroscopy for Interface Electronic State Characterization. DOD-NAVY-ONR(9/5/2013 - 3/2/2016).
Nemanich,Robert John*. Photo-Stimulated Nanopattern Formation Dynamics on Ferroelectric Surfaces. NSF-MPS-DMR(6/1/2012 - 5/31/2016).
Nemanich,Robert John*. MURI: Dielectric Enhancements For Innovative Electronics. UNIV OF CA AT SANTA BARBARA(8/1/2010 - 7/31/2016).
Nemanich,Robert John*. Optimized Plasma Processes for Cleaning Cu and Cu Barrier Surfaces. UNT(4/1/2010 - 9/30/2012).
Nemanich,Robert John*. Molecular Transport Mediated Direct Energy Conversion. DOD-NAVY-ONR(3/1/2010 - 2/28/2017).
Nemanich,Robert John*. Optimized Plasma Processes for Cleaning Cu and Cu Barrier Surfaces. RES FDND OF STATE UNIV OF NY(2/1/2009 - 3/31/2010).
Nemanich,Robert John*. Photo-stimulated nanopattern formation on polarity patterned ferroelectric surfaces. NSF-MPS-DMR(7/1/2008 - 6/30/2012).
Nemanich,Robert John*. Carbon Nanostructures and Wide Bandgap Semiconductors for Vacuum Thermionic Energy Conversion. NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV(6/1/2008 - 12/31/2008).
Nemanich,Robert John*. Diamond Materials for High Power Electronics. Denso Corp(10/17/2007 - 10/16/2009).

Courses

2025 Summer

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 792	Research
PHY 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
PHY 792	Research

2025 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 493	Honors Thesis
PHY 495	Project Research
PHY 792	Research
PHY 795	Continuing Registration
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 599	Thesis
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
MSE 593	Applied Project
PHY 441	Statistical/Thermal Physics
PHY 441	Statistical/Thermal Physics

2024 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 792	Research
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 599	Thesis
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 492	Honors Directed Study
PHY 493	Honors Thesis
PHY 441	Statistical/Thermal Physics
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 441	Statistical/Thermal Physics

2024 Summer

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 792	Research
PHY 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
PHY 792	Research

2024 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 493	Honors Thesis
PHY 495	Project Research
PHY 792	Research
PHY 795	Continuing Registration
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 599	Thesis
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III
MSE 593	Applied Project
MSE 792	Research

2023 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 792	Research
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 599	Thesis
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 492	Honors Directed Study
PHY 493	Honors Thesis
PHY 799	Dissertation

2023 Summer

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 792	Research
PHY 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III

2023 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 493	Honors Thesis
PHY 495	Project Research
PHY 792	Research
PHY 795	Continuing Registration
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 599	Thesis
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III
MSE 593	Applied Project
PHY 493	Honors Thesis
PHY 495	Project Research
MSE 792	Research
PHY 795	Continuing Registration
PHY 799	Dissertation

2022 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 792	Research
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 599	Thesis
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 492	Honors Directed Study
PHY 493	Honors Thesis
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 495	Project Research

2022 Summer

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 792	Research
PHY 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III

2022 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 493	Honors Thesis
PHY 495	Project Research
PHY 792	Research
PHY 795	Continuing Registration
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III
MSE 593	Applied Project
MSE 792	Research

2021 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 792	Research
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 599	Thesis
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 492	Honors Directed Study
PHY 493	Honors Thesis

2021 Summer

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 792	Research
PHY 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III

2021 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 495	Project Research
PHY 792	Research
PHY 795	Continuing Registration
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III

2020 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 792	Research
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 493	Honors Thesis

2020 Summer

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 799	Dissertation
PHY 792	Research
PHY 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
MSE 792	Research
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III

2020 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
PHY 495	Project Research
PHY 792	Research
PHY 795	Continuing Registration
PHY 799	Dissertation
MSE 792	Research
MSE 799	Dissertation
PHY 241	University Physics III
PHY 241	University Physics III

Expertise Areas

Nanoscience and Material Physics

Nanotechnology Surface Science