Solid-State Dewetting of Metallic Thin Films

Metallic thin films are used in a wide range of devices and systems that have an impact on our everyday lives. They play critical roles in the integrated circuits used for computation and communication, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) used for sensing and biomedical analyses, micromagnetic devices used for information storage, and microphotonic devices and systems used for information processing, communications and sensing. As these technologies advance, smaller and smaller metallic components are required. However, it has been found that when materials are made very small, their shape tends to evolve over time as they try to adopt spherical shapes, like droplets. This is limiting the development of new technologies, especially those involving metallic components. In this project, precisely controlled very small metallic structures are being made to study their evolution over time. These experimental studies are coupled with development of the theoretical models that are needed to explain this evolution. The goals of this project are to develop new techniques for making stable nano-scale metallic structures and for controlling shape evolution to make structures with complex shapes for new functions. This project involves students from two research groups, one focused on experiments and one focused on modeling. These students participate in meetings of both groups and will also extensively interact with senior and junior members of collaborating groups in the Technical University of Dresden, the University of Milano, and the University of New South Wales. Results from this project are included in courses at MIT and short courses for industry, as well as in massively open online courses.