Stephen J. McDonnell
About
Stephen McDonnell’s current research interests are centered interfaces relevant to next generation nanoelectronics devices. This includes metal and insulator interfaces with ultra-wide-band gap Diamond and also the integration of 2D materials into device architectures involving interfaces with 3D materials. Device applications for these materials include photovoltaics, logic, low powered transistors, interconnects, RF applications, flexible electronics, thermoelectrics, and photoelectrochemistry. The McDonnell group carries out in-vacuo synthesis and interface formation couple with studies of electronic structure by in-vacuo photoelectron spectroscopy techniques, including XPS and APRES. The group correlates processing conditions with resultant materials structure and interface chemistry while engaging in collaborations to investigate how this impacts device relevant properties, such as contact resistance, thermal boundary conductance, photocurrents, and ZT. McDonnell is also currently investigating the anti-viral properties of copper-based alloys. In this work, he correlates the surface chemistry with corrosion behavior and anti-viral efficacy.
Education
B.S. Applied Physics 1st class honors; Dublin City University, 2004
Ph.D. Physical Sciences; Dublin City University, 2009
"Our work investigates the interfaces that are critical to the functionality and performance of nanoelectronic devices."