Prof. Dr. Mukti M. Rana
Engineering Division of Physical and Computational Sciences &
Director and Principal Investigator, Optical Science Center for Applied Research
Delaware State University
Dover, DE, USA

Presentation Title: Role of Substrates and Underlying Layers on Electrical, Optical, and other Properties of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs)

Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted much attention because of many fascinating features they can offer. Atomically thin layers (with thicknesses <1nm) of these materials with lateral lengths up to several inches can now be synthesized. Among 2D materials, future applications of monolayer (ML) thick transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) appear to be more prominent. The underlying layers on which TMDCs are deposited (substrates or other intermediate layers between substrate and TMDC), greatly influence growth, morphology, electronic, optical and other properties of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). Many interesting substrate/underlying layer-TMDC interactions such as interface strain, charge transfer, dielectric screening, and optical interference and others had been studied. Thus, a variety of substrates and other intermediate thin film layers have been employed to modulate the properties of 2D semiconductors. These approaches resulted in numerous exciting phenomena that differ from those observed in their bulk counterparts. Using these properties low power, ultra-thin tunable opto-electronic devices, non-volatile memories and devices were made. In this talk, I will present the some of the novel and interesting electrical, optical, and other properties of TMDCs derived from the influence of underlying layers.

Biography: Dr. Mukti Rana is a Professor of Engineering and Director and Principal Investigator at the Optical Science Center for Applied Research (OSCAR) at Delaware State University (DSU). Dr. Rana received his B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh (1992-1997), and his M.S. (2000-2002) and Ph.D. (2003-2007) from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in Electrical Engineering. He also worked as graduate teaching assistant, graduate research assistant and post-doctoral research associate (2007-2008) in the Department of Electrical Engineering during his tenure at UTA. In fall 2008, Dr. Rana joined as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of South Alabama, Mobile. In 2010, he joined in the Department of Physics and Engineering and OSCAR of DSU. Dr. Rana’s research projects are supported by the Department of Defense (US Army, Navy and Air Force), National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of Health (NIH) and. Dr. Rana served the principal investigator of Optics for Space Technology and Applied Research Center funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Optical Science Center for Applied Research (OSCAR) funded by NSF. Both of these grants were funded for 5 Million US dollars for 5 years. Dr. Rana has secured more than 13 Million US Dollars in research funding during his tenure at DSU. Currently there are five graduate, three undergraduate, and three high school students work at Dr. Rana’s research laboratory -Laboratory for Optical Sensing and Energy Conversion. His current research interest includes – thin film’s properties for microsensors’ applications, uncooled infrared detectors and microelectro-mechanical (MEMS) devices. Dr. Rana has published more than thirty-four refereed journal articles and conference proceedings, one book, one book chapter and holds three patents. Dr. Rana is a member of the IEEE, SPIE and the founding student advisor of IEEE student branch at DSU. Between Fall ‘15- Fall ‘20, Dr. Rana demonstrated outstanding leadership to advise and mentor 124 middle school, 56 high school, 200+ undergraduate and 33 graduate students, 21 middle and high school science teachers, 7 junior faculty members and 3 post-doctoral research associates. Dr. Rana is the recipient of “Faculty Mentor of The Year Award, NASA, 2019” for his contribution towards advising and mentoring of students. He is also the recipient of excellence in mentoring award in 2021, research award in 2016, vice president’s award for excellence in research in 2015 and excellence in outreach award 2015 for the college of mathematics, natural sciences and technology of DSU.