(6bj) From Vapors to Films: Creating Smart Surfaces Via Vapor-Phase Depositions

From Vapors to Films: Creating Smart Surfaces
via Vapor-Phase Depositions

Do Han Kim

Postdoctoral Associate

Chemical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests:

In techniques
of vapor-phase depositions, multiple vapor-phase precursors are introduced into
a vacuum chamber and react on a surface, generating thin solid films. In
particular, initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD)
and Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) are powerful techniques to deposit ultra-thin
polymeric and inorganic films, respectively. In contrast to conventional
solution-based deposition such as spin-casting, the key features of iCVD and ALD facilitate exceptionally conformal,
defect-free coatings even on nano-porous structures
and the precise thickness control in a molecular scale. In addition, the film
properties are easily tuned by adjusting the feed gases and processing
conditions. Therefore, those depositions open up the real nanoscale level which
was even inaccessible in the past. As such, vapor-phase depositions satisfy strong
demands for emerging multi-disciplinary fields in a nanoscale level; for
example, energy, biotechnology, and electronics. In my research for Ph.D. and Postdoc., iCVD polymeric films are
used to fabricate sub 10 nm patterns in conjunction with directed self-assembly
(DSA) as a means to replace conventional photolithography. ALD films were also
extensively exploited to engineer the interfaces inside dye-sensitized solar cells
(DSSCs) and photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) for the
efficient charge transfer kinetics.

Postdoctoral Project:

"Scalable
Nano-manufacturing for Sub-10 nm Patterns Using initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition
(iCVD) and Directed Self-Assembly (DSA)" under supervision
of Karen K. Gleason, Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology

Ph.D. Dissertation:

"Atomic Layer
Deposition for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells." Under Supervision of Gregory N.
Parsons, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North
Carolina State University

Research Plans:

I would like to
continue my research on vapor deposition techniques for polymer and inorganic
films. Vapor-phase depositions, such as iCVD and ALD
capable of coating ultra-thin, uniform, and pinhole-free films at low
temperature, go beyond solution-based deposition for fundamental studies on
surface chemistry as well as for high-performance catalysis, chemical sensing,
energy, and bio- applications. For my future research as faculty, I conceive a
novel and innovative deposition technique to create organic-inorganic hybrid
films enabling to control the thickness and tailor the composition in a
molecular level. The approach employing key features of iCVD
and ALD facilitates to control the properties between two original phases or to
bring up new properties with the precise thickness control on complex
structures such as membranes, nanotubes, and particles. The applications of
these materials in the fields of energy, optics, mechanics, biology,
electronics and others are expected.

Teaching Experience:

I have had
experiences as a TA for several years in experimental and lecturing classes
related to core-classes of chemical engineering; process control, kinetics,
transport phenomena lab. These experiences gave me insight on how teachers
should encourage and involve students into understanding core and challenging
classes of chemical engineering.

As an effort to
be an effective teacher, I took intensive teaching classes and workshops during
my Ph.D. program and post-doctoral training. Recently, I completed an intensive
class aimed at improving teaching skill, provided by the MIT Teaching and
Learning laboratory. I have mentored one undergraduate and two graduates so
far, who successfully participated to publish two papers during doctoral and
postdoctoral programs.

As outreach
activities, I had the opportunity to participate in an annual state-wide
outreach, 'Nanodays' coordinated by North Carolina
State University, in which I demonstrated representative my results and samples
of my research. To encourage K-12 students, I also volunteered in the National
Mathematics and Science Competition organized by KSEA (Korean-American
Scientists Engineers Association).

Patents

1. P. Hoertz, G. Parsons, Q. Peng, J. Liu, J. Glass, B. Kalanyan, D. H. Kim, M.D. Losego,
L. Alibabaei, T. J. Meyer "Advanced
semiconductor-conductor composite particle structures for solar energy conversion"
U.S. patent, US20140261646 A1, 2014.

2. K. G.
Henson, T. J. Meyer, G. N. Parsons, M. D. Losego, B. Kanlanyan, and D. H. Kim "Assemblies and methods of
stabilization", U.S. patent, WO2014081921 A1, 2014.

Selected Publications

1.  N. Chen*, D.
H. Kim*, P. Kovaick, M. Wang, H. Sojoudi, and K. K. Gleason, "CVD polymeric thin films for surface
modification and device fabrication: recent progress" (2015) (submitted)
*equally contributed

2. D. H. Kim, H. S. Suh, P. Moni., S. Xiong, L. C. Ocola, P. Nealey, and K. K. Gleason, ^" iCVD
Top-coat for sub-10 nm patterning with directed self-assembly of block
copolymer film" (2015) (in preparation)

3. B. Reeja-Jayan, P. Kovacik, R. Yang, H. Sojoudi, A.
U. Katmis, D. H. Kim, C. D. Petruczok, X. Wang, A. Liu, and K. K. Gleason, "A Route
towards sustainability through engineered polymeric interfaces", Advanced Materials Interfaces, 1,
1400117 (2014). (featured on frontispiece)

4. D. H. Kim,
Q. Peng, M. D. Losego, and G. N. Parsons, "Atomic
layer deposition for sensitized solar cells" (2015). (submitted)

5. D. H. Kim,
S. E. Atanasov, P. Lemaire,
K. Lee, and G. N. Parsons, "Platimum-free cathode for
dye-sensitized solar cells using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)
formed via oxidative molecular layer deposition" (2015), ACS Applied Materials
& Interfaces, 17, 3866 (2015)

6. D. H. Kim,
M. D. Losego, K. Hanson, L. Alibabaei,
K. Lee, T. J. Meyer, and G. N. Parsons, "Stabilizing chromophores for
dye-sensitized solar cells using multicomponent, sub-nanometer atomic layer
deposition", Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 16 (18), 8615 (2014).

7. D. H. Kim,
M. Woodroof, K. Lee, and G. N. Parsons, "Atomic layer
deposition of high performance ultra-thin (< 10 nm) TiO₂ blocking
layers for dye-sensitized solar cells", ChemSusChem,
6 (6), 1014, (2013). (featured on front cover)