Paul McEuen

John A. Newman Professor of Physical Science Emeritus

Education

B.S. 1985, Engineering Physics, University of Oklahoma. Ph.D., 1991, Applied Physics, Yale University. Post-Doctoral Researcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990-91. Assistant Professor, Physics, University of California, Berkeley, 1992-96. Associate Professor, Physics, University of California, Berkeley, 1996-2000. Professor, Physics, Cornell University, 2001-present. Office of Naval Research Young Investigator, 1992-95; Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow, 1992-94; Packard Foundation Fellow, 1992-97; National Young Investigator, 1993-98; LBNL Outstanding Performance Award, 1997; Packard Foundation Interdisciplinary Fellow, 1999; Agilent Europhysics Prize, 2001; Fellow, American Physical Society, 2003; Yale Sci. and Engr. Assoc. Award for Basic and Applied Science, 2009; National Academy of Sciences, 2011; Debut novel of the year by the International Thriller Writers Association; Distinguished Graduates Society, University of Oklahoma College of Engineering, 2013, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2015.

Departments and programs

Physics

Affiliated Colleges

College of Arts and Sciences

Academic interests

Experimental Condensed Matter Physics

Overview

The science and technology of nanostructures, particularly carbon-based systems such as nanotubes and graphene; novel fabrication techniques at the nanometer scale; micro- and nanoscale machines and active matter; assembly and measurement of chemical and biological nanostructures

Research Focus

Our research focuses on the fabrication and study of nanostructures. We use these structures to span the gap between the macroscopic and molecular worlds, exploring electronics, optics, mechanics, chemistry and biology at the nanoscale. Current research ranges from the use of carbon nanotubes for optoelectronics and mechanics to the use of graphene and other 2D materials for atomic-scale origami, active materials, and micro and nanomachines.

Postdocs
Lei Wang, Long Ju, Menyoung Lee, Marc Miskin

Graduate Students
Kathryn McGill, Alejandro Cortese, Kyle Dorsey, Michael Reynolds, Tanner Pearson, Samantha Norris

Publications

Graphene Kirigami, M. K. Blees, A. W. Barnard, P. A. Rose, S. P. Roberts, K. L. McGill, P. Y. Huang, A. R. Ruyack, J. W. Kevek, B. Kobrin, D. A. Muller, and P. L. McEuen, Nature 524, 204-207 (2015).

The Valley Hall Effect in MoS2 Transistors, K. F. Mak, K. L. McGill, J. Park, and P. L. McEuen, Science 344, 1489-1492 (2014).

Imaging Atomic Rearrangements in Two-Dimensional Silica Glass: Watching Silica’s Dance, P. Y. Huang, S. Kurasch, J. S. Alden, A. Shekhawat, A. A. Alemi, P. L. McEuen, J. P. Sethna, U. Kaiser, and D. A. Muller, Science 342, 224-227 (2013).

Strain Solitons and Topological Defects in Bilayer Graphene, J. S. Alden, A. W. Tsen, P. Y. Huang, R. Hovden, L. Brown, J. Park, D. A. Muller, and P. L. McEuen, PNAS 110, 11256-11260 (2013).

Imaging Grains and Grain Boundaries in Single-Layer Graphene: An Atomic Patchwork Quilt, P. Y. Huang, C. S. Ruiz-Vargas, A. M. van der Zande, W. S. Whitney, S. Garg, J. S. Alden, C. J. Hustedt, Y. Zhu, J. Park, P. L. McEuen, and D. A. Muller, Nature 469, 389-392 (2011).

Extremely Efficient Multiple Electron-Hole Pair Generation in Carbon Nanotube Photodiodes, N. M. Gabor, Z. Zhong, K. Bosnick, J. Park, and P. L. McEuen, Science 325, 1367-1371, (2009).

Terahertz time-domain measurement of ballistic electron resonance in a single-walled carbon nanotube, Z. Zhong, N. M. Gabor, J. E. Sharping, A. L. Gaeta, and P. L. McEuen, Nature Nanotechnology 3, 201-205 (2008).

Electromechanical Resonators From Graphene Sheets, J. S. Bunch, A. M. van der Zande, S. S. Verbridge, I. W. Frank, D. M. Tanenbaum, J. M. Parpia, H. G. Craighead, and P. L. McEuen, Science 315, 490-493 (2007).

Determination of electron orbital magnetic moments in carbon nanotubes, E. D. Minot, Y. Yaish, V. Sazonova, and P. L. McEuen, Nature 428, 536-539 (2004).

A Tunable Carbon Nanotube Electromechanical Oscillator, V. Sazonova, Y. Yaish, H. Ustunel, D. Roundy, T. A. Arias, and P. L. McEuen, Nature 431, 284-287 (2004).