ECE 163L.002 - Introduction to Integrated Circuits (Fall '05)
ECE 310 - Foundations of Nanoscale Science and Technology (Spring '05, Spring '06)
ECE 52L - Introduction to Digital Systems (Fall '06, Fall '07)
ECE 299.03 - Topics in Nanocomputing (Spring '07)

    We study the design and fabrication of nanostructures as applied specifically to the fabrication of future computing systems: devices-to-computer architecture. The terms 'nanocomputing' or 'molecular computing' refer to the fabrication techniques (e.g., self-assembly) that have the potential to create devices with critical dimensions near the molecular scale (i.e., < 10nm). However, defects introduced during self-assembly require a change in the way we design and build computer systems.

    DNA self-assembly is a bottom-up fabrication technique that can be used to achieve molecular scale resolution. The images to the right are atomic force microscope (AFM) images of several nanostructures that we have fabricated in our lab. The goal is to use these structures to integrate active nanoelectronic devices into a fully self-assembled circuit technology - and to study the new forms of computer architecture that the technology enables. To do this we have adopted a broad and vertical research approach to cover topics in the synthesis and design of DNA nanostructures, nanoscale device and circuit modeling, and studies of emerging computer architectures.