Mark C. Hersam
· Chair of Materials Science and EngineeringNorthwestern University · Chemical Engineering
Active 1998–2024
About
Mark C. Hersam is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Chair of the department at Northwestern University. He is also a courtesy professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Chemistry. His research specializes in the synthesis, purification, functionalization, and application of low-dimensional nanoelectronic materials, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, hexagonal boron nitride, black phosphorus, and borophene. Hersam's group focuses on surface chemical functionalization to enable tunability of these materials' properties, facilitating their integration into diverse applications such as thin-film transistors, memristors, transparent conductors, photovoltaics, batteries, biosensors, and quantum computing. He is actively involved in commercializing low-dimensional nanoelectronic materials through scalable nanomanufacturing methods like continuous flow solution processing and various printing techniques. Hersam's contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including election to the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2024, as well as prestigious fellowships and awards from organizations such as the American Chemical Society, Materials Research Society, and the American Physical Society.
Research topics
- Materials science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemistry
- Optoelectronics
- Computer Science
- Composite material
- Physics
- Electrical engineering
- Crystallography
- Organic chemistry
- Artificial Intelligence
- Condensed matter physics
- Engineering
- Metallurgy
- Chemical engineering
- Photochemistry
- Electronic engineering
- Computer architecture
- Optics
- Thermodynamics
- Chemical physics
- Physical chemistry
- Medicinal chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
Selected publications
Nature Communications · 40 citations
- Materials science
- Condensed matter physics
- Optoelectronics
Abstract There is accelerating interest in developing memory devices using antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials, motivated by the possibility for electrically controlling AFM order via spin-orbit torques, and its read-out via magnetoresistive effects. Recent studies have shown, however, that high current densities create non-magnetic contributions to resistive switching signals in AFM/heavy metal (AFM/HM) bilayers, complicating their interpretation. Here we introduce an experimental protocol to unambiguously distinguish current-induced magnetic and nonmagnetic switching signals in AFM/HM structures, and demonstrate it in IrMn3/Pt devices. A six-terminal double-cross device is constructed, with an IrMn3 pillar placed on one cross. The differential voltage is measured between the two crosses with and without IrMn3 after each switching attempt. For a wide range of current densities, reversible switching is observed only when write currents pass through the cross with the IrMn3 pillar, eliminating any possibility of non-magnetic switching artifacts. Micromagnetic simulations support our findings, indicating a complex domain-mediated switching process.
Recent Advances and Future Prospects for Memristive Materials, Devices, and Systems
ACS Nano · 2023 · 254 citations
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science
Memristive technology has been rapidly emerging as a potential alternative to traditional CMOS technology, which is facing fundamental limitations in its development. Since oxide-based resistive switches were demonstrated as memristors in 2008, memristive devices have garnered significant attention due to their biomimetic memory properties, which promise to significantly improve power consumption in computing applications. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in memristive technology, including memristive devices, theory, algorithms, architectures, and systems. In addition, we discuss research directions for various applications of memristive technology including hardware accelerators for artificial intelligence, in-sensor computing, and probabilistic computing. Finally, we provide a forward-looking perspective on the future of memristive technology, outlining the challenges and opportunities for further research and innovation in this field. By providing an up-to-date overview of the state-of-the-art in memristive technology, this review aims to inform and inspire further research in this field.
Bimolecularly passivated interface enables efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells
Science · 2023 · 652 citations
- Materials science
- Optoelectronics
- Nanotechnology
interface. We passivated surface defects and enabled reflection of minority carriers from the interface into the bulk using two types of functional molecules. We used sulfur-modified methylthio molecules to passivate surface defects and suppress recombination through strong coordination and hydrogen bonding, along with diammonium molecules to repel minority carriers and reduce contact-induced interface recombination achieved through field-effect passivation. This approach led to a fivefold longer carrier lifetime and one-third the photoluminescence quantum yield loss and enabled a certified quasi-steady-state PCE of 25.1% for inverted PSCs with stable operation at 65°C for >2000 hours in ambient air. We also fabricated monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells with 28.1% PCE.
Vapor–liquid assisted chemical vapor deposition of Cu <sub>2</sub> X materials
2D Materials · 2022 · 8 citations
- Materials science
- Chemical physics
- Nanotechnology
Abstract Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are known for their layered structure and tunable functional properties. However, a unified understanding on other transition metal chalcogenides (i.e. M 2 X) is still lacking. Here, the relatively new class of copper-based chalcogenides Cu 2 X (X = Te, Se, S) is thoroughly reported. Cu 2 X are synthesized by an unusual vapor–liquid assisted growth on a Al 2 O 3 /Cu/W stack. Liquid copper plays a significant role in synthesizing these layered systems, and sapphire assists with lateral growth and exfoliation. Similar to traditional TMDs, thickness dependent phonon signatures are observed, and high-resolution atomic images reveal the single phase Cu 2 Te that prefers to grow in lattice-matched layers. Charge transport measurements indicate a metallic nature at room temperature with a transition to a semiconducting nature at low temperatures accompanied by a phase transition, in agreement with band structure calculations. These findings establish a fundamental understanding and thrust Cu 2 Te as a flexible candidate for wide applications from photovoltaics and sensors to nanoelectronics.
Advanced Materials · 2022 · 91 citations
Senior authorCorresponding- Materials science
- Optoelectronics
- Nanotechnology
nanosheets to be preserved and exploited for the scalable additive manufacturing of mechanically flexible optoelectronics.
Ambient-Stable Two-Dimensional CrI<sub>3</sub> <i>via</i> Organic-Inorganic Encapsulation
ACS Nano · 2021 · 35 citations
Senior authorCorresponding- Materials science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical engineering
thermal conductivity in ambient conditions.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2021 · 37 citations
- Computer Science
- Materials science
- Nanotechnology
dentition. The stylus is a highly graded material in that its mineral content and mechanical properties vary by a factor of 3 to 8 over distances of a few hundred micrometers, seamlessly bridging between the soft radula and the hard tooth head. The use of amorphous phases that are low in iron and high in water content may be key to increasing the specific strength of the stylus. Finally, we show that we can distill these insights into design criteria for inks for additive manufacturing of highly tunable chitosan-based composites.
Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2021 · 188 citations
- Chemistry
- Crystallography
- Photochemistry
, respectively, are also lower than Y6 (150 meV). BHJ blends show preferential π-face-on orientation, and both fluorination and π-extension increase NFA crystallinity. Femto/nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs/nsTA) and integrated photocurrent device analysis (IPDA) indicate that π-extension modifies the phase separation to enhance film ordering and carrier mobility, while fluorination suppresses unimolecular recombination. This systematic study highlights the synergistic effects of NFA π-extension and fluorination in affording efficient OSCs and provides insights into designing next-generation materials.
Nature Materials · 2021 · 308 citations
- Materials science
- Optoelectronics
- Nanotechnology
Advanced Materials · 2021 · 98 citations
Senior authorCorresponding- Materials science
- Chemical engineering
- Nanotechnology
, is presented. Lattice oxygen loss is found to play a critical role in the local O3-O1 stacking transition at high states of charge, which subsequently leads to Ni-ion migration and irreversible stacking faults during cycling. This undesirable atomic-scale structural evolution accelerates microscale electrochemical creep, cracking, and even bending of layers, ultimately resulting in macroscopic mechanical degradation of LNO particles. By employing a graphene-based hermetic surface coating, oxygen loss is attenuated in LNO at high states of charge, which suppresses the initiation of the degradation cascade and thus substantially improves the high-voltage capacity retention of LNO. Overall, this study provides mechanistic insight into the high-voltage degradation of LNO, which will inform ongoing efforts to employ cobalt-free cathodes in Li-ion battery technology.
Recent grants
CAREER: Nanoelectronic and Nanophotonic Characterization of Hybrid Hard and Soft Materials
NSF · $520k · 2001–2007
Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Monodisperse Carbon-Based Nanomaterials
NSF · $640k · 2010–2015
Structure, Properties, and Processing of Chirality-Resolved Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
NSF · $360k · 2007–2011
NSF · $500k · 2021–2026
Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
NSF · $8.7M · 2023–2029
Frequent coauthors
- 214 shared
Tobin J. Marks
Northwestern University
- 184 shared
Vinod K. Sangwan
Northwestern University
- 115 shared
Alexander A. Green
Boston University
- 91 shared
Michael J. Bedzyk
- 75 shared
Antonio Facchetti
Georgia Institute of Technology
- 60 shared
Vinayak P. Dravid
Northwestern University
- 58 shared
Michael R. Wasielewski
Northwestern University
- 55 shared
George C. Schatz
Northwestern University
Awards & honors
- National Academy of Engineering (NAE), 2024
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2024
- Materials Research Society Mid-Career Researcher Award, 2024
- Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research…
- American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellow, 2021
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