Computer chips consist of microelectronic circuits etched into silicon wafers.
Surface modifications through chemical andphysical processes are key steps. Research done in the Borguet group is exploring issues in surface science dealing with semi-conducting materials, such as silicon and germanium. Projects are devoted to the study of the interface structure and properties of these materials, and howthey can be affected by chemical and physical surface modification. OTS assembles into monolayer films when the SiO 2 substrate is dipped in solution. We use UV light in air, which to photochemically modify the monolayers.