Dr. Ashok Kumar, Professor

 

E-mail : akumar@eng.usf.edu

Website: http://www.eng.usf.edu/~akumar

Telephone: 813-974-3942

Location: ENB 252

 

Education

Ph.D., North Carolina State University, 1992, Materials Science & Engineering

M. Tech, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, India, 1988

B. Tech, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, India, 1985 

Research Interests

Thin Film Technology for Multifunctional Applications;  

Processing, Characterization, and Applications of Nanomaterials;

Reliability Issues in Microelectronics and MEMS Devices;  

Sensor Technology;

Novel Materials for Energy Applications;

Analytical Techniques of Thin Films and Surfaces

Recent Research Projects
Microelectronics technology and fabrication
Laser and plasma assisted of processing, characterization, and 
    device technologies of electronic, ferroelectric, magnetic, high-Tc and polymeric thin films 
Metal Oxide Semiconductor Sensors
Ferroelectric thin films for DRAM and Microwave applications
MEMS and RF Circuit fabrication technology
3-D Interconnect and Wafer level Packaging Technology
Modeling and Simulation of Semiconductor Processes

Thin Film Technology for Multifunctional Applications

The focus of the research is to develop a means by which application specific coatings can be efficiently designed, using an integrated approach tailored towards rapid scale-up and industrial production. In order to develop a strong well-integrated research program focused at the understanding of structure-property relationship in advanced engineering coating materials, pulsed laser deposition, sputtering, microwave chemical vapor deposition, and sol-gel techniques  have been employed to grow micro and nano-crystalline diamond and carbon nanotube for MEMS, cutting tools, sensors and flat panel display applications. This research aims to elucidate the understanding the mechanisms controlling synthesis, structure, properties and performance relationships in thin film and thereby demonstrate routes for improved properties with engineered interface and surface modification.

 

Sponsor: NSF CAREER, NSF GOALI, NSF DMII, NSF MRI, NSF NIRT, International Sematech Inc., Faraday Technology, General Motors, Center for Tribology

Principal Investigator: Ashok Kumar

Collaborators: General Motors, Institute of Microelectronics, Singapore, Center for Tribology Inc., Iowa State University