Functional inorganic nanostructures, new opportunities for future electronics

Silicon based semiconductor electronics have experienced enormous growth in the past several decades and are rapidly evolving into two extremes: highly integrated circuits with device size approaching single digit nanometer scale (nanoelectronics) and large area electronics with system size measured in square meters (macroelectronics). However, significant challenges are expected in both extremes. Functional inorganic nanostructures, with precisely controlled chemical composition, physical dimension and electronic properties, can offer unique opportunities to address these critical challenges. In this talk, I will discuss several examples to illustrate the potential of exploring functional inorganic nanostructures to address the emerging challenges in semiconductor electronics.