CNI Previous Centers

Throughout the years CNI has been home to various research science centers. These centers include:

  • The Ancient Ink Lab

  • Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC)

  • Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives Program (MURI)

  • Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)

  • Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC)

Learn more about our past CNI centers and their research below.

The Ancient Ink Lab

Director: James Yardley

  • Years Active: 2009-2014

  • Research Team: Alexis Hagadorn, David Ratzan (NYU), Roger Bagnall (NYU), Sarah Goler, Karen King (Harvard)

  • Former Researchers: Angela Cacclola, Naomi Rosenkranz, Elizabeth Stern, Isabella Buscarino

  • Stated Mission: The Ancient Ink Laboratory used modern concepts and techniques in Nanotechnology (as developed in Columbia University’s Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center) to elucidate the nature and the development of inks used in the creation of manuscripts from the ancient world, building upon the unique resources of Columbia University’s Butler Library. The laboratory was especially interested in understanding the evolution of red and black inks exhibited in Egyptian papyri dating from before 1000 BCE to 1000 CE and beyond. It was especially concerned with the use of spectroscopic signatures to determine the dates for ancient writings.  In addition, it studied polychromatic manuscripts including a fragment from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC)

Center for Re-defining Photovoltaic Efficiency Through Molecule Scale Control

Director: James Yardley

  • Years Active: 2009-2014

  • Co-PIs: Luis Brus, George Flynn, Colin Nuckolls, Jonathan Owen, David Reichman, Mike Steigerwald, Xiaoyang Zhu, Tony Heinz, Philip Kim, Abhay Pasupathy, Simon Billinge, Irving Herman, Latha Venkataraman, Dirk Englund, Jeff Kash, Ioannis Kymissis, Richard Osgood, Kenneth Shepard, James Hone, Chee Wei Wong, Asfraf Alam (Purdue), Matt Sfeir (BNL), Mark Hybertsen (BNL), Charles Black (BNL), Eran Rabani (Tel Aviv University), Andrew Crowther (Barnard)

  • Stated Mission: The Columbia EFRC created technology which will redefine photovoltaic efficiency in organic and hybrid systems through fundamental understanding and molecule-scale control of the key steps in the photovoltaic process.

    The EFRC focused its expertise in chemical synthesis, fabrication, manipulation, and characterization to systematically develop understanding of the primary photovoltaic processes in organic and hybrid materials. In addition, it sought to develop and quantitatively investigate nanostructured materials with potential for extracting multiple electrical charges from a single absorption event, thus establishing a scientific basis for moving the efficiency of these solar cell devices well beyond the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit.

    The Columbia EFRC was a collaboration between Purdue University (Prof. Ashraful Alam) and the Brookhaven National Laboratory. The research program of the EFRC centered around four multi-site, multi-disciplinary, and interlocking research thrusts. Each thrust represented an integrated effort incorporating theory, materials, and measurement.

Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives Program (MURI)

Center for New Materials Approaches for Future Graphene-based Devices

Director: Richard Osgood

  • Years Active: 2009-2014

  • Co-PIs: Philip Kim, Kenneth Shepard, Louis Brus, George Flynn, Tony Heinz, James Hone, Edwin C. Kan (Cornell University), Paul L. McEuen (Cornell University), Farhan Rana (Cornell University), Sandip Tiwari (Cornell University) Michael G. Spencer (Cornell University)

  • Stated Mission: MURI was a five-year, multi-university effort, involving Columbia and Cornell, funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in September 2009. The full potential of graphene devices is limited by our ability to grow or fabricate large single-crystal samples. In addition, the performance of graphene devices depends strongly on the chemical and mechanical environment of the material, presenting distinctive challenges for device fabrication, including growing surface-passivating dielectric-films and reducing substrate interactions. At the same time, the intrinsic limits to graphene performance, including mean free paths and phase coherence lengths, saturation velocities and nonequilibrium transport, and light-matter coupling, remain poorly understood.

    The goal of this MURI was to develop new growth and fabrication technologies for graphene and graphene-related materials that, when coupled with improved understanding of its critical underlying physical properties, will enable novel device concepts. The research also focused on three specific advanced electronic and nanoscale electromechanical devices that illustrated the potential for new or dramatically enhanced functionality.

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)

The Center for Nanostructured Materials

Director: Irving P. Herman

  • Years Active: 2002-2011

  • Co-PIs: Stephen O’Brien, Louis Brus, Siu-Wai Chan, Jeffrey T. Koberstein, Tony Heinz, Rastislav Levicky, Ben O’Shaughnessy, Philip Kim, William E. Bailey, Andrew Millis, Sanat Kumar, Yasutomo Uemura, David Reichman, Joze Bevk, Jeffrey Kysar, Colin Nuckolls, Michael Steigerwald, Nicholas Turro, Daniel Akins (CCNY), Ilona Kretzschmar (CCNY)

  • Stated Mission: The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Columbia University investigated ways of forming films containing complex metal oxide nanoparticles and the properties of these films through an interdisciplinary and collaborative effort. The Center was composed of a single interdisciplinary research group (IRG). The focus of the IRG research was the materials chemistry of oxide nanoparticle systems, and included nanoparticle synthesis, assembly, and diagnostics. This Columbia MRSEC linked thirteen faculty members from five departments on campus with other faculty at City College of New York, and with fourteen collaborators in industry and at national laboratories. The MRSEC maintained shared experimental facilities that met the needs of the Center research and served for the training of students. Education outreach efforts of the MRSEC included a summer research experience for undergraduates and for high school teachers, and an extensive visitation program to high and middle schools in New York City that brought materials demonstrations to teachers and students.

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC)

Columbia Center for Electronic Transport in Molecular Nanostructures

Director: James Yardley

  • Years Active: 2001-2012

  • Co-PIs: Ronald Breslow, Horst Stormer, George Flynn, Tony Heinz, Shalom Wind, Louis Brus, James Hone, Richard Friesner, Philip Kim, Robert Laibowitz, Andrew Millis, Colin Nuckolls, Stephen O’Brien, Irving Herman, Aron Pinczuk, David Reichman, Latha Venkataraman, Mark Hybertsen (BNL)

  • Stated Mission: This Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center award to Columbia University was co-funded by Divisions of Chemistry (MPS), Materials Research (MPS) and International Programs (IN). Columbia University Nanocenter conducted research to establish the foundation for new paradigms for information processing through the development of fundamental understanding of charge transport phenomena unique to nanoscale molecular structures with special emphasis on crystalline organic conductors and carbon nanotube materials. Single-molecule structures were be fabricated by the Center through a fusion of advanced semiconductor technology and tailored molecular synthesis. The research elucidated the control of charge transport through single molecules in terms of the chemical structure and also examined underlying mechanistic questions. The research program placed strong emphasis on the modulation of charge transport through molecules, with the goal of developing a molecular transistor. Scientists from Canada, Germany, Japan and Switzerland collaborated with the Center in solid state surface analysis, single crystal growth, and the determination of electron transport properties of crystalline nanomaterials. Nanoscale structures and devices were fabricated and characterized in collaboration with Lucent and IBM research facilities. In addition to electronics, these studies of molecular transport in nanomaterials had potential impact to other disciplines such as photonics, biology, neuroscience, and medicine. Through partnership with Barnard College, City College of New York, and Rowan University, the Center incorporated an innovative educational program directed toward a wide variety of students at graduate, undergraduate, and high school levels. Educational and outreach programs were designed to attract students to nanotechnology, with particular attention to groups, which have been historically underrepresented in science.