Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
jh2228@columbia.edu
Hone Group Webpage

Research Interests

The Hone group currently has three major research thrusts: carbon nanotubes, nano-bioscience, and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). A major focus of our work on nanotubes is to use multiple techniques to precisely correlate the properties of nanotubes with their exact crystal structure. To achieve this goal, we and other NSEC groups are combining work on nanotube growth, optical characterization by Rayleigh and Raman spectroscopy, electronic transport measurements, mechanical measurements, and many other techniques. We have developed a technique for selecting individual pre-characterized tubes and placing them onto specific locations for device manufacture. We are beginning to use this technique to build transistors and other structures with nanotubes of known chirality. We are also investigating the use of nanotubes in energy conversion devices such as solar cells and fuel cells.

Our nano-bio work involves the use of ultrahigh resolution lithography to fabricate structures with nanometer-scale dimensions. These structures, when appropriately bio-functionalized, permit investigation of the relationship between spatial organization and biological function. In NEMS, we are developing technologies toward the goal of nano-sized resonant beam gas sensors with chemical specificity.

Selected Publications

• M. Y. Sfeir, T. Beetz, F. Wang, L. Huang, X.M. H. Huang, M. Huang, J. Hone, S. P. O’Brien, J.A. Misewich, T.F. Heinz, L. Wu, Y. Zhu, L. E. Brus, “Optical Spectroscopy of Individual Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes of Defined Chiral Structure”, Science 312, 554-556 (2006).
• X. Guo, J. P. Small, J. E. Klare, Y. Wang, M. S. Purewal, I. W. Tam, B. H. Hong, R. Caldwell, L. Huang, S. P. O’Brien, J. Yan, R. Breslow, S. J. Wind, J. Hone, P. Kim, and C. Nuckolls, “Covalently Bridging Gaps in Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Conducting Molecules”, Science 311, 356-359 (2006).
• X. M. H. Huang, R. Caldwell, L. Huang, S. C. Jun, M. Huang, M. Y. Sfeir, S. P. O’Brien, and J. Hone, “Controlled Placement of Individual Carbon Nanotubes”, Nano Lett. 5, 1515-1518 (2005).
• X.M.H. Huang, M. Manolidis, S. C. Jun, and J. Hone, “Nanomechanical Hydrogen Sensing”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 143104/1-3 (2005).
• M.Y. Sfeir, F. Wang, L. Huang, C.-C. Chuang, J. Hone, S.P. O’Brien, T.F. Heinz, and L.E. Brus, “Probing Electronic Transitions in Individual Carbon Nanotubes by Rayleigh Scattering.” Science 306, 1540-1543 (2004).