Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Physics
lv2117@columbia.edu
Website

My research involves exploring the electronic transport and mechanical properties of materials on the nanometer scale including single molecules and novel nanowire materials. As device dimensions shrink, quantum effects become prominent and physical properties unique to nanometer sized devices can be studied. In recent decades, developments in nanotechnology, including the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope and other scanned probe techniques have enabled the study of materials in these previously un-accessible length scales. My research aims at utilizing such tools to study the transport properties and force conformations of single molecules and novel nanowire materials.

Selected Publications

• L. Venkataraman, J. E. Klare, C. Nuckolls, M. S. Hybertsen and M. L. Steigerwald, “Dependence of single-molecule junction conductance on molecular conformation” Nature 442, 904-907 (2006).
• L. Venkataraman, J.E. Klare, I.W. Tam, C. Nuckolls, M.S Hybertsen and M. Steigerwald, “Single-Molecule Circuits with Well-Defined Molecular Conductance”, Nano Lett. 5, 458-462 (2006).
• L. Venkataraman, Y. S. Hong, and P. Kim, “Electron Transport in a Multi-Channel One-Dimensional Conductor: Molybdenum Selenide Nanowires”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 076601/1-4 (2006).
• J. Ulrich, D. Esrail, W. Pontius, L. Venkataraman, D. Millar, and L. H. Doerrer, “Variability of Conductance in Molecular Junctions”, J. Phys. Chem.B 110, 2462-2466 (2006).
• L. Venkataraman and C. M. Lieber, “Molybdenum Selenide Molecular Wires as One Dimensional Conductors”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 5334-5337 (1999).