About the Lab

At Q-Nano, we work at the convergence between electrical engineering, condensed matter physics, and materials science. Dr. Simmonds is a firm believer in the power of interdisciplinary collaboration for solving the biggest, most important problems, and this is the spirit in which our group pursues research. Specific research interests within the Q-Nano center on the synthesis and study of novel electronic and photonic nanomaterials, for example quantum light sources, superconductor/semiconductor integration, high mobility electron gases, topological materials, infrared optoelectronic devices, and self-assembled nanostructures.  

To create these electronic materials, we use molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), an advanced technique for growing ultrapure semiconductor crystals with atomic-level control over nanomaterial size. To explore their resulting structural, electronic, and optical properties, we use a suite of characterization techniques. As we investigate these quantum nanomaterials, we gain a deeper understanding of the physics underlying their behavior, allowing us to tailor their properties for specific purposes. The nanomaterials we design and create enable us to tackle various key technological problems in a broad range of areas, from quantum cryptography and quantum computing, to spintronics and security applications.