B. S. in Chemistry, Kent State University, 2011

1200 E California Blvd M/C 127-72 Pasadena, CA 91125

Achieving control over the chemical composition of surfaces has become of great interest over the past several decades. The surface chemistry of semiconductors is of particular interest because of their use in transistors, solar cells, and other microelectronics. Silicon is of particular interest because of its heavy use by the semiconductor industry. Thus, a two step halogenation/alkylation process has been developed in the Lewis group for the functionalization of silicon surfaces with alkyl substituents. Alkylation of semiconductor surfaces has been shown to stabilize the surface to oxidation in air while maintaining good electrical properties at the surface by preventing the formation of surface electronic trap states.