Advanced Nanoelectronics & Nanostructures Laboratory (ANNLab)
Welcome to ANNLab, led by Zafer Mutlu, Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Arizona, with courtesy appointments in the School of Electrical, Computing, and Software Engineering and the Department of Physics.
From fundamental science to applied research · From atoms to systems
Our lab develops advanced materials and builds them into functional devices. We are interested in how the structure of a material controls the way electrons and sound waves move through it, and how that can be used for computing, sensing, and wireless communication. We carry out the full process in-house, from synthesizing and engineering materials to building and testing devices.
Much of our work centers on graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). These are narrow strips of carbon made from small molecules, so their width and edge shape are controlled down to single atoms. At this scale, quantum effects shape their electronic properties, giving them a band gap that can be tuned through chemistry. This makes them strong candidates for transistors beyond silicon and a platform for exploring quantum properties in carbon materials. We also develop them as sensors for uses ranging from harsh environments to biological systems.
In parallel, we work on surface acoustic wave devices for future wireless communication. These devices use sound waves traveling along a material’s surface to process radio signals. We focus on topological designs that guide sound waves in ways that are less sensitive to defects, aiming for more robust and efficient devices at higher frequencies. Alongside these main areas, we explore new directions where materials science meets other fields.