Research Description

My research aim is to advance the scientific foundation that underlies the current and potential future of materials and quantum sciences. To this end, my research focus is the synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of novel 2D materials, and scalable nanophotonic structures for emerging nanoscale applications, such as 2D-material-based photodetectors and nanowire-based biosensing, and quantum sources for telecom quantum network technologies. This research direction involves the design and development of CMOS-compatible fabrication strategies for nanostructured materials, for example silicon carbide (SiC) nanowire arrays. My semiconductor-related research interests are physical failure analysis (PFA) and the development of defect-localization methodologies for advanced CMOS technologies.

Research Areas

Nanostructured materials; SiC nanowires; 2D materials; Color centers in nanostructures; Quantum photonics at telecom wavelengths; Advanced physical failure analysis.

Recent Professional Experience

Before joining the SUNY Poly CNSE faculty, Dr. Galis worked at IBM Semiconductor Research and Development Center developing characterization methodologies in the areas of laser-based defect-localization and photon emission spectroscopy of CMOS integrated circuits. Dr. Galis was instrumental in providing scientific and engineering support in the area of failure analysis for advanced development semiconductor technologies (FEOL FinFET 14nm SOI) contributing to IBM’s operational and business goals.

• Senior Scientist-Engineer (PFA Team Leader), IBM Microelectronics, Semiconductor Research and Development Center (2013 – 2014)
• Advisory Engineer, IBM Microelectronics, Semiconductor Research and Development Center (2006 – 2013)
• Adjunct Professor, College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, University at Albany, SUNY (2007 – 2014)

Recent Awards and Honors

• SUNY Poly Excellence in Teaching Award (2017)
• SUNY Poly Excellence in Teaching Award (2016)
• SUNY Poly Social Club of the Year: Outdoors Club (2015)
• IBM Outstanding Contributor Award (2013)
• IBM Advanced Physical Failure Analysis Innovation Award (2012)
• IBM Corporate Award (the highest technical award by the CEO) (2009)
• IBM Invention Achievement Award (2009)

Education

• Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University at Albany, SUNY, USA (2006)
• M.Sc. in Physics, University at Albany, SUNY, USA (2002)
• M.Sc. in Microelectronics and Optoelectronics, University of Crete, Greece (2001)
• B.Sc. in Physics, University of Crete, Greece (1999)

Selected Papers

• D. Vipin, N. Modi, T. Reynolds, B. Zhang, N. Tabassum, G. Bhowmik, V. Nikas, S. Chakraborty, S. Gallis, M. Huang. Effects of forming gas annealing on luminescence properties of erbium silicate thin films. AIP Advances 9, 065018 (2019).
• Tabassum N., Kotha M., Kaushik V., Ford B., Dey S., Crawford E., Nikas V., and Gallis S: On-demand CMOS-Compatible Fabrication of Ultrathin Self-Aligned SiC Nanowire Arrays. Nanomaterials  8, 906 (2018).
• Tabassum N., Nikas V., Ford B., Crawford E., and Gallis S.: Engineering Er placement and emission through chemically synthesized self-aligned SiC:Ox nanowire photonic crystal structures. arXiv:1707.05738v2 (2017).
• Brian Ford, Natasha Tabassum, Vasileios Nikas and Spyros Gallis: Strong Photoluminescence Enhancement of Silicon Oxycarbide through Defect Engineering. Materials 10, 446 (2017).
• A.V. Vasin, M. Adlung, V.A. Tertykh, D. Kysil, S. Gallis, A.N. Nazarov, VS Lysenko: Broad band (UV–VIS) photoluminescence from carbonized fumed silica: Emission, excitation and kinetic properties. Journal of luminescence, 190, 141 (2017).
• N. Tabassum, V. Nikas, B. Ford, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros, S. Gallis: Time-resolved analysis of the white photoluminescence from chemically synthesized SiCxOy thin films and nanowires. Appl. Phys. Lett. 109, 043104 (2016).
• V. Nikas, N. Tabassum, B. Ford, L. Smith, A. E. Kaloyeros, S. Gallis: Strong visible light emission from silicon-oxycarbide nanowire arrays prepared by electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching. J. Mater. Res. 30, 3692 (2015). Invited feature paper
• V. Nikas, S. Gallis, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros, A. P. D. Nguyen, A. Stesmans and V. V. Afanas'ev: The origin of white luminescence from silicon oxycarbide thin films. Appl. Phys. Lett. 104, 061906 (2014).
• Himani Suhag, Vimal K. Kamineni, Richard L. Moore II, Spyros Gallis, Alain C. Diebold, Mengbing Huang, Alain E. Kaloyeros: Optical and structural characterization of oxidation annealing effects on electron beam deposited erbium thin films on silicon. J. Appl. Phys. 111, 013104 (2012).
• Vasileios Nikas, Spyros Gallis, Mengbing Huang and Alain Kaloyeros: Thermal annealing effects on photoluminescence properties of carbon doped silicon-rich oxide thin films implanted with erbium. J. Appl. Phys. 109, 093521 (2011).Spyros Gallis, Vasileios Nikas, Himani Suhag, Mengbing Huang, and Alain E. Kaloyeros: White light emission from amorphous silicon oxycarbide (a-SiCxOy) thin films: Role of composition and post-deposition annealing. Appl. Phys. Lett. 97, 081905 (2010).
• S. Galis, et al.: A 0.039um2 high performance eDRAM cell based on 32nm High-K/Metal SOI Technology. IEEE International Electron Devices 10, 616 (2010).
• S. Gallis, V. Nikas, E. Eisenbraun, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros: On the effects of thermal treatment on the composition, structure, morphology and optical properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon-oxycarbide. J. Mater. Res., 24, 2561, (2009).
• S. Gallis, V. Nikas, H. Suhag, M. Huang and A. Kaloyeros: Strong photoluminescence at 1540 nm from Er-doped amorphous silicon oxycarbide: a novel silicon material for photonic applications. Proc. SPIE 7030, 703004 (2008).
• S. Gallis, M. Huang and A. E. Kaloyeros: Efficient energy transfer from silicon oxycarbide matrix to Er ions via indirect excitation mechanisms. App. Phys. Let. 90, 161914 (2007).
• S. Gallis, V. Nikas, M. Huang, E. Eisenbraun, and A. E. Kaloyeros: Comparative study of the effects of thermal treatment on the optical properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon-oxycarbide. J. Appl. Phys. 102, 024302 (2007).
• S. Gallis, M. Huang, H. Efstathiadis, E. Eisenbraun, E.E. Nyein, U. Hommerich and A.E. Kaloyeros: Photoluminescence in erbium doped amorphous silicon oxycarbide thin films. App. Phys. Let. 87, 091901 (2005).

Book Chapters

• Tabassum N., Kotha M., Kaushik V., Ford B., Dey S., Crawford E., Nikas V., and Gallis S: On-demand CMOS-Compatible Fabrication of Ultrathin Self-Aligned SiC Nanowire Arrays. MDPI, (2018).
  https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-03921-043-5
• Spyros Gallis, Vasileios Nikas and Alain E. Kaloyeros: Silicon Oxycarbide Thin films and Nanostructures: Synthesis, Properties and Applications, Modern Technologies for Creating Thin-film Systems and Coatings. InTech, (2017).
  https://www.intechopen.com/books.

Patents

• Galis S., Barth K. W., Donaton R. A., Petrarca K. S., Siddiqui S.: (2013). Hybrid bonding interface for 3-dimensional chip integration. US8349729 B2, US 13/418716 (2013).

Recent Presentations

• Spyros Gallis: Scalable Nanophotonic Structures for Long-Distance Quantum Communications. Quantum Information Science 1st International Workshop at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), (2019). Invited presentation
• Spyros Gallis: On-Demand CMOS-Compatible Fabrication of Ultrathin Self-Aligned SiC Nanowire Arrays for Quantum Photonics at Telecom Wavelengths.  Silicon Carbide (SiC) Materials & Devices Workshop at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), (2018). Invited talk
• N. Tabassum, V. Nikas, B. Ford, and S. Gallis: Tailoring Rare-Earth Ion Positioning and Emission through Self-aligned SiC:O Photonic Crystal Nanostructures. MRS Fall Meeting (2017)
• N. Tabassum, V. Nikas, B. Ford, E. Crawford, M. Huang, and S. Gallis: Investigation of the Structural and Optical Behavior of Self-Aligned SiC:Er3+ NWs for Quantum Technologies. MRS Spring Meeting (2017)
• Spyros Gallis: Material Behaviors of Self-aligned Silicon-Carbide Nanowire Arrays Doped with Erbium Towards Quantum Applications. 48th Silicon Symposium (2017). Invited talk
• N. Tabassum, V. Nikas, B. Ford, S. Gallis: Realization of Self-Aligned Erbium-Doped Silicon-Carbide Nanowires towards Quantum Technologies. AVS Hudson Mohawk Chapter Fall Meeting (2016). Awarded as best graduate presentation
• Spyros Gallis: Functional Nanomaterials and Devices for Electronics, Sensors, Energy Harvesting. NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Lviv, Ukraine (2015). Keynote speaker – Invited talk
• V. Nikas, B. Ford, N. Tabassum, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros, and S. Gallis: Strong white-light emission from silicon-oxycarbide nanowire systems prepared by electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching. MRS Spring Meeting (2015).
• V. Nikas, N. Tabassum, B. Ford, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros and S. Gallis: On the effects of hybrid thermal passivation treatments on the structural and photoluminescence properties of silicon-oxycarbide (SiCxOy) thin films. MRS Spring Meeting (2015).