Mehmet Alper Sahiner, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Physics
A Fulbright Distinguished Scholar, Dr. M. Alper Sahiner received his Ph.D. in Physics from Rutgers University in 1995. After completing his post-doctoral studies in Simon Fraser University he had worked at the Brookhaven National Laboratory as a beamline scientist between 1997-1999. During 1999-2003 he had worked as a senior scientist at Evans Analytical Group, which is a distinguished worldwide network of surface characterization laboratories.
After joining Seton Hall University in 2003, he developed the Advanced Materials Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory (AMSCL). His research interests are in the area of semiconductor materials. He is looking for solutions for the major materials-based problems of the semiconductor industry by developing new advanced materials. His research also focuses in developing high-efficiency solar cells as alternative solutions for the world's clean energy generation problem.
He has collaborated with scientist from distinguished centers such as SEMATECH, NIST, CSIC (equivalent to NSF and NIH for Spain). Most recently, he has been collaborating with researchers at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center and NIST, on newly discovered Hafnium based ferroelectric memory devices for the next generation of computers. This collaboration involves x-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments in National Synchrotron Light Source II of Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Dr. Sahiner has authored 49 scientific articles, made 140 presentations (10 plenary or invited talks), a book chapter, and brought Seton Hall University over $1,500,000 extramural funding to SHU during his tenure. He is on the Editorial Board of Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing (Elsevier) and the Managing Guest Editor of the Materials Today: Proceedings (Elsevier). He has been awarded Fulbright Distinguished Scholarship in 2023-24 Academic Year.
Education
- Ph.D., Rutgers, The State University, 1995
- B.S. in Physics, Bogazici University, 1989
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Bogazici University, 1989
Scholarship
- “Identification of structural phases in ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide by density-functional-theory-assisted EXAFS analysis”, M. Alper Sahiner, et al., Applied Physics Letters, 118, 092903 (2021);
- “Experimental Investigation of Surface Resistivity of Yttrium Stabilized Zirconium as a Thin Film” Matthew J. Melfi and Mehmet A. Sahiner (in review, Journal of Materials Research, 2023)
- “Au and Ag Nanoparticle Effects on the Electrical Properties of Pulsed Laser Deposited CdTe/CdS Photovoltaic Thin Films”, M. A. Sahiner et al., Journal of Electronic Materials (in review Thin Solid Films, 2023).
- “Guest Editorial: 7th International Advances in Applied Physics and Materials Science Congress & Exhibition (APMAS2017)”, Materials Today Proceedings, Mehmet Alper Sahiner,32, 1 (2020)
- “Guest Editorial: 5th International Advances in Applied Physics and Materials Science Congress & Exhibition (APMAS2015)”, Materials Today Proceedings, Mehmet Alper Sahiner, 3, 2831 (2016).
- “Subtle local structural variations in oxygen deficient niobium germanate thin film glasses as revealed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy”, M A Sahiner, A Nabizadeh, D Rivella, L Cerqueira, J Hachlica, R Morea, J Gonzalo, J C Woicik, Journal of Physics 712, 012103 (2016).
- “Guest Editorial Special Section: Featuring papers from conference on APMAS 2014 and ENEFM 2014”, M. Alper Sahiner, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 38 299 (2015).
- “Organic/inorganic heterojunction based on conducting polymer and pulse-laser-deposited (PLD)” ZnO Weining Wang, Leandro Gutierrez, Arya Nabizadeh, and Mehmet A. Sahiner, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1732 3, (2015)
- “Windowless CdSe/CdTe Solar Cells with Differentiated Back Contacts:J–V, EQE, and
Photocurrent Mapping”, Daniel Josell, Ratan Debnath, Jong Yoon Ha, Jonathan Guyer,
Mehmet Alper Sahiner, Christopher J Reehil, William A Manners, Nhan Van Nguyen, ACS
Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 6 (18), 15972 (2014).
10. Book Chapter Complex Plasmas “Characterization of Local Structures in Plasma Deposited Semiconductors by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy”, M.Alper Sahiner pp. 299-320 (Springer- 2014) - "Synchrotron XPS and EXAFS Identification of Chemical State and Crystal Phase Changes of HfO2 Films Doped with Si, N, Al, and La", VLSl Technology Systems and Applications (VLSI-TSA), 26, 82-83; IEEE Xplore Digital Library, June 2010
- "Deactivation of submelt laser annealed arsenic ultrashallow junctions in silicon during subsequent thermal treatment", Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, 28(1), C1B1- B5, March 2010
- "Local Crystal Structural Modifications in Pulsed Laser Deposited High-K Dielectric Thin Films on Silicon and Germanium", Material Science in Semiconductor Processing, 11(6), 245- 249, October 2009
- "Characterization of Junction Activation and Deactivation Using non-Equilibrium Annealing: Solid Phase Epitaxy, Spike Annealing, Laser Annealing", Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B; IEEE Proceedings on The 9th International Workshop on Junction Technology, 64-68, June 2009
- "Local CrystalStructure Modifications in Pulsed Laser Deposited Colossal MagnetoresistiveOxide Thin Films", Material Research Society Proceedings, 1118, K05-08, February 2009
- "Correlation of Local Structure and Electrical Actiation in Arsenic Ultrashallow Junctions
in Silicon"
Journal of Applied Physics, 104(10), January 2009
Accomplishments
Grants
- PI- New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Graduate Research Fellowships: $50,000 (2023)
- Co-PI MRI: Acquisition of the Low Voltage Electron Microscope for Multidisciplinary Collaborative Research, National Science Foundation $724,333, Submitted 2023.
- PI-New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Summer Fellowships: $30,000 (2023)
- PI- SHU University Research Council Grant (2022) “Next Generation Thin Film Solar Cells: Improving Photovoltaic Conversion Efficiency by Nanoparticle Inclusions” $10,000 (2022)
- PI-New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Summer Fellowships: $30,000 (2022)
- PI-New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Summer Fellowships: $30,000 (2021)
- Co-PI Nanostructured doped glasses for a new generation of devices: Photovoltaics and Lightwave circuits (NanoGlass): Spanish National Research Council-CSIC, €23,910 (2019-2020)
- PI-New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Summer Fellowships: $30,000 (2020)
- PI-New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Summer Fellowships: $30,000 (2019)
- Co-PI (in collaboration with IBM and NIST) Phase Identification of Undoped and Al-doped HfO2 Thin Films for Ferroelectric Applications in Microelectronics, Experimental Beamtime Grant for 30 days of access time for X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Experiments, National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) of Brookhaven National Laboratory (2018-2019)
- PI-New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Summer Fellowships: $30,000 (2018)
- PI-New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Summer Fellowships: $30,000 (2017)
- PI-“The synthesis and Characterization of Solar Cells with Organic Contacts” (TUBITAK), The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey $19,178 (2016)
- PI-New Jersey Space Grant Consortium-NJSGC (NASA funded) Summer Fellowships: $25,000 (2015)
- National Science Foundation (Co-PI with Lopez), “Partial Organizational Support For The 4th Summer Institute On Complex Plasmas To Be Held July 30th to August 8th, 2014 At Seton Hall University In South Orange, New Jersey”. $7000 (2014-2015).
- SHU-NJSGC Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowships Grant $19200 (2014)
- National Science Foundation (Co-PI with Lopez), "Partial Organizational Support for the 4th Summer Institute on Complex Plasmas. conference to be held July 30th - Aug 8, 2012 at Seton Hall in New Jersey” $9700 (2012-2013).
- SEMATECH Grant “EXAFS Modeling and Analysis of Advanced Substrates, Dielectrics and Contacts" $50,000 (2010-12)
- Department of Defense- Army Research Office (Co-PI with Lopez), "Partial Support for the 3rd Summer Institute” $6600 (2012-2013)
- Department of Energy (Co-PI with Lopez) “Organizational Support for the 3rd Summer Institute on Complex Plasmas” $7900 (2012-2013).
- New Jersey Space Grant Consortium Fellowship Grant $4000, (2013).
- New Jersey Space Grant Consortium Fellowship Grant $4000, (2012).
- New Jersey Space Grant Consortium Fellowship Grant $8000, (2011).
- New Jersey Space Grant Consortium Fellowship Grant $6000, (2010).
- SHU University Research Council Grant "High Efficiency Solar Cells for Future Energy Solutions: Synthesis and Electrical Characterization" $6000 (2009)
- Higher Education Commission Visiting Scholar Grant “Pulsed Laser Deposition and Electrical and Structural Characterization of Transition Metal Oxides” $6700 (2008)
- SHU University Research Council Grant Pulsed Laser Deposition and Structural and Electrical Characterization of Colossal Magnetoresistive Materials $6000 (2008)
- SHU Teaching Learning and Technology Center Summer Fellowship “Electrical Characterization of Semiconductor Thin-Films Using LABVIEW Software Interface” $4000 (2008)
- Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Award- “Pulsed Laser Deposition and Structural and Electrical Characterization of High-k Dielectric Films for the Replacement of SiO2 in CMOS Gate Region” $40,574 (2005-2008).
- National Science Foundation (DMI-0420952) “Acquisition of a Tunable Infrared Laser, Chamber and Interferometer for the Deposition and Characterization of Thin Films of Ceramics, Oxides and Polymers” $383,208 (2004-2006).