Welcome to Xuan Gao’s Group Website

 

Welcome to the homepage of Professor Xuan Gao’s research group at the Physics Department of Case Western Reserve University. We are a group of experimental physicists studying a wide range of interesting subjects in the fast-growing field of nanoscale physics which bridges condensed matter physics and nanotechnology. Our research is centered on nanostructures or materials (quantum wells, nanoplates, nanowires etc) in which the quantum nature of particles (electrons, phonons etc) plays a fundamental role in their electrical, thermal, optical and magnetic properties. We seek to understand and exploit the quantum physics in these nanostructures for novel device applications.

 

Our current research projects include:

  1. Electron transport and phase transitions in correlated two-dimensional electron (or hole) system in semiconductor quantum wells.

  2. Quantum confinement, spin-orbit coupling, topology/symmetry protection effects in topological states of matter (topological insulators, Dirac semi-metals etc).

  3. Understanding the energy conversion processes in emerging materials relevant to renewable energy.

  4. Nanowires or graphene-like atomically thin semiconductors for next-generation nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, or biosensors.

Please visit our research projects webpage for more details.

 

What’s New

  • 03/2025 High school research intern Michael Zhu from the University School won at the Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair and will represent the state of Ohio as a finalist to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair. Michael was also named the Melvin scholar, to represent Ohio at the national American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) meeting. Congratulations! Michael’s project in our lab was “Novel Flexible Substrate-Based 2D MoS2 Devices and Novel ILG MoS2 FETs on Flexible Substrates”. Read the news here.(Photo: Michael Zhu (standing on the right) with other finalists and the fair directors at the Buckeye SEF.)

  • 02/2025 Ph.D. student Julian Deagueros successfully passed the oral qualification exam (project title: “2D materials and their application in field effect transistors”). Congratulations.

  • 01/2025 Prof. Gao was named the vice president of the International Organization of Chinese Physicists and Astronomers (OCPA), a non-political, not-for-profit organization aiming to promote physics and astronomy research in general and especially the achievements by ethnic Chinese physicists and astronomers.

  • 06/2024 We welcome new graduate student Hasitha Samarakkody, undergraduate student Xuanren Chen, and high school summer intern Michael Zhu (from Univesity School).

  • 03/2024 High school student intern in our lab, Aiden Tian from Hawken School, won 2nd place at Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair, in 11th-12th grade, Engineering category. Aiden’s project was also named by Parker Hannifin Corp as a project showing good use of scientific method, and by Battery Innovation Center as a project related to energy production, storage, transportation, and sustainability.

  • 02/2024 Dr. Sukrit Sucharitakul from Chiang Mai University, Thailand, visits our lab. Sukrit is our group alumni and is on the faculty at Chiang Mai now.

(Photo: Dr. Sukrit Sucharitakul and Gao group)

Positions Available

Motivated students are encouraged to contact Prof. Gao (xuan.gao @case.edu) if you are interested in working with us.