Dr. Robinson’s interests span a wide range of electronic materials capable of integration into many different technologies.  However, materials for electronic and optoelectronic, as well as and radiation detection have become a prime focus of his research. 

One such material is “graphene” – a single sheet of graphite. Graphene presents a host of remarkable physical and chemical properties, many of which originate from its special electronic band structure. For instance, the mobility of the charge carriers in graphene is as high as ~ 200,000 cm2/Vs even when the carrier density is 1013 cm-2, making graphene a very attractive material for high speed (RF & terra-hertz) electronic applications.  Realization of a graphene technology; however, requires the ability to synthesize high quality graphene, rapidly characterize the material’s structural and electronic quality, and integrate graphene with dielectric materials for device fabrication. Dr. Robinson initiated a graphene research effort in the fall of 2007 at the PSU-EOC with the goals of making graphene a producible material for integration into high speed electronics, and has worked with PSU-EOC researchers to produce the world’s largest graphene wafer to date (100mm). Additionally, Dr. Robinson has developed graphene device fabrication processes for record performance, high speed transistors. In addition to graphene, Dr. Robinson is actively engaged in research on developing synthesis, characterization, and integration techniques of “beyond graphene” materials. These material systems include 2D material systems such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), as well as transition-metal dichalcogenides in the form of MX2 (where M=transition metal such as Mo, W, Ti, Nb, etc. and X=S, Se, or Te). 

Finally, Dr. Robinson is also actively engaged in materials development for radiation detection. This work includes use of rare-earth oxide materials such as gadolinium that produces a charge when radiation is incident on the material.  Additionally, Dr. Robinson is pursuing the integration of multiple 2D material systems such as hexagonal boron nitride for flexible radiation detection applications.