The Grainger College of Engineering
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Kanti Jain

Kanti Jain
Kanti Jain
Professor Emeritus

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Education

  • Ph.D. -- UIUC, ECE/Physics, 1975.

Teaching Statement

Professor Jain teaches a graduate-level in-depth course on Micro/Nanolithography, offered in the Fall, and a senior undergraduate/graduate-level course covering the broad scope of advanced microelectronic process technologies, offered in the Spring.

Research Statement

The central theme in our research programs is to advance the state-of-the-art in microelectronic, optoelectronic and microsystem devices by developing and exploiting novel micro/nano-fabrication technologies. These fabrication technologies enable patterning and microstructuring of a variety of organic and inorganic materials -- including semiconductors, polymers, metals, dielectrics and biological materials -- and producing devices, structures and systems previously not deemed possible. Examples of such devices and systems that are our research objectives include nanoscale semiconductor devices; multifunctional distributed sensors; and electronic modules produced on flexible substrates using novel large-area fabrication techniques. To realize cost-effective fabrication of such devices that will make their implementation in a variety of scientific and commercial applications practical, we are developing the necessary combination of novel processes, structures and systems, such as massively parallel maskless nanolithography; high-resolution, conformable lithography on nonplanar surfaces; excimer laser photoablation in a variety of materials; laser processing of semiconductor films to create active devices; large-area lithography for flat and flexible displays; microfluidic devices and biomolecular arrays; and optoelectronics, micro-optics and photonic circuits.

Research Interests

  • Micro and nano fabrication technologies
  • Optoelectronics, micro-optics, and photonic circuits
  • Excimer laser processing technologies for fabrication of displays and microelectronics
  • Energy-smart buildings: Optoelectronic envelope technologies for energy efficiency and recycling
  • Smart skins: Large-area, integrated, distributed, multifunctional sensors on flexible substrates
  • Ultra-high-resolution lithography technologies for nanoscale devices

Research Areas

  • Electromagnetics and Optics
  • Lasers and optical physics
  • Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
  • Microelectronics and Photonics
  • Nanotechnology
  • Semiconductor electronic devices
  • Semiconductor lasers and photonic devices

Honors

  • Elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, 2009, for "development of high-resolution, deep-ultraviolet excimer laser lithography for microelectronic fabrication."
  • Recognized in 50 Years of Laser History Milestones Timeline prepared by APS, IEEE, OSA and SPIE.
  • Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2013, for "the invention and development of fundamental manufacturing processes and systems for high-resolution and large-area micro- and nanolithography."
  • Recipient of the Richardson Medal of OSA, 2008, for "pioneering contributions to the development of high-resolution optical microlithography technologies, especially for the invention and development of excimer laser lithography and systems for production of microelectronic devices."
  • Fellow of IEEE, 2005.
  • Fellow of Optical Society of America, 1999.
  • Founding Member, Department of Physics Advisory Board, UIUC, 1998-2002.
  • Fellow of SPIE, 1993.
  • Founder and President of Anvik Corporation, a microelectronics manufacturing systems company; obtained $21 million in external funding.
  • Outstanding Innovation Awards by IBM for invention and development of excimer laser lithography, used worldwide for semiconductor chip production, 1985, 1988.
  • Holder of 68 patents (65 issued/allowed, 3 pending), including inventions of core lithography technology for production of ICs (see above) and large-area lithography technology widely used in production of flat-panel televisions and displays.
  • Member of the Board of Directors of SPIE, 1992-94, and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of SPIE, 1992, 93.
  • SPIE Editor of Microlithography World, a publication of Pennwell Publishing Company in collaboration with SPIE, 1992-2004.
  • SPIE Publications Committee Chair, 1992, 93.

Teaching Honors

  • Created a new graduate-level course, ECE 510, Micro/Nanolithography: Science, Technology, and Applications. Provides a comprehensive foundation in the broad field of lithography, the central process technology critical to the fabrication of a vast array of micro/nano structures required in microelectronic devices, displays, flexible electronics, microelectromechanical systems, and biotechnology.