• Epitaxial Oxides on Semiconductors
• Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Investigations of Organic/Semiconductor Interfaces
• Tunneling Spectroscopy for Molecular Electronics and Nano-Sensors
• Nanoscale Investigations of Electrocatalysis

Awards and Honors

• Nanotech Measurement Contest (sponsored by Keithley Instruments, Inc.), 2nd place (with graduate student R. Gupta) – 2007
• National Science Foundation Career Award – 2005
• Emmert Faculty Dow Award for 1st Course in Chemical Engineering Fellow – 2003
• Dow Award for 1st Course in Chemical Engineering – 1992

Publications

Wang, K. Fu, B.G. Willis, “Nucleation and growth of MgO atomic layer deposition: A real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry study,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, v. 31 (6) (2013).

Wang, K. Fu, B.G. Willis, “Catalytic reaction and metallic phase in atomic layer deposition of Al2O3/MgO/Pt structure,” ECS Solid State Letters, 2 (11) N39 (2013).

Huang, J.T. Arena, S.S. Manickam, X.Jiang, B. G. Willis and Jeffrey R. McCutcheon, “Improved Mechanical Properties and Hydrophilicity of Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Filtration Applications by Dopamine Modification,” J. Membrane Science, v. 460, p. 241 (2014).

Jiang, X. Q.; Wang, H.; Qi, J.; Willis, B. G.: In-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry study of copper selective-area atomic layer deposition on palladium. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A 32, 041513 (2014).  

Li, H.; Jiang, X.; B.G. Willis: Prevailing Intermolecular Bonding for Dinitrotoluene Self-Assembled Monolayers on Au(111). J. Phys. Chem. C 118, 14418-14426 (2014). 

G. Willis, J. Qi, X. Jiang, J. Chen, G. J. Weisel, and D. T. Zimmerman, ”Selective-Area Atomic Layer Deposition of Copper Nanostructures for Direct Electro-Optical Solar Energy Conversion,” Eds: F. Roozeboom, S. De Gendt, A.Delabie, J.W. Elam, A. Londergan, O. van der Straten, Atomic Layer Deposition Applications 10, ECS Transactions, v. 64 (9) p. 253. 

R.A. Wambold, J.M. Chen, P.H. Cutler, N.M. Miskovsky, J. Qi, G.J. Weisel, B.G. Willis, Darin T. Zimmerman, Tunable optical extinction of nano-antennas for solar energy conversion from near-infrared to visible, in Plasmonics: Metallic Nanostructures and Their Optical Properties XIII, Allan D. Boardman; Din Ping Tsai, Editors, Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 9547 (SPIE, Bellingham, WA 2015), 95471H.  

Fu, K.; Willis, B. G.: “Characterization of DNA as a Solid-State Sorptive Vapor Sensing Material,” Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical 220, 1023 (2015). 

Hsu, I. J.; Chen, J. G.; Jiang, X.; B.G. Willis: Atomic layer deposition synthesis and evaluation of core-shell Pt-WC electrocatalysts. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 33, 01A129 (2015).  

Liu, Y.; Zhang, L.; B.G. Willis; Mustain, W. E.: Importance of particle size and distribution in achieving high-activity, high-stability oxygen reduction catalysts. ACS Catalysis 5, 1560 (2015).