Spyros Gallis (Spyridon Galis)

Research Website
SGNano Research

Research
Enabling Quantum and Nanophotonic Technologies with Nanofabrication and Materials Science.

My research vision is to advance the scientific foundation that underlies the current and potential future of materials and quantum sciences. My group’s research aims to advance fundamental understanding and experimental knowledge for developing new scalable nanostructured materials and novel 2D materials for emerging nanoscale applications (e.g., polarization-sensitive detection, nanowire-based biosensing) and solid-state quantum sources for telecom quantum networks. Solid-state quantum sources at telecom wavelengths are considered a potentially significant resource for the solid-state implementation of future quantum repeaters, fiber-based long-distance quantum networks, and interconnecting quantum computers. These technologies can profoundly impact our lives as we move toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

To this end, our SGNano Research focus is the synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of novel 2D materials and scalable nanophotonic structures for nanoscale devices, such as 2D-material-based photodetectors, nanowire-based biosensors, and quantum sources. These efforts involve the design and development of CMOS-compatible fabrication strategies for nanostructured materials, such as silicon carbide (SiC) nanowire arrays.

Research Areas
Nanoengineering; Nanostructured materials; SiC nanowires; 2D materials; Rare-earth ions in nanostructures; Quantum photonics at telecom wavelengths; Advanced physical failure analysis for CMOS technologies.

Recent Professional Experience
Before joining CNSE, Dr. Galis worked at the IBM Semiconductor Research and Development Center, developing characterization methodologies in the fields of laser-based defect-localization and photon emission spectroscopy of CMOS integrated circuits. Dr. Galis was instrumental in providing scientific and engineering support in failure analysis for advanced development semiconductor technologies (FEOL FinFET 14nm SOI), contributing to IBM’s operational and business goals.

• Senior Scientist-Engineer (PFA Team Leader), IBM Microelectronics, Semiconductor Research and Development Center (2013 – 2014)
• Advisory Engineer, IBM Microelectronics, Semiconductor Research and Development Center (2006 – 2013)
• Adjunct Professor, College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, University at Albany, SUNY (2007 – 2014)

Recent Awards and Honors

• Hermes of the New - CNSE Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (2023)
• SUNY Poly Excellence in Teaching Award (2017)
• SUNY Poly Excellence in Teaching Award (2016)
• SUNY Poly Social Club of the Year: Outdoors Club (2015)
• IBM Outstanding Contributor Award (2013)
• IBM Advanced Physical Failure Analysis Innovation Award (2012)
• IBM Corporate Award (the highest technical award by the CEO) (2009)
• IBM Invention Achievement Award (2009)

Recent Papers

• Alex Kaloyeros and Spyros Gallis. Polarization-dependent photoluminescence properties of fab-compatible nanowire-based nanophotonic structures.  Appl. Phys. Lett. 120, 231104 (2022).
• Mounika Kotha, Alex Kaloyeros, Thomas Murray, and Spyros Gallis. Wavelength-Dependent Anisotropic Optical Properties in Layered GaTe for Polarization-Sensitive Applications.  Adv. Photonics Res. 2, 2100140 (2021).
• Natasha Tabassum, Vasileios Nikas, Alex E. Kaloyeros, Vidya Kaushik, Edward Crawford, Mengbing Huang, and Spyros Gallis. Engineered Telecom Emission and Controlled Positioning of Er3+ Enabled by SiC Nanophotonic Structures. Nanophotonics,  9, 1425 (2020).
• Mounika Kotha, Thomas Murray, David Tuschel and Spyros Gallis. Study of Oxidation and Polarization-Dependent Optical Properties of Environmentally Stable Layered GaTe Using a Novel Passivation Approach.  Nanomaterials 9, 1510  (2019).
• Tabassum N., Kotha M., Kaushik V., Ford B., Dey S., Crawford E., Nikas V., and Gallis S. On-demand CMOS-Compatible Fabrication of Ultrathin Self-Aligned SiC Nanowire Arrays. Nanomaterials  8, 906 (2018).
   

Previous Selected Papers

• D. Vipin, N. Modi, T. Reynolds, B. Zhang, N. Tabassum, G. Bhowmik, V. Nikas, S. Chakraborty, S. Gallis, M. Huang. Effects of forming gas annealing on luminescence properties of erbium silicate thin films. AIP Advances 9, 065018 (2019).
• Tabassum N., Kotha M., Kaushik V., Ford B., Dey S., Crawford E., Nikas V., and Gallis S: On-demand CMOS-Compatible Fabrication of Ultrathin Self-Aligned SiC Nanowire Arrays. Nanomaterials  8, 906 (2018).
• Tabassum N., Nikas V., Ford B., Crawford E., and Gallis S.: Engineering Er placement and emission through chemically synthesized self-aligned SiC:Ox nanowire photonic crystal structures. arXiv:1707.05738v2 (2017).
• Brian Ford, Natasha Tabassum, Vasileios Nikas and Spyros Gallis: Strong Photoluminescence Enhancement of Silicon Oxycarbide through Defect Engineering. Materials 10, 446 (2017).
• A.V. Vasin, M. Adlung, V.A. Tertykh, D. Kysil, S. Gallis, A.N. Nazarov, VS Lysenko: Broad band (UV–VIS) photoluminescence from carbonized fumed silica: Emission, excitation and kinetic properties. Journal of luminescence, 190, 141 (2017).
• N. Tabassum, V. Nikas, B. Ford, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros, S. Gallis: Time-resolved analysis of the white photoluminescence from chemically synthesized SiCxOy thin films and nanowires. Appl. Phys. Lett. 109, 043104 (2016).
• V. Nikas, N. Tabassum, B. Ford, L. Smith, A. E. Kaloyeros, S. Gallis: Strong visible light emission from silicon-oxycarbide nanowire arrays prepared by electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching. J. Mater. Res. 30, 3692 (2015). Invited feature paper
• V. Nikas, S. Gallis, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros, A. P. D. Nguyen, A. Stesmans and V. V. Afanas'ev: The origin of white luminescence from silicon oxycarbide thin films. Appl. Phys. Lett. 104, 061906 (2014).
• Himani Suhag, Vimal K. Kamineni, Richard L. Moore II, Spyros Gallis, Alain C. Diebold, Mengbing Huang, Alain E. Kaloyeros: Optical and structural characterization of oxidation annealing effects on electron beam deposited erbium thin films on silicon. J. Appl. Phys. 111, 013104 (2012).
• Vasileios Nikas, Spyros Gallis, Mengbing Huang and Alain Kaloyeros: Thermal annealing effects on photoluminescence properties of carbon doped silicon-rich oxide thin films implanted with erbium. J. Appl. Phys. 109, 093521 (2011).Spyros Gallis, Vasileios Nikas, Himani Suhag, Mengbing Huang, and Alain E. Kaloyeros: White light emission from amorphous silicon oxycarbide (a-SiCxOy) thin films: Role of composition and post-deposition annealing. Appl. Phys. Lett. 97, 081905 (2010).
• S. Galis, et al.: A 0.039um2 high performance eDRAM cell based on 32nm High-K/Metal SOI Technology. IEEE International Electron Devices 10, 616 (2010).
• S. Gallis, V. Nikas, E. Eisenbraun, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros: On the effects of thermal treatment on the composition, structure, morphology and optical properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon-oxycarbide. J. Mater. Res., 24, 2561, (2009).
• S. Gallis, V. Nikas, H. Suhag, M. Huang and A. Kaloyeros: Strong photoluminescence at 1540 nm from Er-doped amorphous silicon oxycarbide: a novel silicon material for photonic applications. Proc. SPIE 7030, 703004 (2008).
• S. Gallis, M. Huang and A. E. Kaloyeros: Efficient energy transfer from silicon oxycarbide matrix to Er ions via indirect excitation mechanisms. App. Phys. Let. 90, 161914 (2007).
• S. Gallis, V. Nikas, M. Huang, E. Eisenbraun, and A. E. Kaloyeros: Comparative study of the effects of thermal treatment on the optical properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon-oxycarbide. J. Appl. Phys. 102, 024302 (2007).
• S. Gallis, M. Huang, H. Efstathiadis, E. Eisenbraun, E.E. Nyein, U. Hommerich and A.E. Kaloyeros: Photoluminescence in erbium doped amorphous silicon oxycarbide thin films. App. Phys. Let. 87, 091901 (2005).

Book Chapters

• Tabassum N., Kotha M., Kaushik V., Ford B., Dey S., Crawford E., Nikas V., and Gallis S: On-demand CMOS-Compatible Fabrication of Ultrathin Self-Aligned SiC Nanowire Arrays. MDPI, (2018).
  https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-03921-043-5
• Spyros Gallis, Vasileios Nikas and Alain E. Kaloyeros: Silicon Oxycarbide Thin films and Nanostructures: Synthesis, Properties and Applications, Modern Technologies for Creating Thin-film Systems and Coatings. InTech, (2017).
  https://www.intechopen.com/books.

Patents

• Galis S., Barth K. W., Donaton R. A., Petrarca K. S., Siddiqui S.: (2013). Hybrid bonding interface for 3-dimensional chip integration. US8349729 B2, US 13/418716 (2013).

Recent Presentations

• Spyros Gallis. SOLID-STATE SINGLE-IONS FOR TELECOM QUANTUM EMISSION AND SENSING. SUNY – U.S. Department of Defense Directorate Research Meeting (2024). Invited talk
• Spyros Gallis. SGNano Group Overview - Telecom Solid-State Single-Photon Emitters. AIM Photonics Workshop (2022), Invited talk
• Spyros Gallis. Toward Scalable Telecom Single-Photon Emitters for Quantum Photonics. Silicon Carbide (SiC) Materials & Devices Workshop at Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI), (2021). Invited lecture
• Spyros Gallis. Quantum State Generation. Quantum Workshop, Global Center - SUNY, (2020). Invited talk
• Spyros Gallis. Novel Solid State Single-Ions For Quantum Plasmonic Sensing. Million Dollar International Quantum U Tech Accelerator, Innovare Advancement Center (2020). Invited talk/ International Competition 
• Spyros Gallis. Solid-state telecom single-photon emitters. Quantum Workshop: Distributed Quantum Systems Enhanced by Materials Design. University at Buffalo, (2019). Invited talk
• Spyros Gallis: Scalable Nanophotonic Structures for Long-Distance Quantum Communications. Quantum Information Science 1st International Workshop at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), (2019). Invited presentation
• Spyros Gallis: On-Demand CMOS-Compatible Fabrication of Ultrathin Self-Aligned SiC Nanowire Arrays for Quantum Photonics at Telecom Wavelengths.  Silicon Carbide (SiC) Materials & Devices Workshop at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), (2018). Invited talk
• N. Tabassum, V. Nikas, B. Ford, and S. Gallis: Tailoring Rare-Earth Ion Positioning and Emission through Self-aligned SiC:O Photonic Crystal Nanostructures. MRS Fall Meeting (2017)
• N. Tabassum, V. Nikas, B. Ford, E. Crawford, M. Huang, and S. Gallis: Investigation of the Structural and Optical Behavior of Self-Aligned SiC:Er3+ NWs for Quantum Technologies. MRS Spring Meeting (2017)
• Spyros Gallis: Material Behaviors of Self-aligned Silicon-Carbide Nanowire Arrays Doped with Erbium Towards Quantum Applications. 48th Silicon Symposium (2017). Invited talk
• N. Tabassum, V. Nikas, B. Ford, S. Gallis: Realization of Self-Aligned Erbium-Doped Silicon-Carbide Nanowires towards Quantum Technologies. AVS Hudson Mohawk Chapter Fall Meeting (2016). Awarded as best graduate presentation
• Spyros Gallis: Functional Nanomaterials and Devices for Electronics, Sensors, Energy Harvesting. NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Lviv, Ukraine (2015). Keynote speaker – Invited talk
• V. Nikas, B. Ford, N. Tabassum, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros, and S. Gallis: Strong white-light emission from silicon-oxycarbide nanowire systems prepared by electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching. MRS Spring Meeting (2015).
• V. Nikas, N. Tabassum, B. Ford, M. Huang, A. E. Kaloyeros and S. Gallis: On the effects of hybrid thermal passivation treatments on the structural and photoluminescence properties of silicon-oxycarbide (SiCxOy) thin films. MRS Spring Meeting (2015).