Aaron D. Franklin

Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Aaron Franklin received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 2008 and then spent six years on the research staff at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, NY.  His work at IBM focused on low-dimensional nanoelectronics with specific emphasis on carbon nanotube (CNT) transistors, including device scaling, transport studies, and diverse integration approaches.  While at IBM, Dr. Franklin was awarded an Outstanding Technical Achievement recognition for his work on nanoscale CNT transistors. He was also involved in many other projects with applications including photovoltaics, thin-film transistors, and supercapacitors.  Dr. Franklin joined the Duke faculty in 2014.

Research in the Franklin group is focused on improving the performance and functionality of nanomaterial-enabled electronic devices.  This includes high-performance devices from low-dimensional materials, such as 2D semiconductors, 1D carbon nanotubes, and nanowires. Also included is the low-cost realm of printed electronics, which benefits from the incorporation of nanomaterials to enhance electrical transport over large printed features, along with other application-specific advantages. The primary drive of the Franklin group's research is to improve performance of, and expand applications for, electronic devices, including those with more custom form factors and/or functionality (e.g., flexibility, transparency, biocompatibility, recyclability).  A growing thrust in the lab is the application of ultrasensitive, inexpensively processed nanomaterials to electronic biosensing applications.  There is an increasing variety of new electronics applications that nanomaterials are uniquely capable of enabling -- the Franklin group works to make such applications possible.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Associate Dean for Doctoral Education in the Pratt School of Engineering
  • Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
  • Professor of Chemistry

Contact Information

  • Office Location: 3473 Fitzpatrick CIEMAS, Durham, NC 27708
  • Office Phone: (919) 681-9471
  • Email Address: aaron.franklin@duke.edu
  • Websites:

Education

  • B.S.E. Arizona State University, 2004
  • Ph.D. Purdue University, 2008

Research Interests

Nanomaterials in electronic devices, nanofabrication, printed electronics and internet of things (IoT), biosensing

Courses Taught

  • CHEM 611: Foundations of Nanoscale Science and Technology
  • ECE 230L9: Introduction to Microelectronic Devices and Circuits-Lab
  • ECE 230L: Introduction to Microelectronic Devices and Circuits
  • ECE 291: Projects in Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • ECE 391: Projects in Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • ECE 392: Projects in Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • ECE 493: Projects in Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • ECE 494: Projects in Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • ECE 511: Foundations of Nanoscale Science and Technology
  • ECE 512: Emerging Nanoelectronic Devices
  • ECE 891: Internship
  • ECE 899: Special Readings in Electrical Engineering
  • EGR 393: Research Projects in Engineering
  • EGR 790: Special Topics in Engineering
  • NANOSCI 511: Foundations of Nanoscale Science and Technology

In the News