Pioneering Piezoelectric: Karla Del Cid-Ledezma’s Research Shaping the Future of Semiconductors
By Francesca Rameau, Written Communications Assistant
MSE graduate student Karla Del Cid-Ledezma conducts research on nano volumetric resolution of ferroelectric and mechanical properties in Professor Huey’s research group.
When Karla Del Cid-Ledezma embarked on her journey into graduate studies at UConn, she steered towards materials science and engineering, diverging from her undergraduate path in nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She credits her undergraduate research for sparking her profound passion for materials. “I really enjoyed the plasma-material interaction research that I learned from my undergrad,” Del Cid-Ledezma reflected, “and decided that I wanted to explore the material side for my graduate degree.”
When inquired about her decision to attend UConn, Del Cid-Ledezma remarked, “UConn is known for its strong academic reputation, and the MSE program is well-regarded. The research that the MSE program offered was extensive and interesting to me… I really enjoyed the opportunity to look at different research opportunities the MSE program had to offer.”
Del Cid-Ledezma’s current advisor is Professor Bryan Huey, whom she deeply admires and greatly respects. “My main advisor, mentor, and cheerleader is Professor Huey. He has been extremely influential and supportive in everything I do.” She also voiced her gratitude and acknowledgment towards all faculty members in the MSE program. “The faculty is welcoming and supportive of the students in the program.”
Currently, Del Cid-Ledezma is working in research related to nano volumetric resolution of ferroelectric and mechanical properties. To simplify, “Essentially, I am looking at materials known as piezoelectrics. These materials exhibit a mechanical response when an electric bias is applied to them, and we can capture that response at the nanoscale through an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Using the AFM, I can even dig into these materials, allowing me to uncover properties beneath the surface. After we do this over and over, we can recreate full 3D profiles of those properties. Much like how archeologists dig to investigate the past, I dig to look to the future of technology at the nanoscale.” Del Cid-Ledezma hopes that her research can shed light into how the behavior changes for certain materials as they decrease in size—which future devices always demand.
PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate) milled area. The illuminated area is the area that has been milled down with an AFM tip and the surrounding area has been untouched. Typical digs can go to depths of 100-200 nm with a 5 by 5 um area. This is the piezoresponse of the material.
When asked about the real-world significance of her work, Del Cid-Ledezma emphasized, “These materials play a crucial role in the future of semiconductors and logic technology. Their impact can be seen in practical applications like flash memory and semiconductor technology, which become increasingly powerful, efficient, and compact, all while increasing their capacities. Being able to study that in 3D, like we do in our labs, is indispensable for shaping the future of these devices.”
Expanding on her dedication to making a real-world impact through her research, Del Cid-Ledezma participated in a nine-month internship with Applied Materials. Through this experience, she collaborated with industry professionals growing her skills in problem-solving while delivering efficient and comprehensible solutions. Del Cid-Ledezma expressed her gratitude towards this opportunity highlighting the personal and professional growth it facilitated. She stated, “My internship at Applied Materials was an amazing experience. I became a more efficient and confident engineer during my nine months as a process engineer R&D intern at the Gloucester, Massachusetts site. It was a different experience than what I had been used to in academia. I made incredible connections there, and I always felt like I was part of the team.” Additionally, she felt that this opportunity bolstered her confidence as an engineer since she could see in her work and the appreciation from her team members that her contributions were valuable.
Beyond academics, up until the Spring 2023 semester, Del Cid-Ledezma was actively involved in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), where she co-founded and served as the vice president of the UConn Graduate Chapter. The main goal of the organization is to provide an opportunity for Latinx and Hispanic graduate students to connect with one another and establish a strong sense of community. “It was an amazing experience to create a community for my fellow Latinx/Hispanic graduate peers,” declared Del Cid-Ledezma when reflecting on her involvement in the organization, “I believe it is important to be proud of who you are and to be supported for being authentically you.”
Del Cid-Ledezma’s academic accomplishments have been highlighted by a series of accolades and achievements. In 2022, she was honored by the Advancements’ category at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Conference, and then was recognized in the Basic Research Art of Science Showcase in 2023. Del Cid-Ledezma has also been awarded several pre-doctoral fellowships from UConn. She co-authored a paper titled “Defeating depolarizing fields with artificial flux closure in ultrathin ferroelectrics” published in Nature Materials, one of the highest impact factor journals in the field, and has several other papers in the pipeline awaiting publication.
Her advisor, Professor Bryan Huey, also points out that Karla has helped to run the AFM lab for several years. “She’s learned so many skills, contributed to so many academic and industrial projects, and served as a leader in so many student organizations—it’s no wonder that Applied Materials has hired her into a special technical leadership program for as soon as she graduates.”
Adding to her academic pursuits and fluency in both English and Spanish, here’s a fun fact about Del Cid-Ledezma: she nurtures a passion for spelling bees. She showcased her talent at a young age by competing at the State level, representing her hometown in the Spanish Spelling Bee during her 6th-grade year.
When asked about any advice for students aspiring to pursue a career in MSE or study MSE, Del Cid-Ledezma offers the following guidance, “Take the time to explore various aspects of MSE to identify specific areas that genuinely interest you. Stay flexible and open-minded, be willing to adapt to change, and embrace a learning and growth mindset throughout your academic and professional journey. Take advantage of the resources available to you, seek guidance from mentors, and approach your academic and career path with enthusiasm and curiosity. Most importantly, if you need help always seek it out, help is available at UConn whether it is academic or personal.”
Published: February 28, 2024
Categories: ferroelectric, graduate students, nano, news, research
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