Advancing the Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing
Our mission is technical education and outreach to our local community. Our interests center on the development and analysis of surfaces, thin films and nanomaterials. We strive to have activities year round and bring state-of-the-art information to you. We typically host three casual chapter meetings per year. In the recent past we have gathered at a local restaurant for comraderie and featured a technical speaker followed by discussion. In the fall we host a larger symposium with invited speakers, a vendor exhibit, and a poster session. Traditionally in the spring we host day long short courses on topics like Basic Vacuum Technology, Thin Film Deposition, and Leak Detection. With funds that we raise we are able to sponsor a high school science teacher to attend the Science Educator’s Workshop at the AVS International Symposium. We are also able to sponsor a poster prize for a student to travel to the AVS International Symposium. Please browse our website for further details and historical information.
If you would like to receive communications on upcoming MN AVS activities, you can do either of the following:
- Join AVS (www.avs.org). If you reside in Minnesota or Western Wisconsin your email should automatically be added to our distribution list.
- Join MN-AVS LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1766427/)
AVS members and non-members are welcome to all activities.
Contact
Please contact us directly if you have any questions or suggestions: mnavs@avs.org
Donate
Your donation will help in AVS Minnesota Chapter's many activities including organizing the annual symposiums and supporting students and K-12 educators to attend the AVS national meetings and workshops.
Officers
Chair
Ali Rafati
E-mail: ali_rafati @ avs.org
Treasurer
Jeff Fenton
E-mail: jeff_fenton @ avs.org
Secretary
Bill Theilacker
E-mail: bill_theilacker @ avs.org
Past Chair
Kateryna Artyushkova
E-mail: kateryna_artyushkova @ avs.org
Executive Committee
Seth King
E-mail: seth_king @ avs.org
Ashley Maloney
E-mail: ashley_maloney @ avs.org
Sarah Zaccarine
E-mail: sarah_zaccarine @ avs.org
September 15, 2021 - AVS MN Chapter Annual Symposium
Sponsored in part by Physical Electronics, Medtronic, Eurofins, and EAG Laboratories
Title: "Vacuum - the Enabling Science and Technology"
Invited Speakers:
- Wan-Ju Hsu, University of Minnesota, "Vapor-Processing of Metal Halide Perovskite Thin Films and Solar Cells”
- John Keil, University of Minnesota, “Bilayer Luminescent Solar Concentrators with Enhanced Absorption and Efficiency for Agrivoltaic Applications”
- Clara O. Ciutara, University of Minnesota, “Characterizing Langmuir monolayer elasticity: Amaterials science approach to treating acute respiratory distress syndrome”
- Maya Ramamurthy, University of Minnesota, “Selective Placement of Nano crystals in Plasmonic Arrays for Tailored Directionality and Polarization of Photoluminescence”
- Rachael G. Farber, "Leadership, Development, and Career Opportunities for AVS Student and Early Career Professional Members.
December 8, 2020 - Lunchtime Seminar
Speaker: Dr. Carol Hirschmugl
Title: “Introducing Solid Carbon Monoxide: A 2D Material with Unique Physical and Electronic Properties”
January 22, 2020 - Dinner & Discussion Meeting
Speaker: Sally L. McArthur
Title: “Creating Toolboxes for 4D Cell Culture Systems”
October 16, 2018 - Dinner & Discussion Meeting
Speaker: Dr. Karyn L. Jarvis
Title: “Investigating the influence of substrate cleaning on the solution stability of plasma polymer films”
September 19, 2018 - AVS MN Chapter Annual Symposium
Sponsored in part by Physical Electronics, Medtronic, 3M, and EAG Laboratories
Title: "At the Intersection of Nature and the Laboratory"
Invited Speakers:
- Ashley Ellsworth, Physical Electronics, "Characterization of Natural Photonic Crystals in Glitterwing (Chalcopteryx rutilans) Damselfly Wings using 3D TOF-SIMS and XPS"
- Chris Leighton, University of Minnesota, "Can We Make Solar Cells from Fool's Gold?"
- Liang Gong, 3M, "AFM-IR Studies of Individual Electrospun Nanofibers of Bio-based Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate- co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate] (PHBHx)"
- Sue Okerstrom, Lichen Labs LLC, "Biomimetic Materials Research from A to Zebra"
- Bethanie Stadler, University of Minnesota, "Magnetic Nanowires as RFID tags for Biomarkers"
- William Murphy, University of Wisconsin, "Customized Medical Devices for Musculoskeletal Regeneration"
March 6, 2018 - Minnesota Technical Symposium (MinnTS) at Ecolab's campus in Eagan, MN.
Title: "Autonomous vehicle solutions. How will driverless buses fare on Minnesota's snowy roads? Learn about how MnDOT and artificial intelligence researchers are preparing for the future of transportation."
Event Flyer: Annual Minnesota Technical Symposium
September 26, 2017 - AVS MN Chapter Annual Symposium
Sponsored in part by Medtronic and Physical Electronics
Title: "Ideation to Production."
Invited Speakers:
- Xiao-Ying Yu, Pacific Northwest National Lab, ”In Situ Molecular Imaging of Biointerfaces”
- Jeong-Hyun Cho, University of Minnesota, "Self-assembled 3D Micro/Nano devices."
- Kateryna Artyushkova, University of New Mexico, "X-ray Photoeletron Spectroscopy of Electrodes in Fuel Cells: Role of Surface Chemistry in Successful Industrial Applications."
- Eliot Estrine, Seagate/University of Minnesota
- Ross Miller, Agnitron Technology, "MOCVD Growth and Equipment Trends Driven by Next Generation Power Electronic Devices."
- Craig Schmidt, Medtronic Energy and Component Center, "Batteries for Implantable Medical Devices: A Perspective on Challenges/Opportunities and Competing Technologies."
May 10, 2017 - Dinner & Discussion Meeting
Speaker: Kathryn A. Perrine
Title: “Designing and understanding the surface chemistry of metal oxide materials relevant to catalysis and environmental science”
April 27, 2017 - AVS UMN Student Chapter Networking Event
March 30, 2017 - Dinner and Discussion Event
Speakers: John G. Newman, Gregory L. Fisher, John S. Hammond, Scott R. Bryan, John F. Moulder, Jennifer E. Mann, Benjamin W. Schmidt, David M. Carr, Dennis F. Paul
Title: “Surface Analysis Techniques – Hope Springs Eternal”
February 17, 2016 - Dinner and Discussion Event, Speakers: Alan K. Jarmusch, Valentina Pirro, R. Graham Cooks, Purdue University
Title: “Mass Spectrometry Imaging using Laser Ablation: From Ultrashort Pulses to Portable Instruments."
Abstract | Presentation
December 7, 2015 - Dinner and Discussion Event, Speaker: Luke Hanley, University of Illinois
Title: “Mass Spectrometry Imaging using Laser Ablation: From Ultrashort Pulses to Portable Instruments."
Abstract
October 1, 2015 - Dinner and Discussion Event, Speaker: Tyler Moersch, Tru Vue
Title: “Exploring materials through combinatorial science: Case studies on how chemistry influences the formation of thin films via atomic layer deposition and chemical vapor deposition."
September 9, 2015 - AVS MN Chapter Annual Symposium and Exhibition.
2015 Abstract Booklet
Invited Speakers:
- Morgan Alexander, University of Nottingham, “Biomaterials discovery using material microarrays: from polymer spots to devices via surface analysis”
- Alex Shard, National Physical Laboratory, “Measuring organic shrubbery on surfaces and nanoparticles”
- Fred LaPlant, 3M, “The Neglected Vacuum – techniques that need vacuum but don’t always get it”
- Peter Ladwig, Hutchinson Technology, Inc., “Miniaturization of electromechanical medical devices using semi-additive photolithographic fabrication technologies”
- Bharat Jalan, University of Minnesota, “Hybrid molecular beam epitaxy for functional oxide thin films and heterostructures”
- Michael Kautzky, Seagate Technology, “Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR): fundamentals, reliability, and the path to productization”
October 23, 2014 - Dinner and Discussion Event, Speaker : Bernie Grung, Normandale Community College
Title: “An Introduction to Micro Electro Mechanical Systems-MEMS”
September 18, 2014 - AVS MN Chapter Annual Symposium
Sponsored in part by Medtronic and Physical Electronics
2014 Abstract Booklet
Invited Speakers:
- Klaus Wormuth, University of Minnesota,” Surface Characterization of Drug Delivery Systems”
- Greg Fisher, Physical Electronics, “TOF-SIMS Characterization of Biological Systems”
- Wayne Jennings, Case Western Reserve University, “PdSn Nanoparticle Characterization by Auger and TOF-SIMS”
- Russ Holmes, University of Minnesota, ” Recent Advances in OLED Films”
- Angus Rockett, Univeristy of Illinois @ Urbana Champaign, “Surface Analysis of Chalcopyrite Semiconductors for Photovoltaic Applications”
- Mark Breyen, Medtronic, ” Materials Needs in the Medical Device Industry”
August 23, 2014 - Summer Social Outing Event, Lawn bowling and dinner
May 29, 2014 - Dinner and Discussion Event, Speaker : Amir Masoud Soleimanpour, Tru Vue
Title: “State of the Art - Nanocrystalline Metal Oxide Gas Sensors”
March 27, 2014 - Event: MinnTS : 12th Annual Minnesota Technical Symposium
Coordinated by 13 local technical societies
Invited Speakers:
- “From Stool Transplants to Microbiota, Novel Theraputics”, Dr.Alexander Khoruts, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota
- “New Diagnostics for Traumatic Brain Injury”, Dr.Donald Dengel, School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota
February 13, 2014 - Dinner and Discussion Event, Speaker : Ali Rafati, 3M
Title: “Characterization of Challenging Spherical Surfaces”
The Minnesota Joint Chapter, comprising Minnesota and the Dakotas, was approved by the AVS Board following a request in 1969 by T.E. Hutchinson for the formation of a joint chapter of the Surface Science and Thin Film Divisions; a group of 80 had attended a meeting in April that year.
With the new AVS organizational structure in 1971, the Minnesota RAG covered the area of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The Minnesota Chapter was the only one in this RAG.
When the Wisconsin Chapter was dissolved in 2000, some members were transferred to the Minnesota Chapter.
Information on the Chapter and events are available on the Chapter’s web page on the AVS web site.
The Chapter Chairs were:
| 1969 | T.E. Hutchinson |
| 1970 | T.E. Hutchinson |
| 1971 | Gottfried K Wehner |
| 1972 | Lanny D Schmidt |
| 1973 | Paul W Palmberg |
| 1974 | James T McKinney |
| 1975 | David P Smith |
| 1976 | David P Smith |
| 1977 | Richard E Ericson |
| 1978 | Collin H Alexander |
| 1979 | Claire Hovland |
| 1980 | John R Arthur |
| 1981 | Philip I Cohen |
| 1982 | Mark K Debe |
| 1983 | Thomas J Moravec |
| 1984 | Gregory L Griffin |
| 1985 | Gregory L Griffin |
| 1986 | David G Wekie |
| 1987 | Katherine L Smith |
| 1988 | Donald J McClure |
| 1989 | Ganapathy K T Swami |
| 1990 | Paul Lindfors |
| 1991 | Gordon Jorgenson |
| 1992 | Greg D Halvorson |
| 1993 | John Evans |
| 1994 | Raul A Caretta |
| 1995 | Raul A Caretta |
| 1996 | Fred W Abrahamson |
| 1997 | Fred W Abrahamson |
| 1998 | Del L Smith |
| 1999 | Del L Smith |
| 2000 | James Schuetz |
| 2001 | James Schuetz |
| 2002 | Pamela K Gobran |
| 2003 | Pamela K Gobran |
| 2004 | Gary Korba |
| 2005 | Gary Korba |
| 2006 | Dave Carr |
| 2007 | Dave Carr |
| 2008 | Kent Maffitt |
| 2009 | Rajesh Radhakrishnan |
| 2010 | Rajesh Radhakrishnan |
| 2011 | Jim Burkstrand and Larry Davis |
| 2012 | Jim Burkstrand and Larry Davis |
| 2013 | Scott Bryan |
| 2014 | Anna Belu |
| 2015 | Bill Theilacker |
| 2016 | Ali Rafati |
| 2017 | Jeff Fenton |
| 2018 | Ben Schmidt |
| 2019 | Sachin Attavar |
| 2020 | Seth King |
| 2021 | Kateryna Artyushokova |
| 2022 | Kateryna Artyushokova |
AVS Minnesota Chapter History
By Del Smith
The Minnesota Chapter of the AVS was founded in 1969. Although sometimes referred to as fly-over-land, Minnesota has been an active center of science and industry for many years. Organizations represented by some of the early members of the chapter included 3M, Honeywell, Physical Electronics, Control Data, Sperry Univac, the University of Minnesota and Mankato State College (now Minnesota State University at Mankato).
The charter meeting of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Vacuum Society was held on Monday, May 12, 1969 in St. Paul, MN. Between 15 and 20 people were in attendance. T.E. Hutchinson was nominated for President, G.K. Wehner for Vice-President, and David Smith for Secretary-Treasurer. All were elected by a unanimous vote. After a discussion of options, it was voted on and approved to call the new affiliate the Minnesota Section of the AVS.
The first regular meeting of the chapter was held on March 4, 1970 in St. Paul. The second meeting, in November of 1970, was held in conjunction with the Electron Microscope Society of America. This meeting included an invited talk by Professor T. E. Everhart of the University of California entitled “Electron Interactions at Surfaces as Related to Applications in Scanning Electron Microscopy”. Minnesotan’s interest in surface science was demonstrated by an attendance of nearly 40 people.
The Chapter received initial financial support from the National office to get started but soon became self-supporting, primarily by sponsoring classes. The earliest record of hotel costs for a meeting is for a March, 1971 meeting for which the hotel cost was $29.76.
The Chapter has grown through the years and has had several members take leadership roles at the national level. Surface analysis has always been a significant interest of many chapter members, but several other vacuum applications have been, and are, represented in the membership. Semiconductor manufacturing, optical and other coatings, magnetic recording heads, capital equipment manufacturing, and applications of vacuum technology in manufacturing processes are all important in the region served by the Minnesota Chapter of the AVS.
Past Events
On January,13, 1971, the Chapter co-sponsored a meeting on “Metrication-How Soon?” at the Univ of Minnesota; there were 126 participants. The first regular Chapter meeting was held on May 20; Maurice Francombe gave a talk on “New developments in Epitaxial Films for devices”.
A 2-day “mini-course” on Vacuum technology” was held at the Midway Motor Inn, St. Paul October 5-6, 1978; the instructor was Robert M Anderson, jr., from Purdue University. After discussion with Collin Alexander, Jon Fehr, of the 3M company, sent a letter to the instructor in August with a suggestion of the course content which was: Fundamental Theory, Vacuum pumps, Cryogenic pumping, Pressure measurement, Mass Spectrometer, vacuum leak detection, System Operation, System and Component Fabrication, Vacuum System Design Concepts and uses of vacuum equipment. The class was composed of 20 people from 3M, 3 from Honeywell and 1 from Physical Electronics. The revenue from the course was $3,000 and the expenses $1,600.16. The Chapter received an allocation of $320 from AVS and another $25 for a Science Fair prize, which was half of the value of the prize which the Chapter awarded.
A dinner and joint meeting with the Optical Society of America was held on October 5, 1978; J.A. Dobrowolski of the National research Council of Canada gave a talk on “Optical Multilayer Thin Films, Their fabrication and Applications. The expense of this meeting was $147.88; the expense for a spring meeting that year had been$134.50. The Chapter reserve increased from $425.15 on January 1, 1978 to $1,835.80 on December 31, 1978, due to the net revenue from the mini-course.
A 1-day symposium on “Thin Films for Solar Energy Conversion” was held on April 1, 1980 at the Thunderbird Motel, Bloomington; talks were given by Larry Kazmerski, Ovshinsky, and Fred Wehner.
Bill Westwood recalls teaching a course on Sputter Deposition at the Thunderbird Motel, with Fred Wehner, the “father of sputtering” as a student sitting in the front row! John Arthur, who was then at Physical Electronics, was also in the class!
On May 25, 1983, a symposium was held at the Radisson South, Minneapolis on “Organics in the Future of Surface Science”. Courses were given on “Vacuum Technology” (3 days), “Surface Analysis; Electron and other emerging spectroscopies” (2 days), “Ion Spectroscopies” (1 day), “Technology of Surface Preparation” (1 day), “Vacuum deposition technologies” (1 day), “Characterization of Films and Coatings”(1 day). Three travel scholarships of $500 were awarded to students to attend the National Symposium in Boston.
In 1984, four awards of up to $500 were given for travel to the National Symposium in Reno.
1985
April 29-May 3: TRISA 85 (Tri-state Symposium and Exhibition on “Surface Analysis and Thin Film Technology” at the Olympia resort, Oconomowoc, WI was co-sponsored by the Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin Chapters. An AVS course program was held but was very poorly attended.
A large number of courses (up to 22) were offered April 9-13, 1990 at the Sofitel Hotel, Bloomington. Since then, a number of the National courses have been given at the Sofitel each year. In 1991, they were held June 10-14; in 1993, June 7-10, in 1994, May 2-6.
The annual meeting of the Chapter was held on February 6, 1991 at the Univ of Minnesota.
On May 8, 1996 an Equipment exhibit was held at the Sofitel Hotel and National courses were given 6-10 May.
On May 14, 1997 an Equipment exhibit was held at the Sofitel Hotel and National courses were given 12-16 May.
On June 3, 1998 an Equipment exhibit was held at the Sofitel Hotel and National courses were given June 1-5. These courses were so well attended that eight courses were given November 16-19.
On May 5, 1999 an Equipment exhibit, and poster papers was held at the Sofitel Hotel; in the evening, Joe Greene gave a talk on modelling of film growth, as part of the Distinguished Lecturer Series. National courses were given 3-7 May.
National courses were given 8-12 May, 2000 at the Sofitel Hotel.
National courses were given 7-11 May, 2001 at the Sofitel Hotel.
National courses were given 10-14 May, 2002 at the Sofitel Hotel.
A Spring joint meeting with the Minnesota Microscopy Society (MMS), the American Society for Metals (ASM) and SEMI-MN was hosted by the Medtronics Corp; over 150 people attended. National courses were given 19-23 May, 2003 at the Sofitel Hotel. The AVS Board met on the Sunday, 18 May, preceding the courses.
The AVS MN chapter would like to appreciate our sponsors for supporting our local events.
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Your donation will help in AVS Minnesota Chapter's many activities including organizing the annual symposiums and supporting students and K-12 educators to attend the AVS national meetings and workshops.