Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Alan Constant

Lecturer
Iowa State University
Materials Science and Engineering
2220T Hoover Hall
Ames, IA 50011-3025
Phone: 515-294-3070
Fax: 515-294-5444
alcon@iastate.edu

Education

  • Northwestern University, Evanston, IL Ph.D. 1987, Materials Science & Engineering
  • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY B.S. 1981, Materials Science & Engineering

Academic Experience

  • Lecturer 2004 to present. Assistant Professor, Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Jan. 2002-2004.
  • Senior Engineer, Micron Technologies, Boise Idaho, 2001-2002.
  • Assistant Professor, Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State University, 1998-2001.
  • Associate Scientist, Materials Research Center, Institute for Physical Research & Technology, Iowa State University, 1992-1998.
  • Senior Process Development Engineer, Advanced Semiconductor Development Group, Digital Equipment Corporation, Hudson, MA, 1988-1992.
  • Graduate Assistant, Materials Science and Engineering Department, Northwestern University, 1981-1987

Research Interests

  • Dr. Constant's research interests Pulsed Laser Deposition of thin film materials. Area of current interest - wear resistant coatings.

Research Description

  • AlMgB14 thin film coatings

Grants and Contracts

    Teaching

    • MSE 331 Fall,
    • MSE 272 Fall and Spring,
    • MSE 273X Spring,
    • MSE 424 Spring

    Publications

    • Y. Tian, G. Li, N.L. Wang, B.A. Cook, A. P. Constant, and A. M. Russell, Anomolous electrical transport behaviors in amorphous AlMgB14 films, Applied Physics Letters (Accepted for publication) 2003.
    • M. R. Wills, R. Shinar, and A. P. Constant, Metastable Ge,C films by Reactive Pulsed Laser Deposition, J. Appl. Phys. (submitted July 2003)
    • Y. Tian, A. F. Bastawros A. Constant, C. C. H. Lo, J. W. Anderegg, A. M. Russell, Superhard, self-lubricating AlMgB14 films for microelectromachanical devices, Applied Physics Letters, vol 84 (14), Oct. 2003
    • Y. Tian, A. Constant, C. C. H. Lo, J. W. Anderegg, A. M. Russell, J. E. Snyder, P. Molian Microstructure Evolution of Al-Mg-B Thin Films by Thermal Annealing, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A, 21(4), July 2003.
    • M. R. Wills, R. Shinar, and A. P. Constant, Reactive Pulsed Laser Deposition of Microcrystalline Ge-based Thin Films, MRC Proceedings, April 2003.
    • N. Wong, K. Ulmer, J. Snyder, A. Constant, Large Magnetic Moments in the Fe-N System?, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A, 2003.
    • H. Kavak, H. Shanks, C. Gruber, A. Constant and A. Landin, Amorf Silisyuum Ince Film Transistorlerin Karakterizayonu ve Modellemes Turkish Journal of Physics, 2000
    • H. Kavak, R. Esen, H. Shanks, C. Gruber, A. Landin and A. Constant, PECVD Teknigi ile Uretilmis, aSiNX:H Ince Filmlerin Optik Karakterizasyonu Turkish Journal of Physics, 2000
    • Hamide Kavak, Carl Gruber, Howard Shanks, Allen Landin, Alan Constant, and Stanley Burns, Thin Film Transistors on Polyimide Substrates, J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 266-269 (2000) 1325-1428.
    • Mohanavelu, R., Cann, D.P. and Constant, A.,. "Synthesis of New Pyrochlore Compounds for Transparent Conductor Applications,: Proc. 9th US-Japan Seminar on Dielectric and Piezoelectric Ceramics, Okinawa, Japan, (1999) 273.
    • H. Niska, AlliedSignal Corp, Phoenix AZ, A. P. Constant, T. Witt, Iowa State University, Ames IA, & O. Gregory Univ. Rhode Island, Kingston RI , Chemical Vapor Deposition Of Alpha Aluminum Oxide for High-Temperature Aerospace Sensors, Amer. Vac. Soc. 1999.
    • Constant, T. Witt, K. Bratland, H. Shanks, A. Landin, Thin Film Transistors Based on Microcrystalline Silicon on Polyimide Substrates MRC Proceedings, April 1999.
    • S. G. Burns, H. R. Shanks, A. P. Constant, C. Gruber, D. Schmidt, A. Landin, and F. Olympie, "Design And Fabrication Of High Current Switching TFTs On Flexible Polyimide Substrates", The Electrochemical Society 3d Symposium on TFTs, Y.Kuo ed. 1996
    • H. R. Shanks, S. G. Burns, A. Constant, D. Schmidt, A. Landin, C. Gruber, Hamide Kavak, and Richard Swisher, "Recent Advances In The Use Of Polyimide As A Substrate Material For Ultra-Thin Electronics", The Seventh Meeting of THE DUPONT SYMPOSIUM On Polyimides in Microelectronics, 16-18 September 1996, Wilmington, Delaware. Invited Paper. (Proceedings)
    • Constant, S. G. Burns, H. R. Shanks, C. Gruber, A. Landin, D. Schmidt, C. Thielen, F. Olympie, T. Schumacher, and J. Cobbs, "Development of Thin Film Transistor Based Circuits on Polyimide Substrates", The Electrochemical Society 186th. Meeting, October 9-14, 1994, Miami, Florida. (Proceedings)
    • G. Burns, H. R. Shanks, A. Constant, C. Gruber, D. Schmidt, A. Landin, C. Thielen, F. Olympie, T. Schumacher, and J. Cobbs, "Design and Fabrication of a-Si:H Based EEPROM Cells", The Electrochemical Society 186th. Meeting, October 9-14, 1994, Miami, Florida.
    • S.G. Burns, H. Shanks, A. Constant, C. Gruber, D. Schmidt, A. Landin, F. Olympie, Iowa State University and S. Riggio, Florida Atlantic University, Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Transistor-Based Circuit Development for use in Large Memories, (ARPA TFT Display Technology Proceedings, 1993).
    • T.E. Clark, A.P. Constant, Digital Equipment Corporation, and M. Chang and C. Leung, Applied Materials Corporation, High-Pressure Blanket CVD Tungsten, Microelectronics Manufacturing and Testing, 35-37, May 1990.
    • T.E. Clark, A.P. Constant, Digital Equipment Corporation, and M. Chang and C. Leung, Applied Materials Corporation, High-Pressure Blanket CVD Tungsten, Tungsten and Other Advanced Metals for VLSI/ULSI Applications V, S. Simon Wong and S. Furikawa (ed.), Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA, 167-178 (1989).
    • A.P. Constant and B.W. Wessels, Radiative Defects in Electron Irradiated InP, Defects in Semiconductors, H.J. vonBardeleben (ed.), Materials Science Forum, Trans. Tech. Pub. Ltd., Switzerland, 10-12, 1027-1032 (1986).
    • Constant, B.W. Wessels, Deep Level Defects in InP, Northwestern University, Elec. Mat. Conference, Univ. Mass., 1985? (Presentation, proceedings paper too?)
    • S.W. Sun, A.P. Constant, C.D. Adams and B.W. Wessels, Defect Centers in High Purity Hydride VPE Indium Phosphide, J. of Cryst. Growth, 64, 149-157 (1983).

    Presentations

    • M. R. Wills, R. Shinar, and A. P. Constant, Metastable Ge,C films by Reactive Pulsed Laser Deposition, J. Appl. Phys. ICAMS 2003
    • M. R. Wills, R. Shinar, and A. P. Constant, Reactive Pulsed Laser Deposition of Microcrystalline Ge-based Thin Films, MRC April 2003
    • N. Wang, K. M. Ulmer, A. P. Constant, J. W. Anderegg, and J. E. Snyder, "Phase formation and magnetic properties of Fe-N thin films deposited by reactive pulsed laser deposition", accepted for presentation at the American Physical Society 2003 March Meeting, Austin TX, March 2-7, 2003.
    • A. P. Constant, N. Wang, K. Ulmer, J. E. Snyder, Giant Magnetic Moments in the Fe-N System? , Microelectronics Research Center Seminar, May 21, 2002.
    • Jane Clayton, Alan Constant, David Cann , Synthesis of AgInO2 delafossite by Cation Exchange. Poster presentation at ,ACerS ,April 2001.
    • Jane Clayton, Alan Constant, and David Cann, IMAPS, AgInO2: Synthesis and Electronic Properties Presentation given October 9, 2001.
    • A. P. Constant, T. Witt, K. Bratland, H. Shanks, A. Landin, Thin Film Transistors Based on Microcrystalline Silicon on Polyimide Substrates MRC Proceedings, April 1999. (poster)
    • Kurt Ulmer, Thin Film Nitrides by Reactive PLD, Iowa Academy of Sciences, April 27, 2000 (student)
    • Jane Clayton, Spinels -Transparent Conducting Oxides, Iowa Academy of Sciences, April 27, 2000 (student)
    • Ravi Mohanavelu, Pyrochlores -Transparent Conducting Oxides, Iowa Academy of Sciences, April 27, 2000 (student)
    • Jane Clayton, Spinels -Transparent Conducting Oxides, American Ceramics Society, May 3, 2000 (student)
    • Ravi Mohanavelu, Pyrochlores -Transparent Conducting Oxides, American Ceramics Society, May 3, 2000 (student)
    • Constant, B.W. Wessels, Deep Level Defects in InP, Northwestern University, TMS Electronic Materials Conference, Univ. Mass., 1984 (presentation)
    • Constant, B.W. Wessels, Irradiation Induced Deep Level Defects in InP, Northwestern University, TMS Electronic Materials Conference, Santa Barbara CA, 1987 (presentation)

    Patents

    • Patent Disclosure; Y. Tian et al. An Ultra-hard, Low friction Coating Based on AlMgB14 for Reduced Wear of MEMS and other Tribological Components and Systems 2003
    • Flowable Oxides Based on Alkoxysilane Precursors Micron Tech. Disclosure, 2002
    • Method of Making Amorphous Silicon on Insulator VLSI Circuit Structures with Floating Gate - Awarded 2000, US Patent # 6,017,794
    • Dielectric for Amorphous Silicon Transistors - Awarded 1999, US Patent # 5,856,690
    • Amorphous Silicon on Insulator VLSI Circuit Structures - Awarded 1998, US Patent # 5,742,075

    Honors and Awards

    • MSE Excellence in Teaching Award, 2006

    Graduate Students

    • Jianhua Zhu, Ph.D, Electrical Engineering, Thesis Committee 2003
    • Micah Decker, M.S., Electrical Engineering, Thesis Committee 2003
    • Yun Tian, Ph.D., MSE, Thesis Committee 2003
    • Jonathon Williams, MS, Electrical Engineering, Thesis Committee 2003
    • Joshua Graves, MS, Electrical Engineering, Thesis Committee 2003
    • Matt Ring, PhD, Electrical Engineering, Thesis Committee 2003
    • Matt Ring, MS, Electrical Engineering, Thesis Committee 2003
    • Xuenjun Niu, PhD., Electrical Engineering, Thesis Committee 2003
    • Matthew Wills, MS/BS, Major Professor, Current
    • Nanlin Wong, MS, Co-Major Professor, Graduated 2002
    • Henry Kang, PhD, Thesis Committee, Current
    • David Garcia, PhD, Electrical Engineering, Thesis Committee 2002
    • Kurt Ulmer, MS/BS, Major Professor, Graduated 2002
    • Jane Clayton, MS/BS, Major Professor until departure to Micron Tech., Graduated 2002
    • Michael Meeder, EE, M.S. Thesis committee 2000
    • Iman Yadzi, M.S. MSE, Thesis committee member 1999
    • Kenneth Bratland, M.S., MSE, Unofficial thesis advisor 1998

      POST-DOCS

    • Tony Witt, POST-DOC, 1998-1999