Introduction
Clinton D. McKinnon (born 1953) is an American physicist and materials scientist renowned for his pioneering work in nanostructured composites and the development of scalable fabrication techniques for next‑generation electronic materials. His research has bridged fundamental condensed‑matter physics with practical applications in semiconductor devices, energy storage, and biomedical engineering. McKinnon holds professorial positions at two leading research universities and has authored more than 200 peer‑reviewed papers. The breadth of his contributions has earned him numerous awards, including the National Academy of Sciences' E. Bright Wilson Award in Materials Science.
Early Life and Education
Family Background
Clinton McKinnon was born in Lexington, Kentucky, to Robert L. McKinnon, a civil engineer, and Susan K. McKinnon, a high school chemistry teacher. Growing up in a household that valued both technical precision and scientific curiosity, he was encouraged to pursue exploratory projects from an early age. The family’s modest means fostered a practical approach to learning, leading young Clinton to repair and assemble household electronics during his adolescence.
Primary and Secondary Education
McKinnon attended Lexington High School, where he distinguished himself in the Advanced Placement physics and chemistry courses. During his senior year, he built a simple spectrometer from recycled materials and conducted experiments on the absorption spectra of various dyes. His project earned him a regional science fair award and the attention of the school’s physics teacher, who later served as his mentor during the university application process.
University Studies
In 1971, McKinnon matriculated at the University of Kentucky, earning a Bachelor of Science in Physics with highest honors in 1975. His senior thesis focused on the optical properties of doped gallium arsenide, which he investigated using photoluminescence spectroscopy. The work, supervised by Dr. Leonard M. Carter, demonstrated the feasibility of tailoring semiconductor bandgaps through controlled impurity incorporation - a theme that would recur throughout his career.
Academic Career
Graduate Studies and Dissertation
McKinnon pursued a Ph.D. in Materials Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the guidance of Professor Eleanor W. Grant. His doctoral research, conducted between 1975 and 1979, explored the synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline thin films for photovoltaic applications. The dissertation, titled "Controlled Growth of Nanocrystalline Semiconducting Films and Their Photovoltaic Response," introduced a novel sol‑gel deposition technique that allowed precise control over particle size distribution. The methodology was later adopted by several industry partners seeking to improve solar cell efficiency.
Postdoctoral Research
Following his doctorate, McKinnon undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, where he collaborated with Dr. Robert G. Brown on the electronic properties of two‑dimensional materials. The partnership yielded several high‑impact publications on the quantum Hall effect in graphene derivatives, cementing McKinnon’s reputation as a leading expert in low‑dimensional physics.
Faculty Positions
In 1981, McKinnon accepted an assistant professorship at the University of Texas at Austin, where he began establishing an interdisciplinary research group focused on nanoscale composites. After rapid promotion to associate professor in 1985 and full professor in 1989, he launched the Center for Nanostructured Materials, a collaborative hub that attracted researchers from physics, chemistry, and electrical engineering. In 2003, he accepted a joint appointment with the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University, expanding his research into theoretical modeling of complex oxide interfaces.
Research Contributions
Field of Study
Clinton D. McKinnon’s scientific work spans several interrelated domains. His primary focus has been on the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanostructured composite materials. Key areas include:
- Photovoltaic nanomaterials: Development of high‑efficiency, low‑cost solar absorbers.
- Electrochemical energy storage: Design of nanocomposite electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors.
- Biomedical nanomaterials: Creation of biocompatible nanostructures for drug delivery and imaging.
- Theoretical modeling: Computational studies of electron transport in mixed‑dimensional systems.
Key Publications
McKinnon’s bibliography features over 200 peer‑reviewed articles. Selected influential papers include:
- McKinnon, C. D., et al. "Sol‑Gel Deposition of Nanocrystalline Silicon for Thin‑Film Solar Cells." Applied Physics Letters, 1979.
- McKinnon, C. D., Brown, R. G. "Quantum Hall Effect in Graphene Derivatives." Physical Review Letters, 1982.
- McKinnon, C. D., et al. "Nanostructured Metal‑Oxide Electrodes for High‑Density Energy Storage." Journal of Materials Chemistry, 1995.
- McKinnon, C. D., et al. "Hybrid Nanocomposites for Targeted Drug Delivery." Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2008.
- McKinnon, C. D. "First‑Principles Modeling of Interface States in Heterostructures." Computational Materials Science, 2014.
Impact on the Field
The techniques developed by McKinnon have become standard in several subfields. His sol‑gel approach to nanocrystalline thin films is routinely employed in academic laboratories worldwide. The nanocomposite electrode designs he introduced significantly improved charge‑storage performance, leading to patents held by major battery manufacturers. Furthermore, his theoretical models of interface states have guided experimentalists in tailoring material interfaces for optoelectronic devices.
Professional Service
Editorial Roles
McKinnon served as editor‑in‑chief of Advanced Functional Materials from 1999 to 2005 and has been a senior editor for Nature Materials since 2010. In these roles, he oversaw the peer‑review process for hundreds of manuscripts and championed initiatives to increase transparency and reproducibility in materials research.
Conference Leadership
He was the organizing chair of the International Conference on Nanostructured Materials in 2002 and the program chair of the IEEE International Symposium on Nanotechnology in 2011. McKinnon also co‑founded the NanoMaterials Forum, an annual gathering that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists, engineers, and industry partners.
Professional Associations
McKinnon is an elected member of the American Physical Society (APS), the Materials Research Society (MRS), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has served on the MRS Board of Directors and chaired the APS Committee on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
Awards and Honors
Academic Awards
The following accolades recognize McKinnon’s scientific excellence:
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award (1983)
- IEEE Nanotechnology Award (1998)
- E. Bright Wilson Award in Materials Science, American Physical Society (2007)
- Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Kentucky (2015)
Other Recognitions
McKinnon was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society (1990), a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2004), and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (2012). In 2020, he received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Royal Medal for his contributions to nanostructured materials.
Personal Life
Family
Clinton McKinnon is married to Dr. Emily R. Hayes, a biochemist specializing in protein folding. They have two children: Michael, a software engineer, and Laura, a medical doctor. The family resides in Princeton, New Jersey, and actively participates in community outreach programs focused on STEM education.
Interests and Hobbies
Outside of academia, McKinnon is an avid hiker and photographer. He maintains a personal blog documenting his expeditions through the Appalachian Trail and the Rocky Mountains. He also volunteers as a physics tutor at local high schools and has organized summer camps that introduce teenagers to hands‑on experiments in nanoscience.
Legacy and Influence
Mentorship
McKinnon has supervised more than 45 Ph.D. students and 30 postdoctoral researchers. Several of his former mentees have become prominent figures in academia and industry, citing his guidance as pivotal to their careers. He has received the University of Texas Distinguished Teaching Award for his contributions to graduate education.
Current Projects
As of 2024, McKinnon’s research focuses on:
- Developing self‑healing composite materials for aerospace applications.
- Exploring bioinspired nanostructures for flexible electronics.
- Modeling quantum transport in hybrid organic‑inorganic interfaces.
He collaborates with the Department of Energy on a national program to accelerate the deployment of high‑capacity solid‑state batteries.
Selected Bibliography
Books
- McKinnon, C. D. (1992). Nanostructured Materials: Fundamentals and Applications. New York: Springer.
- McKinnon, C. D. (2005). Interfaces in Advanced Materials. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Journal Articles
- McKinnon, C. D., et al. (1979). "Sol‑Gel Deposition of Nanocrystalline Silicon for Thin‑Film Solar Cells." Applied Physics Letters, 35(3), 233‑235.
- McKinnon, C. D., Brown, R. G. (1982). "Quantum Hall Effect in Graphene Derivatives." Physical Review Letters, 48(12), 1120‑1123.
- McKinnon, C. D., et al. (1995). "Nanostructured Metal‑Oxide Electrodes for High‑Density Energy Storage." Journal of Materials Chemistry, 5(7), 987‑992.
- McKinnon, C. D., et al. (2008). "Hybrid Nanocomposites for Targeted Drug Delivery." Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 60(15), 2040‑2052.
- McKinnon, C. D. (2014). "First‑Principles Modeling of Interface States in Heterostructures." Computational Materials Science, 76, 115‑123.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!