Research Overview

SYNTHESIS OF NANOMATERIAL ASSEMBLIES

The ability to tune the optical, chemical, electronic, and mechanical properties of  nanocrystals opens up possibility for inexpensive devices.

SURFACE CHEMISTRY OF NANOMATERIALS

As-synthesized, colloidal nanocrystals typically have organic, insulating ligands which limit their usefulness in electronic applications.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Recent advances in the ability to control chemistry, morphology, and order of nanoscale materials has opened the door to studying the photophysics of nanomaterial devices.

ADVANCED MICROSCOPY

Through correlation of local morphological features with spatial variations in device properties, a greater understanding of photovoltaic performance is obtained.

Our research focuses on design of nanocrystal solids and their use in optoelectronic, sensing, and renewable energy applications. We are interested in looking into chemical phenomena that occur at nanometer length scales. Our research interests include:

(i) synthesis of functional nanomaterial assemblies

(ii) surface chemistry of nanomaterials, and

(iii) fabrication of electronic devices using nanomaterials.

Synthesis of Nanomaterial Assemblies

The ability to tune the optical, chemical, electronic, and mechanical properties of colloidal nanocrystals opens up possibility for inexpensive and high performance electronic devices. A major obstacle to developing nanocrystal-based electronics is poor carrier transport. As-synthesized nanocrystals are coated with an organic monolayer which aids in colloidal stabilization and processing, but is electronically insulating. Furthermore, control of doping is critical for controlling depletion and energy level alignment in devices.

Surface Chemistry of Nanomaterials

As-synthesized, colloidal nanocrystals have organic, insulating ligands which limit their usefulness in electronic applications. By exchanging the bulky organic ligands with shorter, inorganic, or thermally degradable ligands we can enhance electronic coupling between the nanocrystals and improve electronic transport, paving the way for their use in electronics.

Electronic Devices

Recent advances in the ability to control chemistry, morphology, and order of nanoscale materials has opened the door to studying the photophysics of nanomaterial assemblies and utilizing them in novel devices. The tunable electronic, optical, and physical properties of nanostructures have made them of great scientific and technological interest. Synthesizing materials with tunable electronic structures can have transformative results for the next generation of photovoltaics and optoelectronic devices.