Physical Chemistry of Colloidal Semiconducting
Nanocrystals
Paul
Alivisatos, Principal Investigator
This research project is dedicated to the development of the physical
chemistry of colloidal inorganic nanocrystals, with emphasis on
semiconductor nanocrystals. Colloidal nanocrystals exhibit strongly
size and shape dependent optical, electrical, structural and thermodynamic
properties. The goals of this project include:
- the development of methods and principles for preparation
of colloidal nanocrystals with well defined size, shape, connectivity
and topology.
- investigations of structural and chemical transformations
in nanocrystals; including studies of pressure and temperature-induced
changes as well as studies of elementary reactions such as oxidation
and cation exchange.
- examination of optical and electrical characteristics
of these materials; including studies of bandgap versus size
and shape; luminescence properties; polarization characteristics;
single nanocrystal electrical properties.
- application of the
integrated knowledge gained from these studies to the demonstration
of devices such as nanocrystal solar cells and catalysts, with
focus on renewable energy technologies.
CURRENT PROJECTS
- Use of cation exchange to create segmented nanorods
- Investigation
of the nature of electrical contacts to nanorods
- Determination
of the electrical characteristics of semiconductor nanorods and
tetrapods
- Study of the transport of gases into and out of
hollow nanocrystals
- Shock wave studies of pressure-induced structural
transformations in nanocrystals
- Examination of static pressure-induced
changes in hollow nanocrystals
- Mechanisms of cation exchange kinetics
in nanocrystals
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