Materials at the nanoscale exhibit unique and interesting properties that are entirely different from their bulk counterparts. What is perhaps more interesting is that by controlled tailoring, ensembles of nano materials and nano-scale heterostructures can be designed to display functionalities distinct from both bulk and single, isolated nanoparticles.
The overarching goal of our group is the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel nano-assembled systems. These could be purely of fundamental importance, allowing us to study artificially created new multifunctional materials and the collective interactions within, or be motivated from an applied perspective, to create improved and lightweight nano structured devices.
The overarching goal of our group is the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel nano-assembled systems. These could be purely of fundamental importance, allowing us to study artificially created new multifunctional materials and the collective interactions within, or be motivated from an applied perspective, to create improved and lightweight nano structured devices.
Nano-assembled actuable materials
Nano-assembled multifunctional materials developed by directed congregation of metallic, magnetic and semiconducting nanoparticles can not only exhibit novel properties, but can be modulated, both structurally and functionally, using external stimuli.
Metallic nanoparticles support oscillations of the confined electron clouds within them, when excited by electromagnetic radiation. At specific excitation frequencies, known as localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR), this property results in strong absorption or scattering of the incident light, creating very strong electric fields in the near field.
Nano-structured photovoltaics
Research in nanostructured devices for solar energy harvesting and storage are driven primarily by the design and development of new materials. Hybrid semiconductor thin films and high photoluminescence yield quantum dots are at the forefront of the field for discovery of the newest generation of photovoltaic and solar concentrator devices.
