Alternative Energy Generation: Strategic Design of Photovoltaic and Thermoelectric Materials Using Modular Chemistry and Assembly, Interface Engineering, and Spectroscopic Characterization

This multidisciplinary team of chemists and physicists has complementary expertise in synthesis and spectroscopy, which allows us to explore novel materials with promise in photovoltaic and thermoelectric applications.  This collaboration will focus on developing new molecules/polymers/nanomaterials and hybrid materials as well as new surface chemistry routes to control the structure at the interface between such novel materials and other device components like electrodes.  Next, different state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques will be used to quantify properties like photoluminescence, carrier dynamics, interfacial organization and composition.  This spectroscopic screening process will allow us to gain a broad understanding of structure-function relationships and hasten the identification of promising new material combinations for next-generation energy applications.