Research areas: Nanostructured materials and application; soft self-assembly; porous materials; energy conversion, transfer, and storage; synthesis, self-assembly, and integration of nanocrystals.
Our main research efforts focus on synthesis, integration, and applications of multifunctional nanostructured materials. We focus on the use of soft self-assembly in combination with fabrication processes such as sol-gel processes, lithography, and patterning techniques to synthesize new ceramic and nanostructured materials. We then integrate them into platforms enabling novel function for applications in catalysis, energy storage and conversion, sensors, and new optical, electronic, and magnetic devices. The overall research is primarily driven by the need to develop new classes of well-defined 1 to 3D self-assembled model material systems in which to discover new nanoscale phenomena in order to provide the fundamental knowledge for aspects of current, most pressing energy, water and climate challenges.
Our research emphasizes exploring the path from scientific discovery to the integration of nanostructured materials into the micro and macro worlds. This pathway involves the experimental and theoretical exploration of behavior, the development of a wide variety of synthesis and processing approaches, and an understanding of new performance regimes, testing design, and integration of nanoscale materials and structures.
At this time, we work in the following areas: