The Inorganic
Nanostructures Facility’s mission is to provide Users
with expertise and instrumentation in the areas of synthesis
and characterization of nanocrystals, nanotubes and nanowires,
The staff conducts a rigorous internal research program
on the preparation, characterization and applications of
novel inorganic nanomaterials, which continually provides
Users with new resources.
This facility studies the science of optimally preparing
and characterizing metal, semiconductor, magnetic, insulating
inorganic nanostructures, and multi-component nanostructures
with various interfaces, including nanocrystals, nanotubes
and nanowires with controlled size, shape, connectivity
and topology, both internally and with Users. The program
encompasses the design and synthesis of precursors, the
study of microscopic elementary processes in nanostructure
nucleation and growth, and the use of nanostructures in
functional, multi-component devices, Robotic synthesis
and novel nanocrystal superlattice are of particular interest.
The research of the Inorganic Nanostructures Facility
is well integrated with the overall scientific themes pursued
throughout the Molecular Foundry, The Organic-Inorganic
Interface is critical to every aspect of the synthesis
and assembly of nanoscale particles and wires, Organic
molecules guide the size and shape of inorganic nanocrystals
through selective adhesion and play a critical role in
their assembly into arrays. Superlattices of nanocrystal
are an intense interest of this facility and are one example
of the Foundry’s Supramolecular Assembly theme,
The third central Foundry theme is Single Digit Nano, The
ability to manipulate the coupling and interaction between
two inorganic building blocks, be it a nanocrystal and
a nanowire or two types of nanocrystal, depends critically
upon control of the single digit nano size molecular species
that separate, link and join them together. |
Selected Internal and User
research topics:
- Synthesis of metal, metal-oxide and semiconductor nanoparticles
- Synthesis
of nanowires, nanorings, nanoribbons and controlling
their composition
- Synthesis of carbon and boron nitride
nanotubes
- Dipole-dipole interactions in nanoparticle superlattices
- Synthesis
of multicomponent nanoparticle and assembly for superlattices
- Electron
Energy Loss Spectroscopy in inorganic nanostructures
- Charge
transport in ordered nanoparticle assemblies
- Nanoparticle-based
composites for photovoltaic and thermoelectric applications
- Monolithic
multinozzle emitters for nanoelectrospray
- Interfacing
nanowires with mammalian cells for gene delivery
- Automation
of nanoparticle synthesis
- Multi-component nanocatalysis
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