Inorganic Nanostructures Facility Overview
This Facility’s expertise lies in the areas of synthesis and characterization of nanocrystals, nanotubes and nanowires, including the preparation, characterization and applications of novel inorganic nanomaterials. Facility staff study the science of optimally preparing, characterizing and utilizing inorganic nanostructures, with an emphasis on semiconductor nanocrystals and nanowires, as well as carbon nanostructures, with controlled size, shape, connectivity and topology. Both staff and User research projects encompass the design, synthesis and materials characterization of new nanostructures, and the use of these in functional, multi-component devices. Robotic synthesis of nanocrystals and molecular metal chalcogenide clusters are also of particular interest.
This Facility aims to advance research based on extensive experience and knowledge in:
- solution phase colloidal synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles and nanowires with complex structures and morphologies;
- gas phase CVD synthesis of semiconductor III-V semiconductor nanowires, carbon and boron nitride nanotubes, and graphene;
- fabrication of electronic and optoelectronic devices based on inorganic nanostructures including self-assembly of nanocrystals into long-range ordered single- and multi-component superlattices;
- development of novel experimental techniques for structural and electronic characterization of inorganic nanomaterials; and
- applications and properties of particular interest for which measurement expertise and capabilities exist including thermoelectrics, photovoltaics, and thin film transistors.
