Our research group investigates a variety of dynamic events in condensed media. The work ranges from basic chemical reaction dynamics to energy and charge transfer in new materials targeted at applications in solar energy conversion. The materials we study include semiconductor nanoparticles, thin films of small molecule and polymeric organic semiconductors, and custom designed molecular assemblies of chromophores, electron donors and acceptors. We employ a wide range of experimental tools including nonlinear time domain spectroscopies. These include new methods developed in our laboratory. Computational tools, such as time dependent density functional methods and molecular dynamics simulations, are used to complement the experiments and aid in the interpretation of our data. The goal of our work is the development of basic molecular level knowledge to better inform efficient conversion of light to electrical and chemical potential energy.
Awards and Achievements
- Horace T. Morse Award for Undergraduate Education ( 2010)
- Charles E. Bowers Faculty Teaching Award ( 2008)
- Student Board Professor of the Year (Chemistry) ( 2006-2007)
- 3M Comapny Nontenured Faculty Award ( 2002-2004)
- Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award ( 2000)