When Molecules and Materials Clash: Pathways to high efficiency solution processed solar cells

Molecules figure prominently in the electronic properties of emerging materials ranging from organic photovoltaics (OPVs) to colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) and organo-halide perovskites used in solution processed photovoltaics and photodetectors.  The Asbury group has pioneered the development of ultrafast infrared spectroscopy techniques to examine electronic processes in materials with particular focus on the influence that underlying molecular structures have on those processes.  This talk will focus on two applications of infrared spectroscopy to examine electronic processes in

Photo-induced force microscopy: nanoscale imaging with chemical recognition

The advances in nanotechnology have intensified the need for tools that can characterize newly synthesized nano materials.  A powerful approach to address this need is the combination of scanned probe techniques with optical illumination, which combines the nanoscopic resolution provided by a sharp tip with the chemical recognition provided by optical spectroscopy. A new and powerful technique in this direction is photo-induced force microscopy (PiFM), which enables spectroscopic probing of materials with a spatial resolution under 10 nm.

Probing structure and dynamics of hydration clusters at atomic scale: a combined STM and NC-AFM study

Ion hydration is of relevance for a wide range of systems, including electrochemistry, biological environments and atmospheric aerosols. In spite of massive experimental and theoretical efforts, the effect of ions on the structure and dynamics of water has been under persistent debate. Based on the ability to probe interfacial water at atomic scale [1-3], we further explore the interaction between water molecules and ionic species on a salt surface.

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