Research Projects

The proposal aims to explore the surface chemistry of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) and their relationship with their properties. NCs have various applications in optoelectronic, photovoltaic, and photocatalytic fields. The NC surface is a key feature, and modifying it can significantly enhance device efficiencies. However, the surface's heterogeneity and dynamic equilibrium add complexity to our understanding. A novel analytical method is needed to identify multiple subpopulations of heterogeneous ligand-binding motifs and understand the dynamic nature of surface-ligand interactions, solvent dynamics, and surface properties in solution phase and thin films. The proposal proposes using time-resolved infrared (IR) spectroscopy to study the NC surface properties exhaustively. The study will provide insights into facet-selective ligand interactions and surface excess charge quantification. Comparing experimental results with theoretical calculations will provide a molecular picture of the NC surface. The proposed work is expected to lead to a correlation between surface characteristics and NC photoluminescent properties, allowing for a deeper understanding of the intrinsic relationship between NC surface chemistry, structure, heterogeneity, and NC-based application efficiencies.