Group 14 Nanomaterials

Synthesizing Group 14 nanocrystals (NCs) with controlled size dispersity and composition is a difficult challenge. These materials are of considerable interest due to their size-dependent optical and electronic properties that could enable their use in a wide range of applications such as fluorophores for biological imaging and photovoltaics. The Veinot Group specializes in the synthesis of silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), germanium (Ge) and silicon germanium alloy nanomat-erials. We also investigate their optical and electrical properties.

Hybrid Nanostructures

The Veinot group is exploring methods for forming multifunctional hybrid materials. One of these methods involves combining the optical and bioinert characteristics of silicon nanocrystals (Si-NCs) with the high surface area of mesoporous silicate. We achieve this by utilizing surfactants as phase transfer/ templating agents and perform a solgel reaction in solution to yield mesoporous silica encapsulated photoluminescent nanocrystals.

Organic Functional Materials

Π-Conjugated Materials

In the Veinot group we are preparing novel heterofluorenes for solar cell applications, and shape persistent carbazole macrocycles that self-assemble into soft carbon nanostructures.

Substituted Fluorenones

Over the last several decades the field of organic electronics has exploded with research dedicated to application of molecular and macromolecular organic materials in electronic devices such as light emitting diodes, field effect transistors, and photovoltaics.