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Research Activities at the Center for Materials
Research
 
Computational Materials Laboratory
—
Dr. Suely Black
and
Dr. Vladimir Gavrilenko
Computational materials science
is an interdisciplinary subject that implies the synergy of mathematics,
computer science, physics and chemistry. Computational research activity in the
Center of Materials Research (CMR) includes numerical modeling of diverse
properties of materials (solids, organic molecules, and polymers).
State-of-the-art first principle theories are implemented to study equilibrium
atomic configurations, electron energy structure and different kinetic
coefficients of materials. Research includes molecular dynamics studies of the
equilibrium atomic configurations of molecules, molecular dimmers, polymers, and
nano-structured solids. Predicted quantities relate to electrical transport,
optical, and magnetic properties of materials which are compared with the
results of experimental studies. Students are trained to operate both commercial
and open-source software for modeling and simulations in different areas related
to material science. Research and education in computational materials science,
in collaboration with experimental and technological groups in CMR, provide
excellent skills in the field of material science and engineering, and prepare
students for further activity in academia, in government institutions, and/or in
different industrial companies: in high-tech electronics, chemistry, bio-physics
and –chemistry, medicine etc.
Development of Nano-structured materials and multilayered thin films
Dr.
Aswini Pradhan Dr. M. Bahoura
and
Dr. Frances
Williams
Research on nanoscale and nanostructured materials with emphasis on
synthesis, processing, characterization, and applications of materials
containing true nanosize dimensions or nanostructures that enable novel/enhanced
properties or functions is becoming important. We concentrate on continued
growth and new challenges in nanomaterials, engineering, and nanotechnology,
both for application development and for basic research. We also concentrate on
growth multilayered films and their applications in the emerging field of new
multifunctional sensors, detectors and lab-on-chip applications.
The research interests of the group include
development of magnetic, semiconductor and oxide nanomaterials for various
applications in the field of biomedical, opto-electronics and energy.
Nanocrystalline films are also grown on lattice mismatched substrates for
multifunctional sensing and detection. The other major research interest of the
group is the design, characterization and device fabrication of novel optical,
electronic and magnetic multilayers for the development of various sensors,
high-density memory, laser diodes etc.
Development of Organic Molecular Beam Deposition (OMBD)
Technique for processing of organic nano-layered structures
—
Dr.
Carl E. Bonner; CMR Acting Director
Organic thin films hold great
promise for high-speed optical computing applications, for investigating
fundamental optical properties of photonic band structures, and as new quantum
well structures. We concentrate on hetero-epitaxy of single crystal organic
materials with nonlinear optical properties on silicon and investigation of the
effect of the preparation of the Si surface in those NLO properties.
The research interests of the Bonner group include hetero-epitaxy of single
crystal organic materials with nonlinear optical properties on silicon and
observation of the effect of the preparation of the Si surface on those NLO
properties using IR-vibrational spectroscopies to identify vibrational modes of
Si surface and the organic molecular absorbate and compare them to layers on Si
surface. Once these modes are identified, surface-molecule interaction modes
will be determined subtraction of the free molecule and substrate vibrational
spectra. The eventual objective is to identify the surface molecule interaction
energies to observe intramolecular vibrational relaxation as a method of energy
storage in the molecule on the substrate surface and define the relationship
between intramolecular vibrations and the disposal of energy at the surface.
This is expected to lead to improvements in the layered growth of van Deer Waals
crystals onto semiconductor substrates.
The other main research interest of the
group is the design and characterization of the molecular and macroscopic second hyperpolarizability based properties, two-photon absorption and nonlinear
refractive index, in a range of substituted thiacyanine dyes. This project
involves the investigation and development of novel and improved asymmetric and
symmetric organic charge transfer chromophores for potential applications in two
photon absorption (TPA), reverse saturable absorption (RSA) and related
materials and devices.
Novel Nonlinear Materials and Laser Sources Laboratory
—
Dr. Mikhail A. Noginov
Novel nonlinear materials and laser sources are interest for the use
in communication, atmospheric sensing and various other mission tasks. We are
developing photonic materials based on scattering and composite
(dielectric/metallic) media. The research is focused in the development of
unique robust in operation random and composite laser sources and nonlinear
optical materials. At the first stage, we use the mixtures of pulverized and
scattering solid-state laser materials with fractal metallic aggregates, to
improve the efficiency and reduce the threshold of random lasers via
localization of electro-magnetic field. At the second stage, we will design,
synthesize, and characterize composite sintered active optical media (inorganic
dielectrics, optically clear ceramics) with embedded metallic and ceramic
aggregates for applications in NASA's nonlinear optical devices and lasers.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Laboratory
—
Dr. Natalia Noginova
Research in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Laboratory concentrates in
the following directions: (1) Study of transport properties, spin-lattice and
magnetic interactions and spin relaxation processes in magnetic and magnetically
diluted systems, in particular, in manganese perovskites, the materials of
interest for spintronics applications. This research provides information on the
correlation between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions, charge
transport, role of lattice effects and magnetic clasters. (2) Investigation of
colossal magnetoresistance materials as candidates for applications in infrared
sensors, study of carrier spin relaxation and heat conduction processes in the
range of the phase transition. (3) Study of photoinduced triplet states for NMR
based quantum computing models.
Electron Spin Resonance (ERS) Laboratory
—
Dr.
Rakhim Rakhimov
The research in the Electron Spin Resonance (ERS) laboratory
are focused
on the investigation of magnetic properties of inorganic and organic materials
for photonics and spin electronics applications. For new inorganic materials
synthesized in CMR, the ERS facilities are utilized to understand changes in
charge and spin states of transition metal dopants that are responsible for
unique photonic properties of these materials. The ESR method is extensively
used for characterization of organic and metal-organic materials, where charge
and electron spin dynamics are parts of photonics and electronics device
applications. We also plan to study incorporation of metallic particles and
metal-organic complexes into polymers to obtain materials with new and improved
mechanical durability, thermal and radiation resistance, conductivity, and
magnetic sensing.
Organic Materials Laboratory —
Dr. Sam Sun
This project focuses on developing lightweight, flexible shape, and
inexpensive thin film type photovoltaic devices based on the following
materials. (a) Polymer thin films with nanophase separated block
copolymer systems containing donor and acceptor phases such as derivatized
polythiophene compounds. (b) Hybrid organic or polymeric/inorganic photovoltaic
thin film materials. The photovoltaic materials find its key applications in
solar (or light) energy conversion on earth and in space flight missions. For
instance, solar panes are the main power sources for manmade satellites and
space station. For human beings on earth, solar energy is an unlimited an
non-polluting energy source. The polymeric nonlinear optical materials are
critical for future high-speed photonic signal processing devices and
information superhighway development.
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