The assembly of molecular building blocks to form nanostructures and extended solids that can function as materials with useful properties is an important theme in the Department of Chemistry. This research encompasses the assembly of molecular solids with electronic conductivity, the condensation of molecular precursors to form covalent, porous organic polymers for gas separation and water purification, and the synthesis of nanoparticles and nanoporous structures of ultra-hard materials at extreme pressure. Our faculty both develops new materials through assembly and evaluates the electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties of molecular assemblies and low-dimensional nanomaterials for a range of applications with a key focus on molecular electronics and photovoltaics. The experimental characterization with the resolution of a few nanometers is complemented by computational studies and simulations that probe the fundamentals of nanoscience.
Molecular Assembly, Materials and Nanoscience
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