Thrust 1. Mixed-Dimensional Heterostructures

People

NCCU Faculty: Yan, Taylor, Yang, Riaz

PSU Faculty: Asbury, Ebrahimi, Giebink, Robinson, Schaak,Terrones

Research

Research activities in Thrust 1 are centered around synthesis, characterization, theory, new phenomena of mixed-dimensional heterostructures, and their applications in optoelectronics (Yan), photovoltaics (Taylor), photocatalysis (Yang, Riaz), and sensors (Yan, Yang, Riaz). This thrust overlaps well with several research projects directly associated with IRG1: “2D Polar Metals and Heterostructures” at PSU, which focuses on the growth and protection of few-layer polar metals through confinement heteroepitaxy (Robinson), and the resulting quantum phenomena including record-breaking optical nonlinearities, high-performance biosensing (Terrones), and rich prospects for new spintronic functionalities (Giebink). The partnership also builds new collaborations with relevant research groups at PSU, which encompass research expertise in nanomaterials synthesis (Schaak) electrochemical biosensing (Ebrahimi), and ultrafast spectroscopy (Asbury).

NCCU Faculty Research Interests

The Yan group is developing low-dimensional materials and heterostructures with a wide range of applications, from optoelectronics, sensing, photocatalysis, energy conversion and storage. The group’s dedicated efforts inspire hope that these nanomaterials might hold the key to ensuring clean and safe water access, evaluating air quality, ensuring occupational safety, and developing high-performance batteries.

The Taylor group focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of polymers and low molar mass side-chain functionalized materials in order to engineer smart materials. We are an application driven group exploring hole-transport materials for opto-electronics devices, water purification membranes, and drug delivery systems.

The Yang group in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences focuses on nanotechnologies for pharmaceutical and biological/biomedical applications. The current research areas include: (1) Carbon-based nanomaterials for photoinactivation of bacterial pathogens and viruses; (2) Studying the antimicrobial mechanisms of these nanomaterials.

The Riaz group  focuses on the development of conducting polymers-based composite materials for environmental and biomedical applications. Current research interests include  1) conducting polymers for photocatalysis, drug delivery, bio-imaging and corrosion protective coatings, 2) computational modeling of polymers to optimize their electronic structure, and 3) microwave-assisted solid-state polymerization reactions for degradation of organic pollutants.