In addition, advanced characterization of surface-doped nanocrystals will further our understanding of surface-ligand organization and of how this affects optoelectronic properties. For example, the extent of surface coverage by a particular functional group will impact a nanocrystal's surface affinity and permeability, and its ability to localize, penetrate, and be transported across biological tissues and subcellular structures. Success of this research will result in powerful strategies to fabricate, assemble and discover functional nanomaterials for imaging, biology, energy and catalysis. This research will positively impact our ability to fine-tune the number and relative configuration of energy- and charge-transfer donors and acceptors, providing unprecedented control over exciton decay pathways across the inorganic-organic-solvent interface. Vela and his students will synthesize surface-doped quantum dots capped with chemically-active native ligands and characterize their surface microstructures, synthesize modular functional polydentate ligands for surface-doping and study their ligand exchange behavior with quantum dots, and explore the use of surface-doped quantum dots for lanthanide optical activation and rationing of rare earths. However, this method fails to control the extent of surface modification. Surface modification is routinely performed by ligand exchange with excess carboxylate- or amine-terminated thiols. Controlling the degree of functionalization per nanocrystal remains an unsolved challenge in colloidal semiconductors. Vela's group will investigate the changes in ligand organization, surface chemistry and nanocrystal properties that result from surface modification. Vela and his students investigate new surface ligand doping strategies that enable to control the degree of functionalization or valency per nanocrystal. The Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) program of the Division of Chemistry supports the CAREER Award's research and education program of Prof. OFFICE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AC, Macromolec/Supramolec/Nano, EPSCoR Co-FundingĠ40100 NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 040100 NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 040100 NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 040100 NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:

Javier Vela (Principal Investigator) Sponsored Research Office:.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CAREER: Investigating Surface Ligand Doping, Organization and Valency in Semiconductor Nanocrystal Quantum Dots: A Bridge Between Nano Chemistry Research and Education NSF Org:

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