Quantum Dot Synthesis

Dr. Dengguo Wu synthesizing CdSe quantum dots.

Guiquan Pan, a senior Ph.D. student in our laboratory performs most of his synthetic work on gallium nitride (GaN) in the glovebox shown here or on a vacuum line.

Optical and Laser Spectroscopy

All of our group members must become proficient fluorescence spectroscopists. Above, Mr. Pan is collecting steady-state emission spectra from GaN.

Mahmoud Emara, a Ph.D. student in our laboratory uses laser spectroscopy to study the photophysical response of CdSe quantum dots. Here, he is shown with a Nd:YAG laser and accompanying equipment that allow us to perform measurements of ultrafast processes occurring on the picosecond timescale (one picosecond is one millionth of one millionth of a second).

One of Mahmoud’s experiments in progress.

Optical and Probe Microscopy

We routinely use fluorescence microscopy, Raman microscopy, and atomic force microscopy to image our quantum dots. The instrument shown here has all of these capabilities and can perform near field scanning optical microscopy as well. We also have access to scanning and transmission electron microscopes within our building.

Polyelectrolyte Thin Film Deposition

Our polymer thin films are deposited robotically using a Lego robot. Jason Hoy, an undergraduate in the Honors Tutorial College is currently leading this project for us. The robot was originally designed collaboratively by Dr. Van Patten and another undergraduate student, Meredith McMurdo.

Thin Film Measurement

Spectroscopic ellipsometry allows us to measure the thickness and optical properties (refractive index and extinction coefficient) of our polymer films. The method is extremely sensitive, and measurements are possible on films that are less than one atomic layer thick.