Near-field optical spectroscopy for the study of semiconducting nanostructures

Semiconducting nanostructures have been proposed as material platforms for a wide variety of photonic, electronic, and photovoltaic elements. In order to realize these applications, careful design and characterization of electronic properties such as dopant concentration, activation, and distribution are needed. I will discuss the use of near-field optical microscopy as a non-destructive method for chemical, structural, and electronic imaging in nanomaterials, focusing on a specific application, the study of axially-doped silicon nanowires (SiNWs).

Modeling the Vibrational Spectroscopy and Quantum Effects of Biomolecules

Linear and non-linear vibrational spectroscopy provides a powerful tool to probe the structure and conformational dynamics of nucleic acids. In the first part of my talk, I will describe our recent progress on the modeling of vibrational spectra of nucleic acids. We have developed vibrational frequency maps and coupling models that allow one to calculate the vibrational Hamiltonian, and thus the vibrational spectra, of nucleic acids in the base carbonyl stretch region directly from MD simulations.

Quantitative chemical imaging of structure and function in living biological systems – from single cells to animals

Abstract: Cell heterogeneity plays a critical role in many pathophysiological processes such as cancer development and neurodegeneration. However, phenotypic variations of individual cells in a complex organ are often intractable by traditional analytical techniques. The main obstacles are the limited amount of analytes in a single cell and the need for noninvasive in situ analysis in order to preserve cell function and microenvironmental information.

Electrochemical Interfaces at Play

Abstract: The research aimed at understanding of electrochemical interfaces will be presented, along with its impact on the design and synthesis of materials that are employed in electrochemical systems for energy conversion and storage. The key physical parameters that are responsible for functional properties of solid-aqueous, solid-organic and solid-solid electrochemical interfaces will be discussed.

Thermal Analysis and Paired Advanced Characterization to Probe the Degradation Mechanism of Advanced Nuclear Fuels

Abstract

Elucidating simple chemistries and complex environments

In this talk, I will discuss some of our recent efforts to understand how simple reactions that rearrange charge are altered when embedded in complex, fluctuating environments. In the first part, I show how liquid-vapor interfaces can modulate aqueous chemistry. Specifically, I will discuss how the facile charge separation of N2O5 occurring via interfacial hydrolysis leads to efficient gaseous uptake into aqueous atmospheric aerosols, offering an irreversible sink of NOx compounds in the nighttime air.

TBD [POSTPONED]

Unexpected observations in molten fluoride salts and their relevance to salt-cooled and salt-fueled nuclear reactors

Electrify inorganic and organic synthesis

Electrochemical synthesis is a powerful tool for formulating functional materials and molecules because it offers an additional level of control over the synthesis relative to its chemical counterpart by fine-tuning mass transfer, potential, or current.

Postponed

Creating the Building Blocks of Quantum Materials

UCI Department of Chemistry

Physical Seminar