Integrated Nanostructured Systems

These backscattered SEM images show patterned quantum dot-functionalized metal oxide surfaces prepared by monolayer photolithography and surfactant-mediated self-assembly. The bright regions correspond to quantum dot-functionalized areas of the substrate, while the darker regions show the unmodified metal oxide film.

Assembly of inorganic nanoparticles into ordered materials; characterization of the photoinduced electron transfer reactivity of composite inorganic nanomaterials.

The Watson group has developed new methods for assembling inorganic nanoparticles into ordered materials. Our approach involves the use of surface chemistry to control the adsorption of nanoparticles to substrates. We characterize monolayers of small molecules and nanoparticles on surfaces, and we investigate the photochemical reactivity of these materials. Our goals are to prepare new materials with applications in solar energy conversion, photocatalysis, small-molecule detection, and information storage. We have recently developed a photolithographic technique for the patterned deposition of semiconductor nanoparticles onto substrate surfaces. Current research is focused on characterizing the photoinduced electron transfer reactivity of composite semiconductor nanomaterials.

Time-resolved spectroscopic instrumentation for nanosecond-to-microsecond transient absorption and time-resolved emission measurements.

Photoelectrochemistry instrumentation for measuring photocurrent action spectra and photocurrent-photovoltage curves (solar cell characterization).

Dibbell, R.S.; Soja, G.R.; Hoth, R.M.; Watson, D.F. “Photocatalytic Patterning of Monolayers for the Site-Selective Deposition of Quantum Dots onto TiO2 Surfaces.” Langmuir 2007, 23, 3432-3439. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la063161a

Mann, J.R.; Watson, D.F. “Adsorption of CdSe Nanoparticles to Thiolated TiO2 Surfaces: Influence of Intralayer Disulfide Formation on CdSe Surface Coverage.” Langmuir 2007, 23, 10924-10928. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la702127t