Nanophase Inorganic Materials Chemistry

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This interdisciplinary award to Jay A. Switzer at the University of Missouri-Rolla is supported by the Advanced Materials Program in the Chemistry Division and the Solid-state Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research. The focus of the research is the electrodeposition of layered nanostructures and superlattices with quantum-confined optical and electrical properties from aqueous solution under conditions of oscillating electrode potential at constant current. Highly anisotropic copper/cuprous oxide multilayers will be electrodeposited from alkaline copper lactate solution. The dependence of oscillation period, amplitude, wave shape, composition and layer thickness will be studied as a function of pH, concentration, current density, temperature, irradiation intensity and deposition substrate. The multilayers will be characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The deposition process will be followed in real time by use of the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. The dependence of the optical properties on the cuprous oxide layer thickness will be studied by transmission and specular reflectance spectroscopy.Copper oxide films show blue-shifting consistent with quantum confinement and negative differential resistance characteristic of resonant tunneling. Tunneling devices will become increasingly important as dimensions shrink in computers and other electronic devices.