CAREER: Electronic and Optical Properties of Nanostructures Built with Atomic Precision

非技术摘要：为了实现纳米结构材料在信息技术、医学和能源领域的应用前景，需要对纳米结构特性进行原子级理解。该学院早期职业计划专注于俄亥俄州州立大学的纳米科学研究，教育和推广。扫描隧道显微镜被用来研究金属纳米团簇和分子线，这些纳米团簇和分子线是纳米器件的潜在未来构建块。这些显微镜具有独特的能力，适合研究纳米结构的性质，因为它们的大小，形状和局部环境在原子尺度上是不同的。这项研究与俄亥俄州针对代表性不足的本科生、高中生和公众的教育和外展活动相结合。利用基于网络的Access Grid视频会议工具，向远程地点提供课堂讲座、研究演示和外联演示。这些努力将提高学生在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）相关领域的参与和培训。技术摘要：为了实现纳米结构材料在信息技术、医学和能源领域的应用前景，需要对纳米结构特性进行原子水平的理解。扫描隧道显微镜用于研究量子尺寸效应、原子结构和与局部环境的耦合如何影响金属纳米团簇的电子和光学性质。这些影响进行了系统的研究与原子分辨率成像，隧道/光学光谱和原子/分子操纵。金属纳米团簇形成原子级精确的接触，用于研究通过单个分子的电流。这项研究与俄亥俄州的教育和推广活动相结合，这些活动针对代表性不足的本科生、高中生和公众。利用基于网络的Access Grid视频会议工具，向远程地点提供课堂讲座、研究演示和外联演示。这些努力将改善学生在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）相关领域的参与和培训。

Non-Technical abstract:To realize the promise of nanostructured materials for applications in information technology, medicine and energy, an atomic-level understanding of nanostructure properties is needed. This Faculty Early Career program focuses on nanoscience research, education and outreach at Ohio State University. Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to study metal nanoclusters and molecular wires which are potentially future building blocks for nanoscale devices. These microscopes have unique capabilities suitable for studying nanostructure properties as their size, shape, and local environment are varied on the atomic scale. This research is integrated with educational and outreach activities at Ohio State which target underrepresented undergraduates, high school students and the public. Classroom lectures, research demonstrations and outreach presentations are delivered to remote locations using web-based Access Grid videoconferencing tools. These efforts will improve participation and training of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related fields.Technical abstract:To realize the promise of nanostructured materials for applications in information technology, medicine and energy, an atomic-level understanding of nanostructure properties is needed. Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to study how quantum size effects, atomic structure and coupling to the local environment influence the electronic and optical properties of metal nanoclusters. These influences are systematically studied with atomic-resolution imaging, tunneling/optical spectroscopy and atom/molecule manipulation. Metal nanoclusters form atomically-precise contacts for studies of current flow through single molecules. This research is integrated with educational and outreach activities at Ohio State which target underrepresented undergraduates, high school students and the general public. Classroom lectures, research demonstrations and outreach presentations are delivered to remote locations using web-based Access Grid videoconferencing tools. These efforts will improve participation and training of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related fields.