CAREER: Local Charge, Polarization, and Transport of Nanocrystal Quantum Dot Solid State Structures using Scanning Probe Microscopy

****非技术摘要****半导体纳米晶体量子点（NQDs）是微小的球体。具有令人兴奋的光学和电子特性的材料，可以通过改变NQD的大小和其他参数来控制。它们相对容易整合到设备中，并且已经证明了它们作为生物成像荧光标记的效用。尽管非量子点的电子特性对其周围环境很敏感，但它们正被用于光伏、节能照明和光电探测器中。该学院早期职业奖支持一个项目，旨在了解纳米晶体量子点（NQDs）在与功能光电器件相关的环境中的电子特性。这将通过使用扫描探针显微镜来完成，该显微镜可以研究单个NQDs，测量各种环境中NQDs的电荷、电流和位置，从而改进设备设计。此外，该项目旨在通过让本科生参与动手研究项目和举办第一年研讨会，提高一般科学素养，激励芒特霍利奥克学院的女本科生追求科学事业。研讨会旨在激发学生对当今研究的兴趣，并教育理科生和感兴趣的非理科生科学是如何发生的。通过阅读和讨论最近流行的科学发现和辩论的报道。****技术摘要****本学院早期职业奖支持一个项目，旨在了解固态结构中纳米晶体量子点（NQDs）的电子特性，特别是对NQDs上和下电荷输运的理解。该研究项目将重点研究使用扫描探针显微镜（SPM）局部探测NQD阵列，以及沉积在各种材料上和嵌入有机半导体中的分离和聚集的NQD。扫描栅技术、电力显微镜和导电SPM可以在空间上揭示名义上相同区域的电特性变化，阐明局部环境和制造缺陷对微观和宏观特性的作用。此外，该项目旨在通过让本科生参与动手研究项目和举办第一年研讨会，提高一般科学素养，激励芒特霍利奥克学院的女学生追求科学事业。研讨会旨在激发学生对当今研究的兴趣，并教育理科生和感兴趣的非理科生科学是如何发生的。通过阅读和讨论最近流行的科学发现和辩论的报道。

****NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACT****Semiconducting nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) are tiny ?balls? of material with exciting optical and electronic properties that can be controlled by changing the size of the NQD and other parameters. They are relatively easy to incorporate into devices, and have already proven their utility as fluorescent markers for biological imaging. NQDs are being used in photovoltaics, energy efficient lighting, and photodetectors, though the electronic properties of NQDs are sensitive to their immediate surroundings. This Faculty Early Career Award supports a project seeking to understand electronic properties of nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) in environments relevant to functional optoelectronic devices. This will be done by using a scanning probe microscope that can investigate individual NQDs, measuring the charge, current, and location of the NQDs in a variety of environments, leading to improved device design. Furthermore, this project aims to increase general science literacy and motivate the female undergraduate students at Mount Holyoke College to pursue careers in science, by engaging undergraduates in hands-on research projects and developing a first year seminar. The seminar seeks to excite the students about present-day research and to educate both science majors and interested non-majors about how science ?happens? by reading and discussing recent popular coverage of scientific discoveries and debates. ****TECHNICAL ABSTRACT****This Faculty Early Career Award supports a project seeking to understand electronic properties of nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) in solid state structures, in particular an understanding of charge transport on and off NQDs. The research project will focus on the use of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to locally probe NQD arrays, as well as isolated and aggregated NQDs deposited on a variety of materials and embedded in organic semiconductors. Scanned gate techniques, electric force microscopy, and conductive SPM can spatially reveal variations in electrical properties of nominally identical areas, illuminating the role of the local environment and imperfections of fabrication on microscopic and macroscopic properties. Furthermore, this project aims to increase general science literacy and motivate the female students at Mount Holyoke College to pursue careers in science, by engaging undergraduates in hands-on research projects and developing a first year seminar. The seminar seeks to excite the students about present-day research and to educate both science majors and interested non-majors about how science ?happens? by reading and discussing recent popular coverage of scientific discoveries and debates.