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(NQD)是微球吗？这种材料具有激动人心的光学和电学性质，可以通过改变NQD的大小和其他参数来控制。它们相对容易集成到设备中，并且已经证明了它们作为生物成像的荧光标记的有效性。尽管NQD的电学性质对其周围环境很敏感，但NQD正被用于光伏、节能照明和光电探测器。该学院早期职业奖支持一个项目，该项目寻求在与功能光电设备相关的环境中了解纳米晶体量子点(NQD)的电学性质。这将通过使用扫描探针显微镜来完成，该显微镜可以调查单个NQD，测量NQD在各种环境中的电荷、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实践研究项目和举办第一年研讨会，提高普通科学素养，并激励芒特霍利奥克学院的女本科生追求科学事业。该研讨会旨在激发学生对当前研究的兴趣，并教育理科专业的学生和感兴趣的非专业学生关于科学如何发生？？通过阅读和讨论最近关于科学发现和辩论的流行报道。*技术摘要*这个学院早期职业奖支持一个项目，该项目旨在了解固态结构中纳米晶体量子点(NQD)的电子性质，特别是对NQD上和外的电荷传输的理解。该研究项目的重点将是使用扫描探针显微镜(SPM)对NQD阵列进行局部探测，以及沉积在各种材料上并嵌入有机半导体中的孤立和聚集NQD。扫描栅极技术、电场显微镜和导电扫描探针显微镜可以在空间上揭示名义上相同区域的电学性质的变化，阐明局部环境和制造缺陷对微观和宏观性质的影响。此外，该项目旨在通过让本科生参与实践研究项目和举办第一年研讨会，提高普通科学素养，并激励曼荷莲学院的女学生追求科学事业。该研讨会旨在激发学生对当前研究的兴趣，并教育理科专业的学生和感兴趣的非专业学生关于科学如何发生？？通过阅读和讨论最近关于科学发现和辩论的流行报道。

****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.