CAREER: Development of Earth-Abundant Mixed-Metal Sulfide Nanoparticles for use in Solar Energy Conversion

化学系的大分子，超分子和纳米化学（MSN）计划将支持富兰克林马歇尔学院的凯瑟琳普拉斯教授的职业研究和教育项目。Plass教授和她的本科研究人员将开发新的廉价纳米粒子合成方法，这些纳米粒子被设计成在光化学中充当光吸收剂。具体而言，Plass集团将创造由高度丰富的元素组成的固体解决方案。这将提供具有从近红外到紫外区域可调的带隙的纳米颗粒，从而能够构建低成本的基于纳米颗粒的多结光致发光器件。为了创造这些化合物，该团队将设计前体，诱导具有不同大小和亲和力的阳离子以相似的速率反应形成硫化物。将研究表面化学和膜形成，以产生化学稳定的纳米颗粒膜，具有必要的高电导率，以有效地收集光生电荷。最后，将使用这些由地球上丰富的元素制成的纳米粒子来构建光伏器件。本科生将进行研究，作者出版物，并在全国会议上展示结果，为进入研究生院做好准备。从事这项工作的本科生研究人员代表了对利用化学开发可再生能源感兴趣的最新一代训练有素的科学家。一般替代能源研究，特别是这项工作将纳入本科课程和与北方自然历史科学博物馆针对公众和当地小学生的外联活动。

The Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) program of the Division of Chemistry will support the CAREER research and education project of Prof. Katherine Plass of Franklin & Marshall College. Prof. Plass and her undergraduate researchers will develop new syntheses of inexpensive nanoparticles designed to act as light-absorbers in photovoltaics. Specifically, the Plass group will create solid solutions consisting of highly abundant elements. This will afford nanoparticles with band gaps tunable from the near-infrared to the ultraviolet region, thereby enabling construction of low-cost nanoparticle-based multijunction photovoltaics. To create these compounds, the team will design precursors that induce cations with different sizes and affinities to react to form sulfides at similar rates. Surface chemistry and film formation will be studied to create chemically stable nanoparticle films that have the necessary high conductivities to efficiently collect photogenerated charges. Finally, photovoltaic devices will be constructed using these nanoparticles made from earth-abundant elements. Undergraduate students will carry out the research, author publications, and present results at national meetings, positioning them well for entry into graduate school. The undergraduate researchers performing this work represent the newest generation of well-trained scientists interested in using chemistry to develop renewable energy. Alternative energy research in general and this work in particular will be incorporated into undergraduate classes and outreach activities with the North Museum of Natural History & Science aimed at the general public and local grade school students.