Silicon and Germanium-Containing Nanocrystals, Nanorods and Nanowires

德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的布莱恩·A·科格尔得到了化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划的支持，该计划的研究重点是通过新的化学途径获得尺寸精确可控的含硅和含锗纳米晶体、纳米棒和纳米线。正在开发新的反应途径，以提供对反应物分解、半导体形成和结晶以及有效的表面钝化的精细控制。为了研究与量子限制相关的光学和电学性质，人们合成了量子尺寸范围内的硅和锗纳米材料，这些材料具有操纵表面形状和化学钝化表面的能力。硅和锗的铁硫属化合物Fe2MS4(M=Si，Ge)也在合成和研究中，用于光伏应用，作为类似于地球上丰富的半导体黄铁矿FeS_2或“愚人金”的新型光催化剂，以及作为下一代锂离子电池的替代电极材料。硅和锗纳米材料在储能和太阳能利用方面有着广泛的应用。具体地说，它们在医学、晶体管和显示器、锂离子电池的电极材料、新型光催化剂和光伏器件等方面都有应用。本研究中的硅化物和锗化合物代表了一类新型的光催化剂和由富含地球的材料制成的光伏电池中的光吸收薄膜。该项目还支持对研究生和本科生的教育和培训，以及其他教育活动，包括对当地中小学的访问和示范、教师培训和涉及纳米技术的本科教育努力，例如与商学院的同事一起开发一门关于商业化和创新的新的新生课程。

Brian A. Korgel from the University of Texas at Austin is supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry in research focusing on new chemical routes to silicon- and germanium-containing nanocrystals, nanorods and nanowires with precisely controlled dimensions. Novel reaction pathways are being developed to provide exquisite control of reactant decomposition, semiconductor formation and crystallization, and effective surface passivation. For the study of quantum confinement-related optical and electronic properties, silicon and germanium nanomaterials in the quantum size range are synthesized with the ability to manipulate shape and chemically passivate surfaces. Silicon and germanium-containing iron chalcogenides, Fe2MS4 (M = Si, Ge), are also being synthesized and studied for photovoltaic applications, as new photocatalyst analogs to the earth-abundant semiconductor, pyrite FeS2, or "Fool's gold" and as alternative electrode materials for next generation lithium ion batteries.Silicon- and germanium-based nanomaterials have a variety of applications in energy storage and solar energy utilization. Specifically, they have applications in medicine, for transistors and displays, as electrode materials in lithium ion batteries, as novel photocatalysts, and as photovoltaic devices. The silicide and germanide compounds targeted in this study represent a new class of photocatalysts and light-absorbing films in photovoltaics made of earth-abundant materials. This project also supports the education and training of graduate and undergraduate students, along with additional educational activities that include visits and demonstrations to local primary and secondary schools, teacher training, and undergraduate education efforts involving nanotechnology, such as the development of a new freshman course on commercialization and innovation, team-taught with colleagues from the business school.