Silicon and Germanium-Containing Nanocrystals, Nanorods and Nanowires

来自德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的Brian A. Korgel得到了化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持，他的研究重点是新的化学途径，以精确控制尺寸的含硅和含锗纳米晶体、纳米棒和纳米线。人们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表面钝化的精细控制。为了研究量子约束相关的光学和电子特性，在量子尺寸范围内合成了具有操纵形状和化学钝化表面能力的硅和锗纳米材料。硅和含锗的硫属铁Fe2MS4 （M = Si, Ge）也被合成和研究用于光伏应用，作为新的光催化剂类似于地球上丰富的半导体，黄铁矿FeS2，或“傻瓜金”，作为下一代锂离子电池的替代电极材料。硅基和锗基纳米材料在储能和太阳能利用方面有着广泛的应用。具体来说，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中都有应用。本研究中所针对的硅化物和锗化物代表了一类新的光催化剂和光吸收膜在由地球丰富的材料制成的光伏电池中。该项目还支持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参观和示范，教师培训，以及涉及纳米技术的本科生教育工作，例如开发新的商业化和创新新生课程，由商学院的同事团队教授。

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.