Silicon and Germanium-Containing Nanocrystals, Nanorods and Nanowires

Brian A.来自德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的Korgel得到了化学系大分子，超分子和纳米化学计划的支持，研究重点是新的化学路线，以精确控制尺寸的含硅和锗的纳米晶体，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确控制。 为了研究量子限制相关的光学和电子性质，合成了量子尺寸范围内的硅和锗纳米材料，具有操纵形状和化学钝化表面的能力。 含硅和锗的铁硫族化合物Fe2MS4（M = Si，Ge）也正在合成和研究中，用于光伏应用，作为地球上丰富的半导体黄铁矿FeS2或“愚人金”的新型光催化剂类似物，以及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能量储存和太阳能利用方面有多种应用。 具体而言，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具有应用。 硅化物和锗化物在这项研究中的目标代表了一类新的光催化剂和光吸收薄膜的光催化剂，地球丰富的材料。 该项目还支持研究生和本科生的教育和培训，沿着其他教育活动，包括对当地小学和中学的访问和演示，教师培训，以及涉及纳米技术的本科生教育工作，例如与商学院的同事一起开发新的关于商业化和创新的新生课程。

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.