Multifunctional materials: structure and properties

纳米结构材料是一种有趣的模型系统，因为它们具有不同寻常的、与尺寸相关的、经常是意想不到的性质。对这类系统的深入了解有望优化电子和光电设备的性能，并可能是掌握有前景的技术(如太阳能电池、发光设备)的关键。此外，在纳米尺度上控制结构合成的能力将使开发具有前所未有的性能的新功能材料成为可能。最近的研究强调了多功能材料的潜力，这种材料同时显示出两种或两种以上的功能，也表明这种材料的性能往往在纳米级得到增强。鉴于加拿大对加强纳米科技研究和培训的不可否认的科学和技术兴趣，我正在领导一个关于多功能纳米材料的生长、加工和表征的强有力的研究计划。我们合成这类体系，然后使用先进的表征技术对其进行形态和化学分析，最终目的是了解和控制结构/性质关系。随后，我们将这些纳米级的积木应用到光电子器件中。我们专注于优化光伏(PV)效率等器件性能，并使用这些材料来生成氢气。这种方法非常成功，导致了铁电光伏[自然光电子9，61(2015)]的电力转换效率的世界纪录，以及量子点太阳能电池[Adv.Func.Mater]的其他突破性性能实例。27,1401468(2017年)]和光电化学制氢[纳米能源27,265(2016年)；纳米能源31,441(2017年)]。总而言之，拟议的研究计划描述了在最近成功的基础上建立和追求几个新发现方向之间的平衡组合。它将促进在先进材料加工和表征以及设备制造和测试方面的重点多学科研究，与加拿大高科技行业的特定需求保持一致。特别是，这将有助于(I)确定MF薄膜的最佳合成条件，以提高其铁电光伏性能；(Ii)探测量子点/金属氧化物界面，并利用它们来优化QDSCs的性能，从而产生PCE值；(Iii)开发核/壳量子点，以提高用于制氢的PEC器件的长期稳定性；(Iv)了解碳掺杂在提高DSSCs的稳定性和效率方面的作用；(V)研究表面聚合反应过程中的过渡态，并利用这一知识实现大规模的2D共轭聚合物。最后但同样重要的是，我们将培养高素质人才，以应对现代社会的科技挑战。

Nanostructured materials are interesting model systems due to their unusual, size-dependent and often unexpected properties. A deeper knowledge of such systems holds the promise of optimizing the performance of electronic and optoelectronic devices, and could be the key to master promising technologies (e.g. solar cells, light emitting devices). In addition, the ability to control structural synthesis on the nanometer length scale will allow to develop new functional materials with unprecedented properties. Recent studies highlighted the potential of multifunctional materials, which simultaneously exhibit two or more functionalities, also showing that the properties of such materials are often enhanced at the nanoscale. Given the undeniable scientific and technological interest in strengthening research and training in Nanoscale Science and Technology in Canada, I am leading a vigorous research program on the growth, processing and characterization of multifunctional nanomaterials. We synthesize such systems, then employ advanced characterization techniques for their morphological and chemical analysis, with the ultimate goal of understanding and controlling structure/property relations. Subsequently we implement these nanoscale building blocks into optoelectronic devices. We focus on optimizing device performance such as Photovoltaic (PV) efficiency, and using these materials to generate H2. This approach has been highly successful, leading to the world record of power conversion efficiency in Ferroelectric PV [Nature Photonics 9, 61 (2015)] and other instances of breakthrough performance in Quantum Dot Solar Cells [Adv.Func.Mater. 27, 1401468 (2017)] and Photoelectrochemical H2 production [Nano Energy 27, 265 (2016); Nano Energy 31, 441 (2017)]. In conclusion, the proposed research program describes a balanced mix between building on recent successes and pursuing several novel directions of discovery. It will foster focused multidisciplinary research in advanced materials processing and characterization and device fabrication and testing, consistently with specific needs of the high technology Canadian industry. In particular, it will contribute to (i) identify optimal synthesis conditions for MF films to enhance their properties for ferroelectric PV; (ii) probe QD/metal oxide interfaces and exploit them to optimize the performance of QDSCs, leading to record values of PCE; (iii) exploit core/shell QDs to improve the long term stability of PEC devices for H2 production; (iv) understand the effect of carbon doping in improving the stability and efficiency of DSSCs; (v) investigate the transition states during surface polymerization reactions and use this knowledge to realize large scale 2D conjugated polymers. Last but not least, we will train highly qualified personnel to respond to the scientific and technological challenges of modern society.