A New Route to Novel Materials: Reactions of Zintl Phases and Anions in Ionic Liquids

Arnold M.休斯顿大学化学系的Guloy得到了无机，生物无机和有机化学计划的支持，以制备和研究新型晶体和纳米晶Ge和Si材料，用于光电和热电器件的可能应用。 他的合成策略采用了独特的逐步生长方法，通过在离子液体中氧化聚合/偶联分子Zintl阴离子簇、聚合物和网络来生成新型Ge和Si结构。非共价分子相互作用的相互作用导致自组织纳米级组装， Guloy教授的方法将通过适当的分子设计和化学合成来连续控制结构的大小，形状，方向和顺序。 这种方法的一个显著优点是它可以很容易地适应于各种极性金属间化合物前体和化学functions.The分子水平的基本理解，主族金属间化合物的分子反应性和结构-性能调制方面将允许在新的器件中使用的可调性能的新型材料的合成。 所提出的Ge和Si基材料和器件将被研究为具有量子、光子和热电器件潜在应用的光学和电子材料。 本科生和研究生将参与多学科研究。 学生将有一个独特的机会学习无机和有机合成方法以及涉及固态，聚合物，薄膜和表面科学技术的材料表征。 最后，拟议的研究将包括与德国德累斯顿马克斯普朗克研究所的尤里·格林教授小组的国际合作。 这种关系将通过交流和访问研究项目加强研究生培训。

Professor Arnold M. Guloy of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Houston is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program to prepare and study novel crystalline and nanocrystalline Ge and Si materials for possible applications in optoelectronic and thermoelectric devices. His synthetic strategy employs a unique step-wise growth method for generating novel Ge and Si structures via the oxidative polymerization/coupling of molecular Zintl anion clusters, polymers and networks in ionic liquids. The interplay of non-covalent molecular interactions leads to self-organized nanoscale assemblies and Professor Guloy's approach will continuously control the size, shape, orientation, and order of the structures by appropriate molecular design and chemical synthesis. A significant advantage of this method is that it can be readily adapted to a variety of polar intermetallic precursors and chemical functionalities.The fundamental understanding of molecular level, main group intermetallics in terms of molecular reactivity and structure-property modulation will allow for the synthesis of novel materials with tunable properties for use in novel devices. The proposed Ge-and Si-based materials and devices will be investigated as optical and electronic materials with potential applications as quantum, photonic, and thermoelectric devices. Undergraduate and graduate students will be involved in the multidisciplinary research. Students will have a unique opportunity to learn inorganic and organic synthetic methods as well as materials characterization involving solid state, polymer, thin film and surface science techniques. Finally, the proposed research will include an international collaboration with Professor Yuri Grin's group at the Max-Planck-Institute in Dresden, Germany. This relationship will enhance graduate student training through exchange and visiting research programs.