CAREER: Research and Education for a Solar Future: Fundamentals of Nanocrystal Photochemistry and Integration of Solar Energy Research into Physical Chemistry Curriculum

科罗拉多大学博尔德分校的Gordana Dukovic教授获得了化学学部超分子、大分子和纳米化学项目的CAREER奖，研究半导体纳米晶体的光化学。这些材料在与可见光相关的驱动化学反应方面具有有趣的潜在应用。然而，由半导体纳米晶体介导的光化学反应机制尚不清楚。本项目旨在将纳米晶体结构参数与光化学反应机理联系起来，为实用材料的设计提供合理依据。Dukovic教授还将开发一个教育项目，将当前太阳能收集的研究问题整合到本科物理化学（量子力学和光谱学）的课程中。这个项目将提高对纳米晶体如何促进有用的光驱动化学反应的基本理解。这些科学发现将影响纳米级半导体在广泛感兴趣的技术（例如，太阳能燃料发电、环境修复和消毒）中令人兴奋的潜在应用。将太阳能研究与量子力学和光谱学教学相结合的教育计划将传播到教育界，以便在大学课堂上复制。该项目将展示来自不同背景的研究人员，这将鼓励来自代表性不足群体的学生参与科学事业。

Prof. Gordana Dukovic of the University of Colorado Boulder is supported through a CAREER award by the Supramolecular, Macromolecular and Nanochemistry program of the Chemistry Division to study the photochemistry of semiconductor nanocrystals. These materials have intriguing potential applications related to driving chemical reactions with visible light. However, the mechanisms of photochemical reactions mediated by semiconductor nanocrystals are poorly understood. The aim of this project is to correlate nanocrystal structural parameters with photochemical reaction mechanisms and provide a rational basis for the design of practical materials. Prof. Dukovic will also develop an educational program that integrates current research problems in solar energy harvesting into the curriculum for undergraduate Physical Chemistry (Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy).This project will improve the fundamental understanding of how nanocrystals can facilitate useful light-driven chemical reactions. The scientific discoveries will impact exciting potential applications of nanoscale semiconductors in technologies of broad interest (e.g., solar fuel generation, environmental remediation and disinfection). The educational program that integrates solar energy research with teaching of quantum mechanics and spectroscopy will be disseminated to the education community so that it can be replicated in college classrooms. The program will showcase researchers from diverse backgrounds, which will encourage participation of students from underrepresented groups in scientific careers.