Advanced Metal-Main Group Nanocluster Chemistry

半导体纳米材料是现代技术中越来越重要的组成部分。因此，这些材料的纳米（10-9米）尺寸的片的受控组装不仅被驱动用于检查它们的基本物理特性，而且用于它们在太阳能电池器件、传感器和现代显示技术中的开发应用。* 本提案中描述的研究计划的目标是开发此类纳米材料的“分子前体方法”，其中设计并制备小的易于制备的分子，以纳入可以以尺寸/形状控制的方式组装的高阶结构中。特别是，该研究计划将开发化学涂覆这些纳米材料表面的方法，以纳入传感应用的额外功能，并增加单个纳米尺寸半导体片之间的电子通信。待开发的合成方法将允许在原子水平上控制构成纳米材料本身的元素的相对量。以这种方式，可以通过设置半导体的化学组成来精细地调整半导体的物理性质。* 在这些领域工作的研究生和本科生在先进的化学合成和纳米材料设计方面发展技能和培训，并能够进入加拿大经济的先进材料和制造业。

Semiconductor nanomaterials are increasingly important components in modern technologies. Thus the controlled assembly of nanometer (10-9 meter) sized pieces of these materials is being driven not only for an examination of their fundamental photophysical feaures, but also for their developing applications in solar cell devices, sensors and modern display technologies. ***The goals of the research program described in this proposal are to develop "molecular precursor approaches" to such nanomaterials where small, easily prepared molecules are designed and prepared for incorporation into higher order architectures that can be assembled in a size/shape controlled fashion. In particular, the research program will develop methods to chemically coat the surfaces of these nanomaterials to incorporate additional functionality for sensing applications and for increased electronic communication between individual nanometer sized pieces of semiconductor. The synthetic methods to be developed will permit control, at the atomic level, of the relative amounts of elements that make up the nanomaterial itself. In this manner the photophysical properties can be finely tuned by setting the chemical make-up of the semiconductor. ***The graduate and undergraduate students working in these areas develop skills and training in advanced chemical synthesis and nanomaterials design and are able to enter the advanced materials and manufacturing sector of the Canadian economy.**