Nanostructured materials: laser/plasma based synthesis, nanohybridization and integration into photoactive devices

纳米结构材料构成了用于设计和构建新型纳米混合组件的有趣的构建块，特别是用于增强的太阳能收集和光转换应用。由于其组分的纳米尺寸和高表面积沿着将其组装成不同纳米结构的各种可能性，纳米杂化物（NH）表现出新的且通常意想不到的性质。对这些新型NH性质的研究和优化无疑将增强我们使用基于纳米技术的解决方案在许多领域进行创新的能力，包括太阳能转换和水质保护的战略领域。这项创新的核心是，一方面，掌握这些NH的合成和组装，另一方面，对NH的纳米结构-性质相互关系的基本理解。在我的团队中，我们基本上使用强大的激光/等离子体工具来分解（在原子/分子水平上）固体物质，在受控的实验条件下，有预谋的意图是引导其重新组装成具有不同结构的纳米级实体，表现出全新的行为。一旦形成，我们有必要的专业知识，以探测这些新的NH的纳米结构和性能的手段，最先进的表征技术。最终目标是将NH的独特性质开发成创新器件。通过利用我的专业知识和成功的研究成果，我将继续领导一个雄心勃勃的研究计划，其具体目标是：（i）通过原始的等离子体/激光处理策略，合成由碳纳米管，硅或TiO 2纳米线组成的新型NH，局部修饰有适当的纳米颗粒（Ag，Au，PbS，CZTS）。重点将是对这些NH的生长/自组装机制的理解，特别是在等离子体/激光工艺的非平衡生长条件下;（ii）研究这些NH的结构和光电（OE）特性，以优化其光电转换效率。理解这些光电性能和纳米结构特性的NH沿着与其相关的光电荷动力学之间的关系是我们的研究的核心。这还将使这些NH的全部潜力能够被开发成极高效的太阳能电池和/或高效的光阳极，用于阳光直射下的水净化;（iii）利用这项研究的第一批成果来发展与加拿大工业界的合作伙伴关系;最重要的是（iv）继续在我们的主要使命中表现出色，为战略领域的HQP提供高质量的培训（例如，纳米技术，清洁能源，安全用水），这将为加拿大未来的经济提供动力，并加强其国际竞争力。

Nanostructured materials constitute interesting building blocks for the design and construction of novel nanohybrid assemblies, particularly for enhanced solar energy harvesting and photo-conversion applications. Due to the nanometer size and the high surface area of their constituents along with the various possibilities to assemble them into different nanoarchitectures, the nanohybrids (NHs) exhibit new and often unexpected properties. The study and optimisation of the properties of these novel NHs will undoubtedly reinforce our capacity to use nanotechnology based solutions to innovate in many areas, including the strategic fields of solar energy conversion and water quality preservation. Central to this innovation is, on one hand, mastering the synthesis and assembly of these NHs and, on the other hand, fundamental understanding of the nanostructure-property inter-relationships of the NHs. In my group, we basically use powerful laser/plasma tools to decompose (at the atomic/molecular level) solid mater, under controlled experimental conditions, with the premeditated intent to guide its re-assembly into nanoscale entities with different architectures exhibiting completely new behaviors. Once formed, we have the required expertise to probe the nanostructure and properties of these novel NHs by means of state-of-the-art characterization techniques. The ultimate objective is to exploit the unique properties of NHs into innovative devices. By capitalizing on my expertise and successful research achievements, I will continue to lead an ambitious research program of which specific objectives are: (i) to synthesize novel NHs consisting of carbon nanotubes, silicon or TiO2  nanowires locally decorated with appropriate nanoparticles (Ag, Au, PbS, CZTS) by means of original plasma/laser processing strategies. Focus will be on the understanding of the growth/self-assembly mechanisms of these NHs, particularly in the non-equilibrium growth conditions of the plasma/laser processes; (ii) to study the structural and opto-electronic (OE) properties of these NHs in order to optimize their photo-conversion efficiency. Understanding the relationship between these OE properties and nanostructural characteristics of the NHs along with their associated photocharges dynamics is central to our research. This will also enable the exploitation of the full potential of these NHs into extremely-efficient solar cells and/or highly-effective photoanodes for water decontamination under direct sunlight; (iii) to capitalize on the first outcomes of this research to develop partnerships with Canadian industry; and most importantly (iv) to continue to excel in our primary mission of providing high-quality training to HQP in strategic areas (e.g., nanotechnology, clean energy, safe water) that will fuel up Canada's future economy and strengthen its international competitiveness.**