Chemistry of Advanced Inorganic Materials

The goal of this program is to discover controlled synthetic methods to produce and characterize novel inorganic nanometer-scalematerials and to gain a fundamental understanding of how nanoscale dimensions and interfaces impact the physical, chemical andoptoelectronic properties. To realize this goal, we will carry out two synergistic tasks. In the first task, we focus on threespecific science questions: How do intermolecular interactions and the forces of self assembly dictate the properties of orientednanostructures; how are the physical and functional properties of oriented thin film materials adjusted using chemical solution andvapor deposition methods; and what is the effect of reduced dimensionality? For the latter, we address, for example, how behaviorchanges when gases and fluids are confined at surfaces/interfaces or entrained in porous media with nanometer-scalearchitectures. How we control the nucleation and growth of inorganic nanoparticles, solution based thin films, andself-assemblyassisted synthesis of mesoporous nanostructures are major research themes. In the second task, we will investigate the adsorptionof hydrogen and hydrogen-bearing small molecules onto or within porous oxide media synthesized under the first task. To addressthese two tasks, we will use a combination of synthesis, neutron scattering, and advanced modeling to aid discovery and developmentof a quantitative, molecular level description of molecule-molecule and molecule-surface interactions by collecting detailedinformation regarding structure, dynamics and chemical activity.