Objective
We target a frontier in nanocrystal science of combining disparate materials into a single hybrid nanosystem. This offers an intriguing route to engineer nanomaterials with multiple functionalities in ways that are not accessible in bulk materials or in molecules. Such control of novel material combinations on a single nanoparticle or in a super-structure of assembled nanoparticles, presents alongside with the synthesis challenges, fundamental questions concerning the physical attributes of nanoscale systems. My goals are to create new highly controlled hybrid nanoparticle systems, focusing on combinations of semiconductors and metals, and to decipher the fundamental principles governing doping in nanoparticles and charge and energy transfer processes among components of the hybrid systems. The research addresses several key challenges: First, in synthesis, combining disparate material components into one hybrid nanoparticle system. Second, in self assembly, organizing a combination of semiconductor (SC) and metal nanoparticle building blocks into hybrid systems with controlled architecture. Third in fundamental physico-chemical questions pertaining to the unique attributes of the hybrid systems, constituting a key component of the research. A first aspect concerns doping of SC nanoparticles with metal atoms. A second aspect concerns light-induced charge transfer between the SC part and metal parts of the hybrid constructs. A third related aspect concerns energy transfer processes between the SC and metal components and the interplay between near-field enhancement and fluorescence quenching effects. Due to the new properties, significant impact on nanocrystal applications in solar energy harvesting, biological tagging, sensing, optics and electropotics is expected.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
ERC-2009-AdG
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
ERC-AG - ERC Advanced GrantHost institution
91904 Jerusalem
Israel