Optical and Electronic Materials and Nanomaterials
Optical and electronic materials and nanomaterials include both organic and inorganic, as well as both bulk and nanoscale forms of materials that can be used in devices for the conversion of light to electricity, and in novel electronic and plasmonic devices. Sixteen research groups from the Departments of Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Mechanical and Materials Engineering and Physics & Astronomy as well as the Robarts Research Institute engage in these areas of material research. The scope of research spans the development, for example of novel nanomaterials for use as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, the preparation of carbon-based and organic nanomaterials and their use for the fabrication of optical and electronic devices, including thin film transistors and solar cells and
Researchers
Robert Bartha
Email
Robarts Research Institute
519 661-2111 ext 24039
Characterization of nanomaterials for use as imaging contrast agents.
Dr. Bartha's program involves the characterization of novel nanomaterials for use as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. In particular, the characterization and development of methods to detect nanomaterials with greater sensitivity using a mechanism called chemical exchange saturation transfer. The use of this mechanism provides opportunities to utilize nanomaterials to report physiological conditions such as temperature and pH in biological systems.
Styliani Constas
Email
ChB 071
519 661-2111 ext 86338
Molecular simulations of phase transformations of titanium dioxide nanotubes and nanorods; disintegration mechanisms of charged liquid nanodroplets; chemical reactions in clusters.
Systems with dimensions in the nanometer range are studied by molecular simulations and analytical theories. The systems are
John Corrigan
Email
Chemistry Building, Rm. 16
519 661-2111 ext 86387
nanoclusters and nanoparticles, semiconductor, X-ray crystallography.
Dr. Corrigan develops methodologies for the controlled assembly of nanocluster (crystallographically characterized) and nanoparticle semiconductor complexes.
Colin Denniston
Email
Middlesex College, Rm. 266
519 661-2111 ext 88791
multiscale
The Denniston group's research focuses on
Zhifeng Ding
Email
Material Science Addition, Rm 0203
Scanning Probe Microscopies, spectroelectrochemistry and other instrumental analyses: toward optoelectronic, biological, pharmaceutical and environmental applications.
Dr. Ding’s research group is applying modern analytical methods such as electrochemistry, spectroscopy
Giovanni Fanchini
Email
Physics & Astronomy Building, Rm. 229
519 661-2111 ext 86238
Optoelectronic devices from carbon nanotubes and graphene, development of new optical techniques for characterizing nanomaterials, solid-state electron spin resonance, photovoltaics and solar thermal materials, carbon-based nanomaterials in energy systems
Dr. Fanchini's activity encompasses the preparation of carbon-based and organic nanomaterials and their use for the fabrication of optical and electronic devices, including thin film transistors and solar cells. Materials that have been recently investigated include carbon nanotube networks, graphene nanoplatelets, conducting polymers and polyaromatic molecules. Specific characterization and
Lyudmila Goncharova
Email
Physics & Astronomy Building, Rm. 231
519 661-2111 ext 81558
Ion beam analysis and implantation, electronic materials, surface physics,
Dr. Lyudmila Goncharova is an expert in surface and interface characterization utilizing high and medium energy ion scattering elastic recoil detection analysis, and nuclear reaction analysis. The group’s scientific
Liying Jiang
Email
Alexander Charles Spencer Engineering Building, Rm. 3076
519 661-2111 ext 80422
Piezoelectric nanostructures in energy harvesting; mechanical properties of nanostructured materials; conductive nanocomposites; electromechanical coupling
Dr. Jiang’s research interests and activities cover a wide range of solid and applied mechanics and materials engineering. One of her projects is focused on investigating the size-dependent properties of piezoelectric nanostructures in energy harvesting. Dr. Jiang’s other research topics include investigating the mechanical and electrical properties of conductive polymer nanocomposites by developing an efficient multi-scale
George Knopf
Email
Spencer Engineering Building, Rm 3087
519-661-2111 ext 88452
Engineering design; printable electronics; laser microfabrication; micro-optics; flexible optical sheets; biosensors and bioelectronics.
Professor Knopf’s laboratory involves an interdisciplinary group of researchers who explore new materials and fabrication techniques for creating the next generation of mechanically flexible optical and electronic devices, light-driven micromachines and wearable sensor systems. His research activities include
François Lagugné-Labarthet
Email
Material Science Addition, Rm. 0202
519 661-2111 ext 81006
Metallic nanostructures for photonics applications, advanced optical spectroscopy for nanomaterial characterization, fluorescence lifetime imaging.
Dr. Lagugné-Labarthet's scientific interest includes the development of high spatial resolution optical spectroscopy for nanomaterial characterization, as well as the design,
Silvia Mittler
Email
Western Scient Centre, Rm. G9
519 661-2111 ext 88592
integrated optical sensors, gold nanoparticle sensors, thin films and interfaces, evanescent optical microscopy for cell-substrate interaction studies, evanescent optical tweezers, self-assembled monolayers as surface functionalization for chemo-sensors, aligned collagen, 2D nanopattern, polymeric materials for biocompatible surfaces, polarimetry, surface plasmon spectroscopy, evanescent absorption spectroscopy, waveguide spectroscopy.
Dr. Mittler's Laboratory for Photonics of Surfaces and Interfaces focuses on three major themes. One is evanescent microscopy, both fluorescence
Aaron Price
Email
Spencer Engineering Building, Rm 3026A
519-661-2111 ext 86420
Smart material actuators and sensors, mechatronic systems for industrial automation and biomedical applications, additive manufacturing of advanced materials, conductive electroactive polymers and composites, magnetic and thermal shape memory materials, advanced biomedical technologies for better health.
Dr. Price’s research is focused on the nexus of smart materials and additive manufacturing technologies to realize novel biomedical devices. He has expertise in electroactive polymers, magnetic shape memory alloys, and piezo-transducers for sensing, energy harvesting, and actuation technologies.
T. K. Sham
Email
Chemistry Building, Rm. B030A
519 661-2111 ext 86341
bio-compatible silicate and phosphates for drug delivery, biocompatibility of nanomaterials for drug delivery, Li-based materials for Li battery, nano-catalyst for fuel cells, OLED and optoelectronic materials, magnetism, nano-heterostructures, nanomaterials for electronic, optical and energy applications, C and Si-based materials, metal oxides, development and application of synchrotron radiation.
Dr. Sham’s research covers the general area of the chemistry and electronic properties of materials and the development and application of synchrotron radiation, especially the interplay of electronic structure, materials properties
Peter Simpson
Email
Physics & Astronomy Building, Rm. 210
519 661-2111 ext 83390 or 82102
Nanocrystal fabrication, positron annihilation.
Peter Simpson's group researches the production of silicon nanocrystals, or quantum dots, by a variety of fabrication methods. These structures exhibit light emission unlike bulk silicon, and they investigate the underlying physics of the light emission process as a step toward device engineering. Dr. Simpson also researches the application of positron annihilation as a technique to investigate open-volume defects in materials, and the use of 'defect engineering' to control or modify material properties.
Yang Song
Email
Chemistry Building, Rm. 22
519 661-2111 ext 86310
Novel functional materials and nanomaterials under extreme conditions, energetic materials, hydrogen and CO2 storage materials.
Chemistry and materials research under extreme conditions, especially at high pressures, represent a prevailing interdisciplinary frontier area with profound implications
Mark Workentin
Email
Chemistry Building, Rm. 223
519 661-2111 ext 86319
Physical organic chemistry of materials; material design, characterization
Dr. Workentin specializes in the design and synthesis of photochemically and electrochemically responsive organic functionalized materials. The main goal is to develop a physical organic chemistry understanding of the structure-function relationships and factors that control
Jun Yang
Email
Alexander Charles Spencer Engineering Building, Rm. 3089
519 661-2111 ext 80158
Nanomaterials for electronics, bio
Dr. Yang’s lab focuses on developing functional materials and surfaces using green technologies. Specific applications include conductive polymer nanocomposites for flexible electronics, functional membranes for filtration and functional surfaces for antimicrobial/anti-biofouling purposes.