Project Info
Tuning Charge Transport and Photoemission in Perovskite Halides with Pseudohalide Chemistries
Annalise Maughan
amaughan@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
Perovskite halide semiconductors have ushered in a revolution across many renewable energy technologies, including solar energy conversion and light emission. Yet, questions remain regarding a fundamental understanding of the chemistries and structures that enable their transformative properties. The perovskite structure can accommodate a wide range of chemistries at the cation and anion sites that can be used to control properties, including charge transport and light emission. This project aims to discover new perovskite-inspired materials with unique anion chemistries. We aim to replace the halides with small, molecular “pseudohalides”, such has thiocyanate (SCN–) within the perovskite framework and to uncover how this substitution impacts optoelectronic properties that are relevant for renewable energy.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Make solar energy economical.
Primary Contacts:
Annalise Maughan, amaughan@mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Students interested in this project should have completed General Chemistry I and II and the corresponding labs. Courses or experience in organic chemistry and/or materials science courses are preferred.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
5
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
Students engaged on this project will learn synthesis and crystal growth techniques and will learn to characterize structures and chemistries with X-ray diffraction. Students will also learn how to characterize properties of their new materials, including electronic conductivity and photoluminescence, and will gain a fundamental understanding of how chemistry and structure impact charge transport and light emission.
MENTORING PLAN
Students on this project will be paired with a graduate student mentor to oversee day-to-day activities. The PI will also be closely involved to mentor and oversee the project on a weekly basis. Under this supervision, students will be allowed to pursue their curiosities during the course of this project, requiring creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving to address the prevailing scientific questions.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Sophomore
Junior