Geoffrey Hutchison Assistant Professor, Chemistry
Research
Experimental and Theoretical Design of Molecular Electronic Nanomaterials
Keywords: Theory and simulation, organic electronics, piezoelectrics, photovoltaics, alternative energy
Our group combines experimental and computational investigations to gain deep understanding of organic electronic materials. The bottom line is to efficiently design novel molecular nanomaterials with improved properties.
SINGLE-MOLECULE PIEZOELECTRIC SPRINGS
Our group has pioneered a novel approach to make piezoelectric materials -- using conformational changes in individual molecules. Piezoelectric materials deform shape in response to an electric field and are used in everything from high-tech atomic force microscopes (AFM) to airbag impact sensors in cars. Using a combination of computational design and nanoscale characterization, using piezo-force AFM, we have found materials with high response. Potential applications include energy generation and highly sensitive sensors.
ORGANIC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
Our group is creating monolayer and nanoscale transistors of organic semiconductors with designed defects: both in terms of the type and concentration of defects. The combined experimental and computational research will enable greater understanding of charge transport in molecular materials.
We also are studying the “rational” design of novel organic solar cell materials including generating millions of candidate polymers in a computational database, combined with detailed experimental and theoretical study of charge transport. With collaborators, we are also pushing to improve nano- and microscale morphology to improve electrical conductivity.
