Research.

Every modern technology enabled by inorganic materials is also constrained by them. Material properties limit the conversion of sunlight into electricity or fuel, restrict our ability to efficiently catalyze chemical reactions under mild conditions, and shape how we generate artificial light. The search for new materials is therefore driven both by the need to improve existing technologies and by the discovery of new functionalities that will enable the next generation of technologies. As such, the design, discovery, and synthesis of new materials are essential to scientific progress and long-term economic growth.

Data-Driven Learning

The design of inorganic materials relies on precise control over their synthesis. Rather than relying on conventional trial-and-error approaches, we leverage data-driven methods such as design of experiments, classification algorithms, and Bayesian optimization to guide materials discovery and synthesis. These approaches enable more efficient exploration of complex parameter spaces and significantly accelerate our ability to identify and synthesize new materials.

Colloidal Nanocrystals

We develop synthetic routes to colloidal nanocrystals with unique physicochemical properties relevant to catalysis, solar cells, and light-emitting diodes. A central focus of our work is molecular precursor chemistry. We have pioneered the use of dichalcogenide precursors, enabling tunable and kinetically controlled syntheses of metal chalcogenide nanocrystals, including many previously unexplored metastable materials discovered in our lab.

Thin Film Deposition

To reduce processing costs, we develop new classes of inks for the liquid-phase deposition of thin films. We have discovered a thiol-amine solvent system that dissolves a wide range of metals, metal oxides, and metal chalcogenides, enabling a versatile palette of inks. These inks can be solution-processed and thermally converted to produce high-quality thin films for applications in energy technologies, and can also be extended to electrowinning for the recovery of critical elements from ores.

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