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Kevin Stokes Ph.D.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., 1995 |
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Solid materials with physical dimensions on the nanometer (10-9 m) scale exhibit properties which can be very different from bulk material properties. These unique properties derive, for the most part, from two effects related to the small size of the crystalline particle. First are "quantum confinement" effects. This refers to the physical confinement of the crystal excitations (electrons, excitons, phonons.) inside the particle and results in transformation of the density of electronic energy levels. The result is often a dramatic change in the optical, magnetic and electronic properties of the material. Second are surface effects. The surface of every material contributes to its electronic properties. In a nanometer-sized particle (nanoparticle), a very large fraction of the total number of atoms are on the surface. In this case, the properties of a nanoparticle can be extremely sensitive to the surface chemistry. Primarily, our research is concerned with the synthesis, measurement and understanding nanometer-sized particles and collections of particles. The pages on this site give some details of two research projects: magnetic and optical properties of diluted magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles and the thermal and electrical properties of self-assembled nanoparticle structures for possible thermoelectric applications. Our research involves collaborations with Physicists, Chemists, Materials Scientists and Engineers through the Advanced Materials Research Institute (AMRI). AMRI is a multidisciplinary materials research center at the University of New Orleans that combines the interests of academic, government and industrial scientists working on collaborative research.
Latest update: January 2004 |
