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~~ The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Presents:

Professor Bryan Wong

Drexel University Department of Chemistry and Department of Materials Science & Engineering http://alum.mit.edu/www/usagi

Topic: Predictive and Fast: First-Principles Calculations on Energy Transfer in Molecular Photovoltaics, Carbon Nanotubes, and Nanowires

Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Time: 10:30am to 12:00pm (Refreshments from 10:00am to 10:30am)

Location: 440 Curry Student Center

 

Abstract: The ability to tune electronic properties in molecular photovoltaics and nanomaterials holds great promise for incorporating these materials in next-generation transistors, circuits, and nanoscale devices. In particular, the use of predictive first-principles calculations plays a vital role in rationally guiding experimental efforts to optimize energy harvesting in nanoscale and mesoscale materials. In this seminar, I will highlight recent work in my group on energy transfer mechanisms using first-principles computational methods. First, I will demonstrate that both the electronic and optical properties in photovoltaic molecules can be accurately predicted by constructing new exchange-correlation functionals for time-dependent density functional theory (DFT). Next, the use of large-scale DFT calculations is presented to understand optical detection mechanisms in a joint experimental-theoretical study of functionalized carbon nanotubes. Finally, a new theoretical approach is presented to understand electron localization effects in heterostructure nanowires. At nanoscale dimensions, the formation of mobile electron gases in AlGaN/GaN core-shell nanowires leads to degenerate quasi-one-dimensional electron localization, in striking contrast to what would be expected from analogy with bulk heterojunctions. The reduction in dimensionality in these nanowires dramatically changes their electronic structure, leading to novel properties such as ballistic transport and conductance quantization. optical detection using a chromophore-functionalized carbon nanotube.

 

Short Bio: Prof. Bryan M. Wong received BS (2001) degrees in physics and chemistry from Rice University, and received a PhD (2007) in chemical physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). In 2007, Bryan joined Sandia National Laboratories as a senior member of the technical staff in the Nanoelectronics and Nanophotonics group. In 2013, Bryan moved to Drexel University as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Materials Science & Engineering. Bryan specializes in first-principles calculations for predicting electronic properties of photovoltaic materials, functionalized carbon nanotubes, graphene-based materials, and semiconductor nanowires. Bryan has published over 70 scientific journal articles within the areas of materials science, physics, and chemistry.

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