Shim Research Group
RESEARCH AREAS
The overarching goal of our
research program is to understand charging and charge separation phenomena in
materials, especially in low-dimensional systems at the nanometer length scale.
Charging and charge separation are fundamental processes that govern how
electronic, optoelectronic, and photovoltaic devices operate. Materials with
nanometer dimensions provide new engineering paradigms and prospects for
devices with unprecedented performance. However, ubiquitously large
surface-to-volume ratio of materials in this size regime often leads to large
deviations from expected properties and therefore difficulties arise in
achieving the desired performance. The ability to control surface and interfacial
effects is then critical in elucidating the underlying materials’ properties which
in turn is essential in developing any future technologies. Hence, we study how
charging and charge separation processes affect structure, electrical and
optical properties, and chemical reactivity with special attention to the materials’
responses to variations at surfaces and interfaces. Insights gained from these
studies are then exploited to develop new materials exhibiting superior
properties useful for solar energy conversion and high performance nano- and
macro-electronics.
Research areas: Synthesis&Chemistry Charging&Charge Separation Applications