Molecular dynamics simulations of a coarse grain model are used to explore the morphology of thermotropic liquid crystal nanodroplets. The characteristic length of the droplets is such that different contributions to the energy, including interfacial and bulk-like terms, have comparable magnitudes.
IRG 3 has examined the orientational ordering of nematic liquid crystals (LCs) supported on organized monolayers of dipeptides with the goal of understanding how peptide-based interfaces encode intermolecular interactions that are amplified into supramolecular ordering.
In the last ten years, two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy has become an important technique for studying molecular structures and dynamics.
Objective: To develop nanofabrication capabilities that will allow for writing structures as small as ~10 nm.
Approach: Use MRSEC funds provided by the State of Utah to purchase state-of-the-art nanofabrication capabilities to expand existing materials research capabilities.
On-chip optical modulation is one of the most important functionalities for integrated silicon photonic circuits. We demonstrate that sputter-deposited polycrystalline metallic thin films are promising materials for realizing ultra-low power modulators.
On March 22, 2012, CRISP, in collaboration with Yale's Science Pathways, hosted a public lecture in support of the 2012 NanoDays national outreach campaign. IRG2 leader Jan Schroers gave a talk entitled, Strong as Steel, but Pliable as Plastic: Metals Conquering the Nanoworld. Hands-on demonstrations for students were provided by CRISP researchers.
Colloidal silicon quantum dot solution is stable over months
First principles modeling demonstrates that the efficiency of Multi-Exciton Generation (MEG) increases as quantum dot size decreases resolving a major controversy. The results were highly visible.
