The School of Physical Sciences Center for Solar Energy supports three core research initiatives:

Core Initiative: Metal-Semiconductor Hybrid Nanowires Utilizing Plasmonics for Concentrating Solar Radiation.

Principle Investigator: Dean John Hemminger

Surface chemistry forms the basis for research in the laboratory of Dean Hemminger. Of particular interest are fundamental problems related to heterogeneous catalysis, atmospheric chemistry, and radiation interactions with condensed media important to Solar Energy Devices. Selected publications:
  1. Hemminger, J. C. "Interface chemistry in the environment: Photoelectron spectroscopy at the vapor/liquid interface of ionic aqueous solutions: Ion distributions and reactions", J Electron Spectrosc 2007, 156, XXI-XXI.
  2. Ghosal, S.; Verdaguer, A.; Hemminger, J. C.; Salmeron, M. "In situ study of water-induced segregation of bromide in bromide-doped sodium chloride by scanning polarization force microscopy", J Phys Chem A 2005, 109, 4744-4749.
  3. Ghosal, S.; Hemminger, J. C.; Bluhm, H.; Mun, B. S.; Hebenstreit, E. L. D.; Ketteler, G.; Ogletree, D. F.; Requejo, F. G.; Salmeron, M. "Electron spectroscopy of aqueous solution interfaces reveals surface enhancement of halides", Science 2005, 307, 563-566.
  4. Ghosal, S.; Hemminger, J. C. "Surface adsorbed water on NaCl and its effect on nitric acid reactivity with NaCl powders", J Phys Chem B 2004, 108, 14102-14108.
  5. Layman, K. A.; Hemminger, J. C. "Determination of surface OH acidity from the formation of acid/base complexes on ultrathin films of gamma-Al2O3 on NiAl(100)", J Catal 2004, 222, 207-213.
  6. Ivey, M. M.; Layman, K. A.; Avoyan, A.; Allen, H. C.; Hemminger, J. C. "Characterization of ultrathin films of gamma-Al2O3 and the chemistry of 1,3-butadiene on NiAl(001) and gamma-Al2O3", J Phys Chem B 2003, 107, 6391-6400.

Key coworkers:
  • Wei Luo (graduate student researcher) -
  • James Taing (graduate student researcher) -
Core Initiative: Molecular Machines for Solar-Powered Photochemistry

Principle Investigator: Professor Alan F. Heyduk - Multielectron transfers are required for chemical reactions of importance to industry and the environment. The Heyduk research group designs and synthesizes molecules that efficiently carry out these reactions.
Selected publications:
  1. Haneline, M. R.; Heyduk, A. F. "C-C bond-forming reductive elimination from a zirconium(IV) redox-active ligand complex", J Am Chem Soc 2006, 128, 8410-8411.
  2. Blackmore, K. J.; Ziller, J. W.; Heyduk, A. F. ""Oxidative addition" to a Zirconium(IV) redox-active ligand complex", Inorg Chem 2005, 44, 5559-5561.
  3. Heyduk, A. F.; Blackmore, K. J.; Ketterer, N. A.; Ziller, J. W. "Azide addition to give a tetra-azazirconacycle complex", Inorg Chem 2005, 44, 468-470.
  4. Heyduk, A. F.; Krodel, D. J.; Meyer, E. E.; Nocera, D. G. "A luminescent heterometallic dirhodium-silver chain", Inorg Chem 2002, 41, 634-636.
  5. Heyduk, A. F.; Nocera, D. G. "Hydrogen produced from hydrohalic acid solutions by a two-electron mixed-valence photocatalyst", Science 2001, 293, 1639-1641.
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Key coworkers:
  • Jeff Hoshiko (graduate student researcher) -
  • Dave Schaffer (graduate student researcher) -
  • Sean Carter (postdoctoral researcher) -
Core Initiative: Direct Solar Thermal-to-Electrical Energy Conversion using Thermoelectric Nanowires.

Principle Investigator: Professor Reginald M. Penner - Research in the Penner research group focuses on the electrodeposition and characterization of nanowires composed of semiconductors, metals, and thermoelectrics. He will also serve as the first director of the Center.

Selected publications:
  1. Menke, E. J.; Brown, M. A.; Li, Q.; Hemminger, J. C.; Penner, R. M. "Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) nanowires: Synthesis by cyclic electrodeposition/stripping, thinning by electrooxidation, and electrical power generation", Langmuir 2006, 22, 10564-10574.
  2. Menke, E. J.; Thompson, M. A.; Xiang, C.; Yang, L. C.; Penner, R. M. "Lithographically patterned nanowire electrodeposition", Nat Mater 2006, 5, 914-919.
  3. Li, Q.; Brown, M. A.; Hemminger, J. C.; Penner, R. M. "Luminescent polycrystalline cadmium selenide nanowires synthesized by cyclic electrodeposition/stripping coupled with step edge decoration", Chem Mater 2006, 18, 3432-3441.
  4. Yang, L. M. C.; Tam, P. Y.; Murray, B. J.; McIntire, T. M.; Overstreet, C. M.; Weiss, G. A.; Penner, R. M. "Virus electrodes for universal biodetection", Anal Chem 2006, 78, 3265-3270.
  5. Murray, B. J.; Newberg, J. T.; Walter, E. C.; Li, Q.; Hemminger, J. C.; Penner, R. M. "Reversible eresistance modulation in mesoscopic silver wires induced by exposure to amine vapor", Anal Chem 2005, 77, 5205-5214.
  6. Menke, E. J.; Li, Q.; Penner, R. M. "Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) nanowires synthesized by cyclic electrodeposition/stripping coupled with step edge decoration", Nano Lett 2004, 4, 2009-2014.
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Key coworkers:
  • Dave Taggart (graduate student researcher) -
  • Sean Seefeld (graduate student researcher) -
  • Yougan Yang (postdoctoral researcher) -


Key coworkers:
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