Brian Tissue's Research
Our group contributes to the understanding of materials, luminescence, and analytical measurements. Current interests and projects for undergraduate and graduate research include:
- New methods to prepare nanoparticles and nanocomposites.
- Nanocomposites for solar energy collection, photocatalysis, imaging, and sensing.
- Effect of size and surroundings on luminescent nanomaterials.
- Plasmonic control of interparticle energy transfer.
Nanoparticle Synthesis
We use a CO2 laser to vaporize refractory metal oxide targets to produce nanoparticles by inert-gas condensation. More here soon...
Wes making nanoparticles.
Crystal Growth
Vaporizing MoO3 targets led to crystal formation. We are studying this crystal growth to determine if CO2 laser heating is a viable method for vapor-phase synthesis of single crystals. More here soon...
Luminescence
The emission from a luminescent center in a nanoparticle is now well understood. New projects now turn to luminescence from integrated materials, including the effects of surroundings and interparticle energy transfer. The following short descriptions provide background information:
- Background on luminescence from lanthanide-doped solids.
- Lanthanide-doped Gd2O3 nanoparticles.
- still working on these...
Photos of group members coming soon...
Sarah and Kayla earn Academic Excellence awards!
Research Equipment
Dav 330
Pellet press and furnaces to prepare targets.
Dav 332
CO2 laser and nanoparticle evaporation chamber.
Hahn 1009
Pulsed Nd:YAG-pumped dye laser, cryogenic refrigerator, UV-vis spectrometers.