Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

It remains a significant challenge to have a unique spectroscopy that can study the charge carrier dynamics in in-situ optoelectronic devices with an ultrafast time resolution when optoelectronic devices are at work. Those devices include solar cells, photoconductors, LEDs, etc. The fundamental understanding of charge carrier dynamics not only is a central topic in basic fields in physics, chemistry, and materials science, but also it has a profound impact in photonics, optoelectronics, optical quantum communication, etc. For instance, the fundamental dynamics understanding will lead to the development of a new generation of technologies such as highly efficient and low-cost photovoltaics, and low-noise and sensitive single-photon detection. Thus, my long-term vision is to understand the charge carrier dynamics in advanced materials, leading to a new generation of device application in renewable energy and optical quantum communication. For the past five years, my previous group has addressed above challenge by developing a transformative ultrafast photocurrent spectroscopy (UPCS) with a state-of-the-art ultrafast time resolution. Using this advanced UPCS, a diverse HQP population including five PhDs, one MSc, and ten undergraduate students in my previous group have made significant contributions in perovskite materials and novel device development. Those achievements have been demonstrated by HQP's publications in Nature Communications, JACS, Matter, JPCL, ACS Photonics, and HQP's career at top-ranking universities and industrial companies. The UPCS includes three components: high-speed optoelectronic devices, a high bandwidth sampling oscilloscope, and an ultrafast laser. While the fabrication equipment of high-speed optoelectronic devices is supported by my start-up fund, and my current lab has already been equipped with a high bandwidth sampling oscilloscope, however, at Brock University currently there is no ultrafast laser available to develop the UPCS. In this proposal, the requested fund is to acquire a picosecond ultrafast laser to continue my research programs. Each year, 9-11 HQP will be receiving training in my lab, and the ultrafast laser requested is foundational. Thus, the ultrafast laser is essential for my research program and for the timely completion of HQP projects. EQUIPMENT REQUESTED: SIRIUS picosecond ultrafast laser from RPMC Lasers, Inc