Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) are unique materials that exhibit size dependent optical, electronic, and chemical properties. The chemistry and photophysics of prototypical CdSe NCs are well developed and largely understood. Consequently, these materials show promise as active systems in many applications. Despite favourable properties, toxic Cd ions, known to leach from these materials, pose a tremendous barrier to their integration into consumer products. In response, there is a push for ""Cadmium-Free Quantum Dot"" research programs. Group 14 NCs (e.g., Si, Ge, SiGe, SiC, etc.) are attractive alternatives in part because of their tunable optical and chemical properties, stability and bioinert nature. Already, pSivida Corporation has FDA approved Si-NC based drug delivery systems, IBM has incorporated Si-NCs into non-volatile memory devices, and there is significant Canadian investment in employing Si-NCs as active materials in alternative lighting. It has been suggested that devices based upon ""nanosilicon"" could lead to revenues as high as $2.1 billion US in 2016 - this neglects the promise of other Group 14 NCs that should exhibit improved device metrics.A variety of methods have been established for preparing Group 14 NCs. Unfortunately, none provide the exquisite structural tailoring afforded by methods used for CdSe NC preparation. In this proposal, we outline our long-, medium-, and short-term goals toward addressing the ""Cd issue"" by developing methods for preparing freestanding and oxide embedded Group 14 NCs with tailored structure and composition, understanding their material properties, and searching out their practical applications. The proposed work is interdisciplinary and lies at the interface of inorganic and polymer chemistry, nanoscience, and surface chemistry.