HomeCherie R. Kagan Research Group
Electrical and Systems Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering
Welcome!
Our research explores the chemical and physical properties of molecular, supramolecular, and nanostructured materials and assemblies and their potential applications in electronic, optoelectronic, and sensing devices. Molecule-surface and molecule-molecule interactions drive molecular organization. We exploit these chemical interactions to construct functional supramolecular and nanocrystal assemblies. Electrical measurements, optical spectroscopies, electrochemistry, and scanning probe and electron microscopies are used to probe the structure-function relationships of molecular assemblies and their interfaces with zero-, one-, and two-dimensional inorganic surfaces. These experiments provide a basis for understanding intermolecular, intramolecular, and interfacial (organic-inorganic) charge and excitonic transport and interactions. These insights are used to guide the rational design of molecular and nanostructured devices ranging from transistors to solar cells to photonics to chemical and biological sensors.
Our labs are equipped for chemical synthesis and assembly, cw and ultrafast spectroscopies with high spatial resolution, electrical measurements, and the complete fabrication of molecular and nanostructured materials in devices. Micron and nanoscale device fabrication is carried out in Penn’s Wolf Nanofabrication Facility and structural characterization is performed in Penn’s Regional Nanotechnology Facility.
Our group is interdisciplinary with students from the Departments of
Electrical and Systems Engineering,
Materials Science and Engineering, and
Chemistry. We have collaborations with groups in the Schools of
Engineering and Applied Sciences,
Arts and Sciences, and
Medicine and through Penn’s
Laboratory for the Research on the Structure of Matter and Penn’s
Energy Research Group.