My research in the Krauss group investigates the charge properties of two-dimensionally quantum confined semiconductor systems. We synthesize cadmium selenide quantum rods using an arrested precipitation organometallic process. We then characterize the particles using a variety of techniques including optical absorbance and fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. We study the photoionization and dipolar properties of the cadmium selenide using a modified atomic force microscopy technique called electrostatic force microscopy, which measures coulombic and capacative forces between nanomaterials and a specially prepared AFM tip. The eventual goal is the correlation of the optical properties to these charge effects.
