Physics & Astronomy Colloquium — Dr. Brian Collins

About the event

Exploring Molecular Devices and Nanostructures with Resonant X-rays

Printable, flexible, and biocompatible polymers and small molecules represent an exciting new class of materials with the potential to revolutionize energy technologies, computing, bio-interfacing, and medicine. A grand challenge for progress, however, is in characterizing the molecular-to-mesoscale ordering that governs excited state dynamics and performance but often confounds traditional nanoprobes. I will discuss our work in developing resonant X-rays to break through this barrier applied to organic electronics and aqueous micelle nanocarriers. We combine device physics with X-ray characterization to investigate emergent interfacial excited states in solar cells and develop resonant X-ray optical models to track interfacial molecular orientation. In biosensors, we have revealed that hydrophilic ion nanochannels can result in new record ion mobilities, gated by local chemical signaling. Finally, I will describe our development of microfluidic environments to probe aqueous micelle nanocarrier chemical ordering and dynamics in a smart medicine platform. With continued development, resonant X-rays will be key to controlling unique properties in soft matter that depend on spatiochemical nanoscopic order for exciting new applications beyond the reach of current materials and technologies.