The Functional Inorganic Materials Synthesis Laboratory (FIMSL) focuses on the realization of inorganic and hybrid materials for energy and environmental applications. Major aims of the lab are informed syntheses of functional materials – with particular interest in photoactive mixed anion materials, oxides, and nitrides – using in situ X-ray scattering and microscopy techniques, characterization of novel material properties using a suite of chemical, optical, and structural measurements, and development of thin film deposition approaches for these materials.
Research Areas
- Materials for energy and sustainability
- Informed (in situ) synthesis of materials
- Photoactive and photocatalytic materials
- X-ray scattering
- AI tools for laboratory data management
Current Research Projects
Guiding solid‐state material synthesis with deep learning Gibbs free energy functions
In collaboration with colleagues at Drexel, we are working to create a data-driven framework that will navigate synthesizability of inorganic compounds. Our group is providing experimental feedback using in situ X-ray diffraction of target compounds.
Designing inorganic material nanostructures with tunable morphologies and properties
Our group is using unique infiltration methods to synthesize nanostructured inorganic materials. Coupled with mixed anion approaches, these nanostructured materials can show a range of optical and electronic properties.
Leveraging thin film approaches for photoactive materials
Our group is interested in fabricating conformal, multilayer thin films for photocatalytic applications. We are aiming to design layered structures that promote photogenerated carrier separation and lifetimes and realize new mixed-cation-anion materials with tunable optical properties using intimate layering techniques.