Overview
The Nienhaus Research Group is interested in understanding the role of nanoscale structure on the ensemble materials properties. The group has pioneered solid-state perovskite-sensitized photon upconversion using a variety of tetracene and anthracene derivatives and studied the triplet generation process at the interface of perovskites and organic molecules. Subtle differences in the local structural environment of the organic molecules have clear impact on the underlying energy landscape and the group uses a variety of structural, spectroscopy and microscopy methods to disentangle the structure-function relationship. At Rice, the group will continue to push the envelope of coupled scanning probe microscopy and optical spectroscopy to understand the effects of nanoscale disorder in perovskites, organic semiconductors and hydrogen-bonded supramolecular networks. Research in the Nienhaus Group is highly interdisciplinary combining a wide variety of chemical and physical methods, materials development and synthesis and engineering approaches.
Current research directions:
Perovskite-sensitized photon upconversion
Generating Spin-Triplets at the Perovskite/Organic Interface
Fundamental properties of quantum dots and perovskites
Nanoplatelet-Sensitized Green-to-Blue Upconversion
Instrument development: Optical scanning tunneling microscopy
