The Stacy group is involved in the development of new synthetic routes that lead to the discovery of materials for emerging technologies. X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and electron microprobe are used to examine the structure and composition of new materials that are obtained. With electron microscopy, detailed information on the nanoscale is gathered. A range of bulk and surface properties are measured, including electrical and thermal transport, optical absorbance, and surface activity. On the basis of insights gained as to the relationship between structure and properties, the synthetic conditions are adjusted in order to tailor materials for specific applications.

With new abilities to control materials on the nanoscale and to create composites that are ordered arrays of two types of materials, there is much room for discovery. As new understanding about how properties vary with nanoscale dimensions are garnered, this knowledge can be put to use in enhancing properties for specific applications. The growth of understanding in nanoscience provides exciting new possibilities for the development of thermoelectric materials with enhanced efficiencies, inexpensive earth abundant photovoltaic cells, and materials with organized geometries for the studies of super-hydrophobic surfaces. We are working on the synthesis and characterization of materials with these qualities.