Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Array for Spintronics and High Frequency Materials

DMR-0547036 PI: Hao Zeng

W.L. Shi, Y. Sahoo and Hao Zeng, et al., “Anisotropic growth of PbSe nanocrystals on Au-Fe3O4 hybrid nanoparticles”, Advanced Materials 14,

1889, 2006, inside Front Cover article.

• We have developed a general strategy for synthesizing binary and ternary hybrid nanoparticles, which combines magnetic, metallic and semiconducting components. The magnetic-metallic binary particles can also be used as seeds to grow semiconductor nanorods. For the figure to the right, the background images show PbSe nanorods (top), and ternary Fe3O4-Au-PbSe hybrid nanocrystals (bottom). High-resolution TEM images in the front show Fe3O4(gray)-Au(gold)-PbSe(green) ternary nanocrystals. A ball-and-stick cartoon model illustrates the approximate size of these structures relative to the individual atoms. The scale bars are 50 and 4 nm (approximately) for low and high resolution images, respectively.

• The magnetic, optical and semiconducting properties of the components within the hybrid nanostructures can be independently tailored; these properties are also tightly integrated due to the existence of common interfaces; moreover, when self-assembled into an array, entirely new properties can arise due to the cooperative interactions between the components. This work may lead to the development of novel multifunctional materials, with broad applications in data storage, nanoscale electronics and biological markers.

• Undergraduate Introductory Physics Course: Upon the PI’s request, he has been assigned to teach large introductory physics courses to both non-science and science majors. He has adopted multiple approaches to enhance the courses, including using the peer instruction technique, incorporating research experience and using examples that connect to students experiences, and implementing a monitoring system to automatically track the individual progress and offering help to those who are most in need.

• Undergraduate student seminar: The PI is participating in UB UE141 Freshman Seminar Series. This program offers a small class experience for first-year students, providing them with the opportunity to engage with faculty members in a congenial, academic setting. This program seeks to introduce students to the exciting intellectual atmosphere of UB, helping them to explore areas of interest and broaden their academic horizons. The PI will lecture on the growth of nanoparticles with chemical routes.

• Outreach program: The PI has targeted the Native American Magnet School for his outreach efforts. This is a K-8 middle school with 90 percent of its students being minorities and living at or below the poverty level. Working closely with the science teacher Heather Maciejewski, the PI will develop lectures incorporating research, yet with their topics aligned with physical sciences curriculum and New York State standards; develop hands-on science experiments for either the classroom or after school program. For example, simple synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles and observation of their response to a permanent magnet under optical microscopes; and arrange student visits to UB, during which they will tour several science labs, use TEM to image nanoparticles they made and take home with them pictures to show to their friends, and given a guided tour of the “Physics and Arts” exhibition located in the physics department.

Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Array for Spintronics and High Frequency Materials

DMR-0547036 PI: Hao Zeng