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Research interests: Quasi-low-dimensional molecular materials
In the same way that a brick wall is built brick by brick, molecular materials are assembled molecule by molecule. Molecular conductors and magnets offer an promising alternative to traditional metals and rare-earth magnets. The low cost, light weight, potentially high strength and self-assembling nature of molecular conductors and magnets may lead to applications ranging from flat-screen lap-top computer displays to electric car batteries to nanoscale size magnetic recording devices.
Not surprisingly, the structural anisotropy of these materials also leads to corresponding anisotropies in many other of their physical properties (such as electrical conductivity). In particular, these electronically and magnetically quasi-low dimensional materials are unusually susceptible to dimensionally-driven phase transitions from normal conducting to novel superconducting, insulating and magnetic states when perturbed by small changes in pressure, magnetic field, crystal structure and chemical composition.
Current research on these materials aims to indentify these dimensionally-driven transitions and to understand their physical origin. Research by Smith College students and myself on molecular materials contributes towards these goals as follows:
1. Synthesis of molecular materials.
2. Anisotropic, quasi-low dimensional physics.
3. Collective phenomena and phase transitions.
4. Development of sensors and techniques.
Courses
PHY 100 Solar Energy and Sustainability
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