BACKGROUND
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:
- Synthesis of molecular materials
- Anisotropic, quasi-low dimensional physics
- Collective phenomena and phase transitions
- Development of sensors and techniques
COURSES
- PHY 100 Solar Energy and Sustainability
Selected publications
Coming soon
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