Emily A. Weiss

Weiss group research focuses on interfacial charge transfer between colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) and organic molecules or coordination compounds. We synthesize new quantum dot-organic complexes to optimize interfacial electronic coupling, use various analytical methods (including 1D and 2D NMR, XPS, electron microscopy, and IR) to determine the adsorption modes and geometries of molecules on the surfaces of the quantum dots, and use time-resolved optical spectroscopies such as visible and infrared transient absorption to determine the excited state and charge transfer dynamics of these systems. We are especially interested in using quantum dots as multi-electron sensitizers for kinetically demanding processes such as reduction of CO₂ to chemical fuels.