Prof. Francisco J. Ibañez

The Nanoscience and Nanomaterials bring about a great deal of interest due to their size-dependent properties.  Perhaps, one of the most appealing properties of metal nanoparticles (mNPs) relays on electron transport via "electron hopping and tunneling" and light absorption by "plasmons".  For instance, mNPs absorb light in different electromagnetic spectra leading to different colors which depend on the size.  Another example is graphene whose crystal lattice contracts upon high temperatures while bulk graphite and metals, expands.  In this lab we are interested in fundamental and applied science related to sensors, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and energy related issues performed with materials at the nanoscale.