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Our research efforts primarily focus on developing and applying electrochemistry and optical spectroscopy techniques for clean energy harvesting, conversion, and storage. The group is currently developing well-defined functional electrode materials of metallic nanocrystals with synergistic functions, inorganic/conjugated polymer and small organic molecule semiconductor nanostructures. We are particularly interested in understanding electronic structure-function relationships and surface chemistry of these materials by measuring their electrochemical and optical properties, such as photoelectrochemistry, electrogenerated chemiluminescence, and catalytic activities for chemical fuel transformation that are closely relevant to electrochemical devices (e.g., solar cells, fuel cells, hydrogen electrolyser, memories, light-emitting diodes, and electrochemical sensors). We are also interested in developing single particle spectroelectrochemistry techniques for help understand structure-function relationships of nanostructures and single redox molecules with improved spatial and spectral and temporal resolutions. More recently published work from our group shows interesting surface enhancement of solar water splitting and photocurrent switching characteristics of metal oxide electrode functionalized with plasmonic nanostructures. These studies would greatly help develop next-generation optoelectronics. Students involved in these highly interdisciplinary projects will interact with faculties and students in various research areas from optics and electrochemistry to material science at the University of Alabama and other institutions across the country. Students will receive excellent training in various kinds of nanofabrication and surface characterization tools in addition to learning advanced electrochemistry and optical spectroscopy techniques.

Dr. Pan’s publication list