We are an interdisciplinary research group in the Department of Chemistry  at the University of Rochester  studying the fundamental properties of nanoscale materials in both their ground and photoexcited states. Our interests are centered in materials chemistry, specifically the development of nanoscale semiconductor materials, the study of their fundamental chemical, electronic, and photophysical properties, as well as  the understanding of structure-function relationships between the morphology and chemistry of nanostructured oxide surfaces and their (photo)electrochemical behavior. Our goal is to not only generate new knowledge about this broad class of materials, but also to use that knowledge to contribute to sustainable, environmentally friendly energy solutions. Information about specific projects can be found in the Research section of this website. Feel free to check out what we’re up to!

Students in the Knowles group gain interdisciplinary experience at the interfaces of physical, inorganic, and materials chemistry. In addition to standard techniques for characterization of solution-phase and nanostructured inorganic materials (i.e. electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and NMR, infrared, electronic absorption, Raman, and photoluminescence spectroscopy), the core techniques used in our lab include electrochemistry, reflectance spectroscopy, and time-resolved optical spectroscopies.

Graduate students, undergraduates, and postdocs interested in joining the group should e-mail Professor Knowles for more information.

PHOTO CREDITS

Header: Shuwen Wang (https://www.rochester.edu/largepics/photofriday/favorites.html)