Project Title: Tracking electron and molecular dynamics at 2D nanostructured materials with femtosecond extreme ultraviolet laser pulses
Principle Investigator: Mihai Vaida
Pictures of the femtosecond laser system and the UHV chamber used for the preparation and characterization of novel 2D nanostructured materials.
Project Description:
In Vaida’s laboratory, a state-of-the-art femtosecond laser system is used in conjunction with a high harmonics generation source and a monochromator to produce femtosecond laser pulses in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range. These laser pulses are employed to track the charge carrier dynamics in novel 2D nanostructured materials with time resolution, surface sensitivity, and element specificity. Moreover, pump-probe femtosecond laser mass spectrometry in conjunction with extreme ultraviolet soft ionization at the surface is employed to study the ultrafast dynamics of molecules attached at solid surfaces such as bond breaking and bond making, with time‑, mass-, and energy-resolution. The main goal of this research is to fully monitor the electron and molecular dynamics at the surface of various nanostructured materials that can be used to construct highly efficient photocatalytic and photovoltaic devices.
Successful applicants interested in conducting summer projects within this laboratory will work closely with graduate students to carry out research in 2D nanostructured materials and laser spectroscopy. The students will gain insights into ultrafast spectroscopy, generation of extreme ultraviolet laser pulses, synthesis of novel photovoltaic and photocatalytic materials under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, as well as surface preparation and characterization techniques.