My PhD research has shifted into synthesis and characterization of carbon based nanomaterials, specifically with applications towards photovoltaic devices. I am specifically interested in large scale deposition techniques of few and single layer carbides, with applications to solar energy. These carbon based materials have received large theoretical interest in recent years, and are predicted to have a variety of electrical properties, ranging from semi-conducting to metallic, both of which can be of use in photovoltaics. I employ a variety of techniques to characterize these materials, primarily scanning probe micrscopy.

My MSc work was based around integration of photo-generated charge extraction by linearly increasing voltage (photo-CELIV), a standard single-point current transient technique for determination of bulk charge carrier mobility, into a scanning confocal optical microscope. This allowed us to scan through the active layer of photovoltaiv devices and record extraction transients at every focal plane. A model was developped to analyze this data, based on enhanced nongeminate recombination at the active layer, and construct cross-sectional maps of carrier mobility, an important parameter for characterization of solar cell performance. The obtained maps allowed us to gain deep insight into the role of hydrogen in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H).

This summer research assistantship involved work on instrumentation development for photo-generated charge extraction by linearly increasing voltage (photo-CELIV), which is a standard current transient technique for measurement of photo-generated charge carrier mobility in photoolvtaic devices. Carrier mobility is an important parameter for determining the performance of a solar cell, and it is crucial to have well developped and understood methods for measuring it. This work involved extending the measurement circuit to incorporate a low-temperature probe station, cooled by compressed liquid helium, to study carrier mobility down to temperatures below 10 Kelvin. This type of measurement is crucial for probing transport mechanisms in semiconducting devices.

My undergraduate honours project involved measuring bulk flow propagators of flowing sample (water) via nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a modification of the well documented DIFFTRAIN pulse sequence approach. Short, constant pulse durations, equal to the gradient recycle time, were used in this study, achieved through the use of a small tip angle. We also reorganized the bipolar gradient switches from how they are traditionally applied in order to minimize the amount of work that the gradient coils must do, which in turn helps to ensure he centre of k-space is measured on each bipolar gradient switch. This allowed the flexibility to vary gradient pulse durations and study how this impacts flow propogator measurements.

This summer research assistantship involved writing code in visual basic on TNMR software to automate calculation of radio-frequency buffer time parameters in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These buffer parameters help to overcome the inherit delay in bipolar gradient switches caused to self inductance within the gradient coils. This delay causes desynchronization of the gradient value with the application of a radio frequency pulse, which must be applied when the magnetic field gradient is exactly 0. Automation of the process of calculation and applying RF-buffer times helps ensure repeatability of the process and vastly decreases the time required.

This summer research assistantship involved instrumentation development for synthesis of polymer based bone glues. Sample precursors needed to be sufficiently prepared, melted, and reliably and reproducibly mixed, before being inserted into broken bones to improve healing. My role was in assembling the required instruments for this, and synthesizing the compositions. Once made, a variety of surface characterization techniques were used to determine viability of specific glue compounds.