Mark Wilson

Nanostructured materials—conjugated organic molecules, colloidal quantum dots, and other low-dimensional semiconductors—offer novel ways to solve practical challenges surrounding the detection, generation, and movement of light and charge. Excitons mediate the interaction of light with these nano-scale systems, which are being investigated for optoelectronic applications ranging from 3rd-generation photovoltaics, to biological imaging, to cost-effective cameras in the short-wave infrared (λ:1-3μm).  As a result, spectroscopy is the natural probe for these systems—better still, transient broad-band spectroscopies, as key materials exhibit rich spectra and rapid (femtoseconds-milliseconds) dynamics.

In the Wilson Lab, we use spectroscopy to reveal and understand the properties of excitonic materials. We then exploit this knowledge to build novel optoelectronic devices—particularly those that allow functionality in the short-wave infrared (SWIR), as new research opportunities are arising driven by practical applications (sensing, emission), improved research equipment (SWIR APDs, ultrafast techniques), and a rising tide of SWIR-active materials.