Precision Synthesis of High Entropy Chalcogenide Nanocrystals to Elucidate Growth Kinetics and Surface Properties for Energy Applications

ongoing

As technology advances, traditional semiconductor materials and designs are approaching their physical and performance limitations. This underscores the urgent need for innovation of advanced materials that offer enhanced performance. The aim of the proposal is to design advanced high entropy metal chalcogenide (HECh) nanocrystals (NCs) via colloidal chemistry to elucidate their nucleation and growth mechanism by using real-time and post-synthetic characterization techniques. Specifically, high-throughput characterization will explore the bulk and surface properties, while computational modelling will predict structure, formation energy, and phase stability. These NCs will demonstrate high efficiency and robust stability in producing hydrogen energy through (photo)electrocatalysis. The originality of my proposal is to develop a scientific insight that will go beyond the state-of-the-art to establish colloidal chemistry as the ‘universal synthesis platform’ for the scalable production of HEChs NCs, thereby expanding HEChs compositional space and enabling rapid screening and data mining to accelerate the exploration of HEChs for transformative advancements. This, in turn, will impact next-generation energy production applications. The main training goal of the fellowship is to acquire experience in advanced material synthesis, high throughput characterization, and gain international experience. These results will be disseminated to the scientific community in the standard way (conferences, peer-reviewed journals, and patents) and to the public through magazine articles and science festivals. All materials used will meet the criteria of sustainability, affordability, and safety. This ambitious project will be conducted in two different research groups in Ireland and Italy. This prestigious fellowship will provide a platform of renowned subject experts, and exposure to international collaborators will provide a unique opportunity to grow as an independent researcher.