With this Grant for Explaratory Research Armstrong and Nebesny will attempt to create a completely new class of materials based on superlattices of phthalocyanines deposited by molecular beam epitaxy. They will characterize the initial surface chemistries of the materials, answering questions such as the way in which the materials nucleate, and the method by which they stack. The optical properties of the materials will be explored. Initial expectations would suggest that the materials may be important in fast optical switching - a situation that is not achievable completely with existing materials. %%% The research, in the general area of Analytical and Surface Chemistry, focuses on the investigation of new superlattice materials created by unconventional molecular beam epitaxy. The work promises to lead to the preparation of novel superlattice materials with important optical properties which could lead to new optical switching devices. Because the work has high novelty and urgency it is being funded through a Grant for Explaratory Research.
