Our research group in the Photonic Materials Branch within the Materials & Manufacturing Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory investigates the photochemical and photophysical properties of organic and inorganic chromophores and nanomaterials. This research focus is leveraged to understand and develop nonlinear optical materials as well as biosensors for in-vivo substrate monitoring. Our laboratories include facilities for chemical synthesis, fabrication of solid samples, and photophysical and material characterization. Photophysical characterization in our group involves the collection of UV-vis absorption spectra, luminescence spectra, luminescence lifetimes, nanosecond and ultrafast transient absorption spectra, open and closed aperture z-scan measurements and electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry data. The Materials & Manufacturing Directorate is home to state-of-the-art materials characterization facilities included electron microscopy, thermal analysis, x-ray scattering, and NMR among others. Research within the group is multidisciplinary with group members with backgrounds in organic synthesis, perovskite and nanoparticle synthesis, organic electronics, polymer science and engineering, and spectroscopy. Individuals with backgrounds in chemistry, physics, polymers, engineering, spectroscopy, and materials science are encouraged to contact the research advisor to discuss research opportunities in the group.

Recent Publications:

“Degradable Silk-Based Subcutaneous Oxygen Sensors” Falcucci, T.; Presley, K.F.; Choi, J; Fizpatrick, V.; Barry, J.; Sahoo-Kishore, J.; Ly, J.T.;

Grusenmeyer, T.A.; Dalton, M.J.; Kaplan, D.L. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 2202020.

“Interstitial Nature of Mn2+ Doping in 2D Perovskites” Torma, A.J.; Li, W.; Zhang, H.; Tu, Q.; Klepov, V.V.; Brennan, M.C.; McCleese, C.L.; Krzyaniak, M.D.; Wasielewski, M.R.; Katan, C.; Even, J.; Holt, M.V.; Grusenmeyer, T.A., Jiang, J.; Pachter, R.; Kanatzidis, M.G.; Blancon, J.; Mohite, A.D. ACS Nano 2021, 15, 20550.

"Synthetically Tunable White-, Green-, and Yellow-Green-Light Emission in Dual-Luminescent Gold(I) Complexes Bearing a Diphenylamino-2,7-fluorenyl Moiety" Mihaly, J.J.; Wolf, S.M.; Phillips, A.T.; Mam, S.; Yung, Z.; Haley, J.E.; Zeller, M.; de La Harpe, K.; Holt, E.; Grusenmeyer, T.A.; Collins, S.; Gray, T.G. Inorg. Chem. 2022, 61, 1228.

key words

Chromophores; Nonlinear Optical Materials; Spectroscopy; Polymers; Molecular Glasses; Biosensors; Materials Science

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants