A team of researchers led by Chad A. Mirkin and Vinayak Dravid has developed a new method for synthesizing halide perovskite nanocrystals, a critical step in creating not only power sources for nano-electronic devices but also optical displays with pure, brilliant colors unlike anything on the market today.

“This method could be used to create optical displays with ‘true’ reds, greens, and blues that completely outshine current LEDs,” said Mirkin. “From color purity to pixel density, these nano-LEDs point toward a potentially dramatic improvement over current LEDs.”

IIN-affiliated researchers have developed a new low-cost, relatively simple strategy for designing materials used in live cell imaging, photodynamic therapy for cancer, and night-vision technologies.

To develop these materials, scientists currently use a chemical synthesis process that modifies the molecular structure. The Northwestern approach only needs to co-crystallize two different molecules — a convenient and efficient method based on supramolecular chemistry.

“Our work simplifies the production process and lays a foundation for practical application,” said Fraser Stoddart, senior author of the study. “This strategy will appeal to scientists working in a wide range of disciplines — from chemistry to crystal engineering to materials science.”

A global pandemic has not blunted Northwestern University’s remarkable research enterprise, which has grown to $886 million for fiscal year 2020, closing Aug. 31. The new figure represents an 11% increase over last year’s record-setting total of $797.8 million and makes Northwestern the largest academic research site in the state of Illinois.

Biomedical research continues to be Northwestern’s most active area, while other research areas, including nanotechnology, energy and sustainability, and quantum science have also advanced.

Vice President for Research Milan Mrksich noted that Northwestern’s strong culture for collaborative research has played an important role in “making our research enterprise the largest in the state.”

A: The theme of my research is uncovering the intrinsic nature of how molecules interact with one another involving of the principles of organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and nanotechnology. With a full understanding of new principles, the final goal is the rational design and construction of functional and smart materials that can be used to improve quality of life.

For example, I have discovered a new model for directing the hierarchical assembly of positively charged, and hence repulsive, molecules in a solid state. By expanding this concept, we can prepare single crystals of materials which may be useful in applications such as the removal of radioactive contaminants in the environment and conduction of protons in nanopores.

A: It’s no secret that the Great Lakes Region suffers from a number of clean drinking water and water pollution issues, including hypereutrophication, the release of excess nutrients into natural bodies of water, creating large algae blooms. Living in the Midwest since 2016 has heightened my interest in these water problems, augmenting my excitement to focus on environmental remediation during my graduate degree.

The Dravid Group recently reported the Oleophilic, Hydrophobic, Magnetic (OHM) sponge, a novel nanocomposite material that can adsorb 20-35 times its weight in oil for many cycles. Using our OHM sponge as a platform technology, we aim to develop new strategies to remove phosphates from water before they contribute to algae blooms. Moreover, we want to not only remove nutrients but also recover them, which is important for phosphate, as it is a non-renewable natural resource of limited supply.