RESEARCH
Our interdisciplinary team focuses on understanding of the chemistry and physics of solids in the bulk, at the nanoscale, and down to the atomic level. We, therefore, seek to leverage the chemical and molecular control over atomic-level and nanoscale morphological dimensionalities in realizing confined electronic, optical, and quantum properties.
We will harness these nascent and emergent properties to enable next-generation optoelectronics, quantum devices, sensors, and energy conversion platforms.
Our vision is to take advantage of these tools and create classes of materials that exhibit nanoscale confinement in bulk or macroscale constructs
DIMENSIONALITY
Atomically-precise van der Waals lattices across dimensions
The ability to precisely peel apart weakly-bound building units from a bulk lattice has revolutionized our perception towards the creation of ultra-small and stable solids. The conception of such structures, most notably in graphene and related 2D lattices, has ultimately opened the doors towards the realization of exotic quantum and physical phenomena that transcended disciplines. In the Maxx X Lab, we will explore the chemistry and physics of emergent low-dimensional van der Waals lattices in and beyond 2D—in 1D and 0D. We will probe how crystal structures and dimensionalities influence the behavior of charges, spins, and vibrations in these lattices as they evolve from the bulk down to the nanoscale.
Representative publications:
Anisotropy-Driven Crystallization of Dimensionally Resolved Quasi-1D van der Waals Nanostructures
D. L. M. Cordova, K. Chua, R. M. Huynh, T. Aoki, M. Q. Arguilla
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 145, 41, 22413-22424 (2023)
​
Directed Crystallization of a Nanoscale Quasi-1D van der Waals Topological Insulator
S. J. Allison, D. L. M. Cordova, M. Hasib, T. Aoki, M. Q. Arguilla†
Chemical Science, 15, 4811-4823 (2024)
​
Sensitive thermochromic behavior of InSeI, a highly anisotropic and tubular 1D van der Waals Crystal
D. L. M. Cordova, Y. Zhou, G. M. Milligan, L. Cheng, T. A. Kerr, J. Ziller, R. Wu, M. Q. Arguilla
Advanced Materials, 36, 21, 2312597 (2024)
​
Atomically precise inorganic helices with a programmable irrational twist
D. L. M. Cordova,* K. Chua,* T. A. Kerr, T. Aoki, D. Knez, G. Skorupskii, D. Lopez, J. Ziller, D. A. Fishman, M. Q. Arguilla
Nature Materials, 23, 1347-1354 (2024)
​
GaSI: A wide gap non-centrosymmetric helical crystal
K. Dold,* D. L. M. Cordova,* S. Singsen, J. Q. Nguyen, G. M. Milligan, M. Marracci, Z.-F. Yao, J. Ziller, D. Fishman, E. M. Y.
Lee, M. Q. Arguilla
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 146, 33, 22881-22886 (2024)
​
Bonding-Directed Crystallization of Ultra-Long One-Dimensional NbS3 van der Waals Nanowires
D. Lopez, Y. Zhou, D. L. M. Cordova, G. M. Milligan, K. Ogura, R. Wu, M. Q. Arguilla†
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 146, 33, 22863-22868 (2024)
CONFINEMENT
Solid state chemistry in confined spaces
Limiting solid state lattices below the dimensions of electronic, photonic, and magnetic coherence lengths, has facilitated the discovery of a plethora of novel physical properties and technological applications which would not have been attainable in the bulk. We will challenge the frontiers of dimensional reduction and nanoscale structuring, down to the sub-nanometer regime, by forging the chemistry of solid state structures in confined spaces. The platforms that we will develop will allow us to understand not only the growth and structure of such confined structures but also the underlying physics that govern the properties of these structures upon extreme confinement. Ultimately, we envision to harness the nascent properties of these structures towards energy conversion and photonic applications.
Representative publications:
Single Quasi-1D Chains of Sb2Se3 Encapsulated Within Carbon Nanotubes
G. M. Milligan, D. L. M. Cordova, Z. Yao, B. Tong, M. Q. Arguilla
Chemistry of Materials, 36, 2, 730- 741 (2024)
​
Encapsulation of Crystalline and Amorphous Sb2S3 within Carbon and Boron Nitride Nanotubes
G. M. Milligan, D. L. M. Cordova, Z. Yao, B. Zhi, Lyndsey Scammell, T. Aoki, M. Q. Arguilla
Chemical Science,15, 10464 - 10476 (2024)
ASSEMBLY
Low-Dimensional Nanostructures in Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Assemblies
The assembly and precise matching of organic and inorganic molecular units into ordered frameworks and interfaces opened up a gamut of possibilities in creating materials that amalgamate the advantages of both a molecule and an extended lattice. This intersection between molecular and solid state chemistry has made possible the discovery of new frameworks and hetero-assemblies which, owing to their high surface areas, have been demonstrated to be excellent platforms for a myriad of applications such as in gas storage, renewable energy harnessing, and catalysis. We seek to expand this concept by using low-dimensional inorganic extended lattices as building blocks to create assemblies that combine the highly anisotropic and delocalized charges and spins from the inorganic component with the functionality imparted by the organic linkers. Such class of materials will enable the understanding of phase changes and modulations in these hybrid structures and the realization of next-generation sensing and spintronic platforms.
Representative publications:
Functionalization and structural evolution of Conducting Quasi-One-Dimensional Chevrel-Type Telluride Nanocrystals
K. S. Ogura, D. L. M. Cordova, T. Aoki, G. M. Milligan, Z. Yao, M. Q. Arguilla
Chemistry of Materials, 36, 9, 4714–4725 (2024)
​
Lattice-guided assembly of optoelectronically - active π - conjugated peptides on 1D van der Waals single crystals
Z. Yao, D. L. M. Cordova, G. M. Milligan, D. Lopez, S. J. Allison, Y. Kuang, H. A. M. Ardoña,† M. Q. Arguilla†
Science Advances, 10, 24, eadl2402 (2024)