Materials Science and Engineering

Robert Chang

Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

Director, Materials Research Institute

Education

Post-doc, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Ph.D. Plasma Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

S.B. Physics, MIT, Cambridge, MA

Research Interests

Our group focuses on the following studies: 

Unconventional Solar Cell Design, Fabrication and Analysis: Using state-of-the-art materials science and technology approaches, we are constructing one of a kind high efficiency solar cells.

Nanostructured Carbon Sheets, Tubes and Molecules: Recently we developed a technique whereby large quantities of nano-structured carbon materials can be grown at high temperatures. These very high-quality nanomaterials have been used to fabricate flat panel displays and energy-generation and storage devices. 

Photonic crystals: The fabrication of ZnO-based photonic crystals that can also lase has been an important part of the group research. We are currently imbedding quantum dots into these materials to study resonant effects for highly sensitive detection of molecules. 

Amorphous Semiconducting Oxide Films: We have been studying a class of unique complex amorphous oxide films which have high optical transparency and electron mobility. A fundamental understanding of this exotic material system will lead to the development of a new generation of transparent field effect integrated circuits and energy systems. 

Nanostructured Plasmonic Materials in the Infrared: We have started the investigation of 2-D and 3D oxide-based plasmonic materialsfor the purpose of molecular detection and manipulation in the infrared region of the spectrum.  This effort will advance the understanding of molecular chemistry and dynamics.

Significant Recognition

• Materials Research Society (MRS): President, 1989; Fellow, 2008; Woody Award, 1987; Councilor, 1986-8 & 1992-4
• Honorary Member of Materials Research Societies of India, Japan and Korea
• Siu Lien Ling Wong Fellow, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999
• Fellow, American Vacuum Society
• NSF Director's Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award, 2005

Significant Professional Service

• Member, International Advisory Board of NIMS, Japan
• Member, "Visionary Board" of MINATEC, CEA, France
• General Secretary & Founding President, International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS)

Selected Publications

• N. Zhou, X. Guo, R. P. Ortiz, S. Li, S. Zhang, R. P. H. Chang, A. Facchetti and T. J. Marks, “Bithiophene Imide and Benzodithiophene Copolymers for Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar Cells”, Advanced Materials, (2012)
• Facchetti, A.; Marks, T. J.; Ortiz, R. P.; Chang, R. P. H.; Zhang, S., “Polymer Solar Cells: Bithiophene Imide and Benzodithiophene Copolymers for Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar Cells (Adv. Mater. 17/2012)”, Advanced Materials, (2012)
• B. Lee, D. B. Buchholz and R. P. H. Chang, “An all carbon counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells”, Energy & Environmental Science, (2012)
• I. Chung, B. Lee, J. He, R. P. H. Chang and M. G. Kanatzidis, “All-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells with high efficiency”, Nature, (2012)
• D. B. Buchholz, D. E. Proffit, M. D. Wisser, T. O. Mason and R. P. H. Chang, “Electrical and band-gap properties of amorphous zinc-indium-tin oxide thin films”, Progress in Natural Science-Materials International, (2012)
• C. A. Hoel, D. B. Buchholz, R. P. H. Chang and K. R. Poeppelmeier, “Pulsed-laser deposition of heteroepitaxial corundum-type ZITO: cor-In-2 (-) (2x) ZnxSnxO3”, Thin Solid Films, (2012)
• D. E. Proffit, S. P. Harvey, A. Klein, R. Schafranek, J. D. Emery, D. B. Buchholz, R. P. H. Chang, M. J. Bedzyk and T. O. Mason, “Surface studies of crystalline and amorphous Zn-In-Sn-O transparent conducting oxides”, Thin Solid Films, (2012)
• S. Q. Li, P. Guo, L. Zhang, W. Zhou, T. W. Odom, T. Seideman, J. B. Ketterson and R. P. H. Chang, “Infrared Plasmonics with Indium-Tin-Oxide Nanorod Arrays”, Acs Nano, (2011)