Rosenthal, Sandra, Department of Chemistry

Sandra Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Jack and Pamela Egan Professor of Chemistry
Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Professor of Pharmacology
Director, Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE)
7332 Stevenson Ctr
615-322-2633 (office)
sandra.j.rosenthal@vanderbilt.edu

In the Rosenthal group we study semiconductor nanocrystals, a unique material whose optical properties and electronic structure can be precisely tuned by controlling the size of the nanocrystal. In addition to developing new nanomaterials and conducting fundamental studies to understand the relationship between atomic structure and optoelectronic properties, we are specifically interested in two applications exploiting the properties of nanocrystals. The first is the use of fluorescent nanocrystals as biological probes for membrane proteins involved in neuronal signaling in order to elucidate molecular mechanisms in mental illness. In the second application we are exploring the possible use of nanocrystals as a white light emitter for implementation in solid state lighting.

For more information, please visit the lab website.