Diamond-Like Semiconductors Jennifer A. Aitken, Duquesne University, DMR 0645304

1. Diamond-Like SemiconductorsJennifer A. Aitken, Duquesne University, DMR 0645304 Li2CdGeS4 can be used to make the monochromatic light of a laser available at other wavelengths by frequency-doubling the laser light. Specifically, it exhibits an SHG response 70x alpha-quartz and is Type I phase-matchable. This result demonstrates that materials like this one have great promise in optical communications, laser medicine and molecular spectroscopy . Several small companies that are centered on CuInSe2-based solar cells already exist. However, indium is a rare, expensive metal, which hinders the wide-scale production of CuInSe2-based solar cells. In this work, we have shown that Mn can be used to substitute for up to 10% of the indium, while still maintaining relatively similar optical properties. This substitution offer a great savings and allows the natural reserves of indium metal to last longer. The crystal structure of Li2CdGeS4. Band gaps of Mn-doped CuInSe2 compounds.

2. Solid-state chemistry education at all levelsJennifer A. Aitken, Duquesne University, DMR 0645304 Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty, participated in the week-long X-ray crystallography workshop. 1 PUI professor 1 postdoc 3 graduate students 5 undergraduates 1 high school teacher and 1 high school student participated in solid-state research in 2009 Dr. Joseph MacNeil (right) assists undergraduate students with crystallization experiments. PI, Jennifer Aitken (left), shows students how to mount crystals in X-ray Crystallography workshop. Project SEED high school student, Terrance Austin (left), shows fellow students how to seal reactions. High school teacher, Josh Lucas, prepares reaction in the glovebox