The Andrews Research Lab
Inorganic Chemistry, Solid-State Materials, Electronic Structure
The Andrews Research Lab is dedicated to developing new molecular and inorganic materials-based approaches to solving some of the defining challenges of our generation related to sustainability, the energy transition, and climate change. Our research blends the synthesis of molecular architectures having tunable pores and cavities, hybrid materials, and solid-state materials with the development of spectroscopic probes to investigate the delicate interplay between atomistic and electronic structure and their complex relationship across phase changes, electronic instabilities, and redox/intercalation events. Ultimately, we hope to leverage the insight we gain to better design materials for a more sustainable future.
In particular, we are interested in making 'switchable' porous materials and subnitrides/subchalcogenides systems for application in neuromorphic computing, energy storage, and desalination. Underpinning everything we do is our interest in materials with unique and exotic electronic structures! Look below to find out more:
Electronic Structure of Porous Materials
X-ray based Photophysical Tools
for Elucidating the Electronic Structure
of Porous Materials
X-ray Microscopy Techniques
Energy Storage and Desalination
Designing Anion Intercalation
Materials for Dual-
Ion Batteries
Achieving Anion Intercalation
in Water-Stable
Materials Materials for Desalination Batteries
What skills will you acquire working in the Andrews Research Lab?
Members of the Andrews lab will develop technical skills in a broad range of traditional subdisciplines including inorganic chemistry, solid-state chemistry, electrochemistry, and materials chemistry. In addition to solid-state and inorganic synthetic techniques, members of the group will have the opportunity to employ a suite of characterization techniques including but by no means limited to: powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, gas sorption analysis techniques, and synchrotron-based photophysical techniques such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray emission spectroscopy, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure.
Beyond technical skills, it is our mission to train the next generations of chemists who think rigorously about the electronic structure of extended systems and use this chemical insight to both derive and apply materials design principles to solve real-world materials challenges.