Research Interests:
Our research focuses on the chemistry, physics, and material science of functional inorganic nanomaterials. Leveraging our expertise in synthesis, self-assembly, and physical chemistry, we aim to develop novel materials for applications in optoelectronics, energy storage, and catalysis.
We work with chemical systems that resist easy classification as solid-state or molecular, organic or inorganic, and do not fit into any established subfield of chemical science. For instance, we are advancing the methodology for the colloidal synthesis of quantum dots and other functional nanostructures. Originally focused on preparing simple spherical nanoparticles, the field has since evolved into a distinct branch of synthetic chemistry that pushes the boundaries by creating increasingly intricate structures with precise control over composition, size, shape, and the connectivity of components within multicomponent assemblies.
Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) represent another unique domain for chemists and materials engineers. MXenes naturally bridge solid-state, surface, and molecular chemistry, enabling material properties that are difficult to achieve within other material families.
Inspired by how most solids form in nature, where individual atoms or molecules self-assemble into rigid, highly uniform arrays, we investigate the assembly of nanocrystals and MXenes into ordered superlattices. Assembling nanoscale functional building blocks offers a powerful modular approach to designing novel materials and "metamaterials" with programmable physical and chemical properties. Superlattices represent a novel category of condensed matter, drawing properties from both individual nanoscale building blocks and the collective interactions among these structural units. Our research explores the fundamental science of self-assembly and examines the electronic and optical properties of these unique materials.
The insights gained from our fundamental studies of nanocrystals and MXenes contribute to the development of practical solution-processed optoelectronic devices and new methods for additive device integration, such as direct optical lithography of functional inorganic nanomaterials (DOLFIN). We are actively pursuing applications of these new materials in collaboration with industry leaders and startups.
Selected Publications
J. C. Ondry, Z. Zhou, K. Lin, A. Gupta, J. H. Chang, H. Wu, A. Jeong, B. F. Hammel, D. Wang, H. C. Fry, S. Yazdi, G. Dukovic, R. D. Schaller, E. Rabani, D. V. Talapin. Reductive pathways in molten inorganic salts enable colloidal synthesis of III-V semiconductor nanocrystals. Science (2024) accepted.
C. Zhou, D. Wang, F. Lagunas, B. Atterberry, M. Lei, H. Hu, Z. Zhou, A. S. Filatov, D.-e. Jiang, A. J. Rossini, R. F. Klie, D. V. Talapin. Hybrid organic-inorganic two-dimensional metal carbide MXenes with amido- and imido-terminated surfaces. Nature Chemistry 15, 1722–1729 (2023).
D. Wang, C. Zhou, A. S. Filatov, W. Cho, F. Lagunas, M. Wang, S. Vaikuntanathan, C. Liu, R. F. Klie, D. V. Talapin. Direct synthesis and chemical vapor deposition of 2D carbide and nitride MXenes. Science, 379, 1242-1247 (2023).
I. Coropceanu, E. M. Janke, J. Portner, D. Haubold, T. D. Nguyen, A. Das, C. Tanner, J. K. Utterback, S. Teitelbaum, M. Hudson, N. Sarma, A. M. Hinkle, C. Tassone, A. Eychmüller, D. Limmer, M. Olvera de la Cruz, N. Ginsberg, D. V. Talapin. Self-assembly of nanocrystals into strongly electronically coupled all-inorganic supercrystals. Science 375, 1422-1426 (2022).
V. Kamysbayev, A. S. Filatov, H. Hu, X. Rui, F. Lagunas, Di Wang, R. F. Klie, D. V. Talapin. Covalent surface modifications and superconductivity of two-dimensional metal carbide MXenes. Science 369, 979-983 (2020).
Y. Wang, I. Fedin, H. Zhang, and D. V. Talapin. Direct Optical Lithography of Functional Inorganic Nanomaterials. Science 357, 385–388 (2017).
H. Zhang, K. Dasbiswas, N. B. Ludwig, G. Han, B. Lee, S. Vaikuntanathan, D. V. Talapin. Stable colloids in molten inorganic salts. Nature 542, 328–331 (2017).
C. R. Kagan, E. Lifshitz, E. H. Sargent, D. V. Talapin. Building Devices from Colloidal Quantum Dots. Science 353, 885 (2016).
M. Boles, M. Engel, D. Talapin. Self-assembly of colloidal nanocrystals: from intricate structures to functional materials. Chem. Rev. 2016 116, 11220 (2016).
M. A. Boles, D. Ling, T. Hyeon, D. V. Talapin. The surface science of nanocrystals. Nature Mater. 15, 141 (2016).
D. S. Dolzhnikov, H. Zhang, J. Jang, J. S. Son, M. G. Panthani, S. Chattopadhyay, T. Shibata, D. V. Talapin. Composition-matched molecular “solders” for semiconductors. Science 347, 425 (2015).
J.-S. Lee, M. V. Kovalenko, J. Huang, D.-S. Chung, D. V. Talapin. Band-like Transport, High Electron Mobility and High Photoconductivity in All-inorganic Nanocrystal Arrays. Nature Nanotech, 6, 348 (2011).
D. V. Talapin, J.-S. Lee, M. V. Kovalenko, E. V. Shevchenko. Prospects of Nanocrystal Solids as Electronic and Optoelectronic Materials. Chem. Rev. 110, 389 (2010).
M. V. Kovalenko, M. Scheele, D. V. Talapin. Colloidal Nanocrystals with Molecular Metal Chalcogenide Surface Ligands. Science 324, 1417 (2009).
D. V. Talapin, E. V. Shevchenko, M. I. Bodnarchuk, X. Ye, J. Chen, C. B. Murray. Quasicrystalline Order in Self-assembled Binary Nanoparticle Superlattices. Nature 461, 964 (2009).