Saparov Lab
Solid State and Materials Chemistry
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research

 
 

Research

Our group focuses on the preparation of novel materials (hybrid organic-inorganic materials, multinary metal halides, chalcogenides etc.), characterization of their crystal and electronic structures, physical properties, and if warranted, their performance in actual devices (e.g., in solar cell devices, LEDs, radiation detectors).

Our research projects have been supported by the US Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

 

Multinary Chalcogenides

 
 
 

The ongoing interest in multinary chalcogenides stems in part from their remarkable thermoelectric (Bi2Se3, Bi2Te3, SnSe, PbTe etc.) and photovoltaic (CdTe, CIGS, CZTS etc.) properties. Using DFT calculations and solid state chemistry concepts, we focus on development of new families of functional chalcogenides for optoelectronic applications.

Most recently, our focus has been on the development of new kesterite-related chalcogenide semiconductors such as Cu2PbSiS4, Ag2PbGeS4 and KAg2SbS4, and investigations of the magnetic properties of saw-tooth lattice Mn2SiS4-xSex (x = 0 - 4) chalcogenides.

 

All-Inorganic and Hybrid Organic-Inorganic metal halides

 
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Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have been attracting global interest due to the outstanding optoelectronic properties of CH3NH3PbI3 and its derivatives. Inspired by the halide perovskites research, we focus on the rational design of hybrid organic-inorganic and all-inorganic metal halides (not necessarily perovskites) beyond CH3NH3PbI3 with primary interest in their light absorption and light emission (especially!) properties.

Currently, we have a few active research projects focused on metal halides:

  • Investigations of radiation response of metal halides to develop next generation PV materials for space solar applications (supported by a NASA grant under agreement No. 80NSSC19M0140)
  • Exploration and control of photoluminescent properties of copper(I) halides (supported by the National Science Foundation DMR-2045490)
  • Study of solution chemistry of heterometallic halide systems (supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under the award number DE-SC0021158)