Pheona Williams

Nanocrystal Quantum Dots have Motivated Substantial Research since their Discovery in the 1980’s

Quantum dots are semiconducting crystalline nanostructures that, by virtue of their size, operate according to the principles of quantum mechanics. Even though quantum dots have far reaching applications for solar cells and energy efficient technology, not enough is known about their operation.  As a summer research student at the Aidala lab at Mount Holyoke College, my research focused on determining how many layers of quantum dots are required to measure current through the thin film.  Our aim is to better understand how current moves through these structures to improve the efficiencies of future devices. My presentation focuses on this research, the skills I acquired, and the connections I made to my career goals and future aspirations in the fields of Physics and Engineering.