Research – Vo Research Group

Over the last decade, there has been an explosive growth in our capability to synthesize nanoscale building blocks (NBBs). These NBBs possess a wide range of optical, structural, magnetic, and/or catalytic properties, suggesting that they can serve as the ideal design space for materials discovery spanning a diverse range of technologically open challenges. Our group employs computational modeling and theory to develop strategies for designing colloidal, nanoparticle, and polymeric self-assembly involving combinations of NBBs into structures that exhibit multi-functional properties. Specifically, we aim to answer three broad questions:​ 1). How can we rapidly and accurately model novel complex building block monomers? 2). How can we understand and predict the self-assembly behaviors of NBBs? 3). How can we engineer experimentally realizable nanoscale and polymeric building blocks to target novel materials properties? Theory-driven potential development for complex building block geomet

Over the last decade, there has been an explosive growth in our capability to synthesize nanoscale building blocks (NBBs). These NBBs possess a wide range of optical, structural, magnetic, and/or catalytic properties, suggesting that they can serve as the ideal design space for materials discovery spanning a diverse range of technologically open challenges. Our group employs computational modeling and theory to develop strategies for designing colloidal, nanoparticle, and polymeric self-assembly involving combinations of NBBs into structures that exhibit multi-functional properties. Specifical