We delve into the fascinating journey of charge carriers, from hopping-based transport to band-like behavior, by employing a variety of innovative techniques including surface treatments, ligand modifications, and heat treatments. By unraveling the secrets of charge transport at the nanoscale, we aim to unlock the full potential of these materials for advanced electronic applications. We celebrate 2023 as the year where Prof. Moungi Bawendi, who Dr Ray worked with during her PhD, recieved the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work with Quantum Dots.

We employ a multi-faceted approach to investigate the behavior and properties of these nanostructures. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations, we delve into the intricacies of single nanowires, nanotubes, and heterostructures, unraveling their electronic and structural characteristics. Experimental studies allow us to capture the collective response of nanowire networks, shedding light on emergent phenomena and enabling the design of tailored materials. Our research finds applications in a wide range of fields, including energy devices where nanowire architectures offer enhanced performance, and in neuromorphic or brain-inspired computing where their unique properties hold promise for novel computing paradigms. Join us in uncovering the limitless potential of nanowires for transformative technologies! 

Metallenes represent a fascinating class of two-dimensional (2D) materials composed of single-element layers with metallic properties, offering exciting possibilities for next-generation electronics, catalysis, and energy storage. Through innovative experimental techniques, we synthesize novel metallene structures with precise control over composition, morphology, and crystallinity. Concurrently, our first principles calculations, rooted in quantum mechanics, provide invaluable insights into the electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of metallenes, guiding our experimental efforts and uncovering their fundamental behaviors at the atomic level. 

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been extensively studied for fundamental interests and their electrocatalytic applications, taking advantage of their unique structural properties, namely, high porosity and large surface-to-volume ratio. However, the electronic properties of MOFs remain largely unexplored typically due to poor electrical conductivity in MOFs. Recent experimental breakthroughs in synthesizing two-dimensional (2D) MOFs with high conductivity has generated renewed interest in their electronic properties, and the prospect to study topological phenomenon. The connection between electronic structures of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and their building subunits is a key aspect and may help provide a playground to explore novel quantum physics and quantum chemistry as well as promising applications.