Project Grant 2540372

The National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry awarded the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth $554,816 on September 1, 2026, for a CAREER project to investigate spin polarization in inorganic hybrid nanostructures at the single-particle level.

Professor Wei-Shun Chang and his research team will develop a new platform to understand electron transportation in metal–semiconductor nanostructures approximately 1000 times smaller than a human hair. The project integrates single-particle chiral microscopy to determine optochirality and interfacial electron-transfer dynamics with single-particle optical voltammetry to probe spin polarization in individual nanostructures. By correlating these measurements on the same hybrid nanostructures—composed of plasmonic metals and semiconducting metal oxides with controlled chiral structures—the research will establish structure–optochirality–spin polarization relationships inaccessible through conventional ensemble measurements. The findings will advance understanding of how nanostructure morphology controls electron motion with specific spin orientations, informing design of advanced materials for microelectronics, biomedical technologies, and advanced manufacturing of high-performance materials and devices.

Educational and outreach activities include training undergraduate and graduate students in semiconducting nanomaterials fabrication and characterization, and engaging K–12 students in Southern Massachusetts to learn nanoscience and pursue STEM careers.

Performance takes place at North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2031. The award is funded under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049).