Interests
The Spano group specializes in the theory of electronic excited states in organic aggregates, crystals and thin films, based on models incorporating intermolecular (electronic) interactions, electron-vibrational coupling and various manifestations of disorder. We are interested in understanding photophysical and transport properties of organic materials such as semiconducting conjugated polymers and oligomers. Such materials are finding increasing use in practical devices such as field-effect-transistors and solar cells.
Biography
1988-1990 Postdoctoral researcher, University of Rochester
1998 Ph.D. Princeton University
1982 B.S. Lehigh University
Selected Awards
Honors Professor of the Year. The Italia-Eire Foundation Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award. CST Outstanding Research Award.
Select Publications
Cavity-Controlled Chemistry in Molecular Ensembles
F. Herrera and F.C. Spano
Phys. Rev. Lett., 116, 238301, 2016.
Extended-Charge-Transfer Excitons in Crystalline Supramolecular Photocatalytic Scaffolds
N.J. Hestand, R. Kazantsev, A.S. Weingarten, L.C. Palmer, S.I. Stupp and F.C. Spano
J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 138, 11762, 2016.
Polaron Delocalization in Conjugated Polymer Films
R. Ghosh, C. M. Pochas, and F.C. Spano
J. Phys. Chem. C , 120, 11394, 2016.
Polarized Absorption in Crystalline Pentacene: Theory vs Experiment
N.J. Hestand, H. Yamagata, B. Xu, et. al.,
J. Phys. Chem. C, 119, 22137, 2015.
Interference between Coulombic and CT-mediated couplings in molecular aggregates: H- to J-aggregate transformation in perylene-based pi-stacks
N.J. Hestand and F.C. Spano
J. Chem. Phys., 143, 244707, 2015.