Dr Richard J Curry
Reader
Qualifications: BSc PhD CPhys MInstP FHEA
Email: r.j.curry@surrey.ac.uk
Phone: Work: 01483 68 2713
Room no: 11 ATI 02
Further information
Biography
1993 - 1996 BSc in Theoretical Physics (1st class Hons) Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)
1996 -1999 PhD 'Luminescence characterisation of AlQ and ErQ', QMUL
1999 - 2001 EPSRC Research Associate, QMUL.
2001 - 2004 Research Fellow Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), University of Southampton
2003 co-founded ChG Southampton Ltd
2004 - present Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader, Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), University of Surrey.
Research Interests
My research interests are generally based around the study and development of organic and hybrid organic-inorganic nanocrystal and chalcogenide material systems for applications in optical and electronic devices. In particular my research has included the development and study of organometallic and organolanthanide complexes for applications in near-infrared optical devices. I also study hybrid organic-quantum dots systems with an emphasis on energy transfer processes and their use in near infrared emitting and photovoltaic devices. Related to this work is a continuing research programme studying C60 fullerite nanorods for optoelectronic applications. This work has been successfully applied to photovoltaics and light emitting devices including those in the infra-red. I also carry research into metal oxide nanomaterials with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) for use in sensor systems. A final area of interest is the development of chalcogenide materials for applications such as optical amplifiers and lasers through to medical devices and memory. This research area is attracting leading researchers in academia and industry due to the significant potential of these materials to revolutionise current optoelectronic technology.
Experimental techniques I utilise in my research include steady-state (UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR, Raman, PL, PLE, EL) and ultrafast (pump-probe and transient) spectroscopy and laser modification of materials and waveguide device fabrication. I also use SEM, AFM, TEM, UPS, XPS, electrochemistry (CV) and high magnetic field (> 7 T) measurements in collaboration with others.
Research Collaborations
I maintain a number of research collaborations both formal and informal and welcome opportunities to explore new collaborative research ideas.
Current external collaborations include:
Collaborator | Institution/Country | Topic |
Prof. Jiye Fang | New York State University, Binghamton, USA | |
Prof. David Shultz | North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA | Valence tautomers |
Dr Yizheng Jin | Zhenjiang University, China | |
Prof. Anthony Cheetham | Cambridge, UK | Rare-earth phosphors |
Prof. Stephen Elliott | Cambridge, UK | |
Prof. Dan Hewak | Southampton, UK | |
Dr Martin Grossel | Southampton, UK | |
Dr Mark Green | King’s College, London, UK | |
Prof. Bill Gillin | Queen Mary College, London, UK | Rare-earth phosphors & organic materials |
Further details can be found on my personal web page.
Publications
Highlights
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(2011) 'Optimization of hybrid organic-inorganic interdigitated photovoltaic device structure using a 2D diffusion model'. American Chemical Society ACS Nano, 5 (4), pp. 3069-3078.doi: 10.1021/nn200197f
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(2010) 'Charge transfer in hybrid organic-inorganic PbS nanocrystal systems'. ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS, 12 (27), pp. 7371-7377.doi: 10.1039/c003179h
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(2010) 'Oxide phosphors for efficient light upconversion: Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped Ln(2)BaZnO(5) (Ln = Y, Gd)'. ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, 20 (19), pp. 3989-3994.doi: 10.1039/c000127a
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(2008) 'Highly efficient near-infrared hybrid organic-inorganic nanocrystal electroluminescence device'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 92 (15) Article number ARTN 153311 doi: 10.1063/1.2909589Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7798/
Journal articles
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(2013) 'Facile synthesis of titania nanowires via a hot filament method and conductometric measurement of their response to hydrogen sulfide gas'. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 5 (4), pp. 1197-1205.doi: 10.1021/am302655j
- . (2012) 'A microfluidic system for long-term time-lapse microscopy studies of mycobacteria.'. Tuberculosis (Edinb), Scotland: 92 (6), pp. 489-496.
- . (2012) 'Temperature dependent lifetime of Dy : 1.3 μm emission in Ge-As-S glass containing very small amount of Ga and CsBr'. Chemical Physics Letters, 551, pp. 101-104.
- . (2012) 'Temperature dependent optical properties of PbS nanocrystals.'. Nanotechnology, England: 23 (27)
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(2012) 'Near infrared up-conversion in organic photovoltaic devices using an efficient Yb3+:Ho3+ Co-doped Ln2BaZnO5 (Ln = Y, Gd) phosphor'. American Institute of Physics Journal of Applied Physics, 111 (9) Article number 094502 doi: 10.1063/1.4704687Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/533328/
Abstract
The first detailed study that combines the use of a new generation of high-efficiency Yb3+:Ho3+ co-doped Y2BaZnO5 near-infrared up-converting phosphors with organic photovoltaic devices is reported. We show that it is possible to obtain a Jsc of 16 µA / cm2 under 986 nm illumination (~390 mW / cm2 corresponding to ~37 suns) leading to an up-conversion external quantum efficiency (UC EQE) of 0.0052%. Through modification of the organic photovoltaic devices to incorporate transparent electrodes we show that UC EQE could be increased to 0.031 %, matching that achieved in amorphous-Si:H PV cells. Accounting for the full spectral range that may be absorbed by the phosphor(~870–1030 nm) yields an up-conversion power conversion efficiency (UC PCE) of 0.073% which again could be improved to 0.45% using transparent electrodes. This technique for utilizing the near-infrared spectral region may therefore offer a potential route to improving the performance of organic photovoltaic devices as research into discovering high-efficiency up-converting phosphors continues to provide improved materials.
- . (2012) 'Temperature dependent lifetime of Dy : 1.3 μm emission in Ge-As-S glass containing very small amount of Ga and CsBr'. Chemical Physics Letters,
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(2011) 'Comment on ‘Unconventional gap state of trapped exciton in lead sulphide quantum dots’'. Institute of Physics Nanotechnology, 22 (23) Article number 238001 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7114/
Abstract
In a recent paper (Lewis et al 2010 Nanotechnology 21 45502) proposed a previously unidentified gap state within lead sulfide nanocrystals (PbS-NCs) based on analysis of their temperature dependent optical properties. In the following we argue that due to oversights in the analysis of the data presented, inconsistencies arise which question their exclusion of 'dark' excitonic states as the origin of the observed effects.
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(2011) 'Efficient White Light Emission by Upconversion in Yb3+-, Er3+- and Tm3+-doped Y2BaZnO5'. Chemical Communications, doi: 10.1039/c1cc11427a
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(2011) 'Synthesis and optical characterization of infra-red emitting mercury sulfide (HgS) quantum dots'. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 21, pp. 7331-7336.doi: 10.1039/c1jm10363f
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(2011) 'Optimization of hybrid organic-inorganic interdigitated photovoltaic device structure using a 2D diffusion model'. American Chemical Society ACS Nano, 5 (4), pp. 3069-3078.doi: 10.1021/nn200197f
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(2011) 'Oxide Phosphors for Light Upconversion; Yb3+ and Tm3+ Co-Doped Y2BaZnO5'. American Institute of Physics Journal of Applied Physics, 109 Article number 063104 doi: 10.1063/1.3549634Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7116/
- . (2011) 'Synthesis of linear ZnO structures by a thermal decomposition method and their characterisation'. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE, 47 (4), pp. 1893-1901.
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(2011) 'Determination of the oxidation state and coordination of a vanadium doped chalcogenide glass'. Elsevier Optical Materials, 33 (3), pp. 315-322.Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7118/
Abstract
Vanadium doped chalcogenide glass has potential as an active gain medium, particularly at telecommunications wavelengths. This dopant has three spin allowed absorption transitions at 1100, 737 and 578 nm, and a spin forbidden absorption transition at 1000 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated the presence of vanadium in a range of oxidation states from V+ to V5+. Excitation of each absorption band resulted in the same characteristic emission spectrum and lifetime, indicating that only one oxidation state is optically active. Arguments based on Tanabe–Sugano analysis indicated that the configuration of the optically active vanadium ion was octahedral V2+. The calculated crystal field parameters (Dq/B, B and C/B) were 1.85, 485.1 and 4.55, respectively.
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(2011) 'Efficient oxide phosphors for light upconversion; green emission from Yb3+ and Ho3+ co-doped Ln(2)BaZnO(5) (Ln = Y, Gd)'. ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, 21 (5), pp. 1387-1394.doi: 10.1039/c0jm01652gFull text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7117/
- . (2010) 'Determination of the oxidation state and coordination of a vanadium doped chalcogenide glass'. Optical Materials, 33 (3), pp. 315-322.
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(2010) 'Charge transfer in hybrid organic-inorganic PbS nanocrystal systems'. ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS, 12 (27), pp. 7371-7377.doi: 10.1039/c003179h
- .
(2010) 'Oxide phosphors for efficient light upconversion: Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped Ln(2)BaZnO(5) (Ln = Y, Gd)'. ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, 20 (19), pp. 3989-3994.doi: 10.1039/c000127a
- . (2009) 'The fabrication and analysis of a PbS nanocrystal:C-60 bilayer hybrid photovoltaic system'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD NANOTECHNOLOGY, 20 (24) Article number ARTN 245202
- . (2009) 'Charge transfer between acenes and PbS nanocrystals'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD NANOTECHNOLOGY, 20 (19) Article number ARTN 195205
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(2008) 'Spectroscopy of titanium-doped gallium lanthanum sulfide glass'. OPTICAL SOC AMER J OPT SOC AM B, 25 (9), pp. 1458-1465.Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7794/
Abstract
Titanium-doped gallium lanthanum sulfide (Ti:GLS) and gallium lanthanum oxysulfide (Ti:GLSO) glasses have an absorption band at similar to 500-600 nm that cannot be fully resolved because of its proximity to the band edge of the glass. At concentrations >0.5% a shoulder at 980 nm is observed in Ti:GLS but not in Ti :GLSO. The emission spectra of Ti:GLS and T :GLSO both peak at 900 nm with lifetimes of 67 and 97)us, respectively. We propose that the absorption at similar to 600 nm is due to the T-2(2g) -> E-2(g) transition of octahedral Ti3+ and the 980 nm shoulder is due to Ti3+-Ti4+ pairs. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.
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(2008) 'Measurement and validation of PbS nanocrystal energy levels'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 93 (4) Article number ARTN 043501 doi: 10.1063/1.2964203Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7795/
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(2008) 'Highly efficient near-infrared hybrid organic-inorganic nanocrystal electroluminescence device (vol 92, art no 153311, 2008)'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPL PHYS LETT, 92 (20) Article number 209903 doi: 10.1063/1.2936181Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/732924/
- . (2008) 'Improved electron injection into Alq(3) based devices using a thin Erq(3) injection layer'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS, 41 (8) Article number ARTN 085108
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(2008) 'Highly efficient near-infrared hybrid organic-inorganic nanocrystal electroluminescence device'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 92 (15) Article number ARTN 153311 doi: 10.1063/1.2909589Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7798/
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(2008) 'Highly efficient near-infrared hybrid organic-inorganic nanocrystal electroluminescence device'. American Institute of Physics APL: Organic Electronics and Photonics, 92 (15) Article number 153311 doi: 10.1063/1.2909589
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(2008) 'Erratum: Highly efficient near-infrared hybrid organic-inorganic nanocrystal electroluminescence device (APL: Organic Electronics and Photonics (2008) 92 (153311))'. APL: Organic Electronics and Photonics, 1 (5)doi: 10.1063/1.2936181Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7800/
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(2008) 'Low cost patterning of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) films to increase organic photovoltaic device efficiency'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 93 (10) Article number ARTN 103301 doi: 10.1063/1.2973342Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/634725/
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(2008) 'One-pot rapid low-cost synthesis of Pd-fullerite catalysts'. ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, 18 (40), pp. 4808-4813.doi: 10.1039/b807963c
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(2008) 'Erratum: "Highly efficient near-infrared hybrid organic-inorganic nanocrystal electroluminescence device" [Appl. Phys. Lett.92, 153311 (2008)]'. American Institute of Physics Applied Physics Letters, 92 (20) Article number 209903 doi: 10.1063/1.2936181Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/639598/
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(2008) 'Low cost patterning of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) films to increase organic photovoltaic device efficiency'. Applied Physics Letters, 93 (10)doi: 10.1063/1.2973342
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(2008) 'Controlled growth of true nanoscale single crystal fullerites for device applications'. ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, 18 (28), pp. 3319-3324.doi: 10.1039/b802417k
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(2007) 'A PbS nanocrystal-C-60 photovoltaic device for infrared light harvesting'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 91 (13) Article number ARTN 133506 doi: 10.1063/1.2790730Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7805/
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(2007) 'Electrical phase change of Ga : La : S : Cu films'. INST ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY-IET ELECTRONICS LETTERS, 43 (15), pp. 830-832.doi: 10.1049/el:20071290
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(2007) 'Nanoimprinted large area heterojunction pentacene-C-60 photovoltaic device'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 90 (25) Article number ARTN 253502 doi: 10.1063/1.2749863Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7807/
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(2007) 'Spectroscopy of vanadium (III) doped gallium lanthanum sulphide chalcogenide glass'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 90 (3) Article number ARTN 031108 doi: 10.1063/1.2432280Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7808/
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(2007) 'Development and study of hybrid organic-colloidal quantum dot systems - art. no. 647007'. SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING Organic Photonic Materials and Devices IX, San Jose, CA: 6470 Article number 647007 , pp. 47007-47007.doi: 10.1117/12.700608Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/732928/
Abstract
We show that in the presence of fullerene complexes the optical properties of PbS QDs are significantly modified. The absorption of the PbS QDs is observed to shift to a higher energy when fullerene complexes are introduced. Upon direct excitation of the PbS below the fullerene absorption a corresponding blue shift in PL spectra of the PbS QDs is observed. The strength of this blue-shift can be related to the fullerene concentration in most cases and is accompanied by a broadening of the emission spectrum. When exciting the samples at high energy 3.4 eV (363 mn) the strength of these effects is increased with a maximum blue-shift in the PL spectrum of 261 meV and 167 meV occurring for the C60 and PCBM doped samples respectively. The origin of the observed behavior cannot be confirmed at this time and is the focus of ongoing studies. However, we briefly discuss the results obtained in relation to the strong electron accepting nature of the fullerene complexes used.
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(2007) 'Concentration dependence of the fluorescence decay profile in transition metal doped chalcogenide glass'. Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 6469doi: 10.1117/12.699134Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/732929/
Abstract
In this paper we present the fluorescence decay profiles of vanadium and titanium doped gallium lanthanum sulphide (GLS) glass at various doping concentrations between 0.01 and 1% (molar). We demonstrate that below a critical doping concentration the fluorescence decay profile can be fitted with the stretched exponential function: exp[-(t/τ)β, where τ is the fluorescence lifetime and β is the stretch factor. At low concentrations the lifetime for vanadium and titanium doped GLS was 30 μs and 67 μs respectively. We validate the use of the stretched exponential model and discuss the possible microscopic phenomenon it arises from. We also demonstrate that above a critical doping concentration of around 0.1% (molar) the fluorescence decay profile can be fitted with the double exponential function: a*exp-(t/τ )+ b*exp-(t/τ ), where τ and τ are characteristic fast and slow components of the fluorescence decay profile, for vanadium the fast and slow components are 5 us and 30 μs respectively and for titanium they are 15 μs and 67 μs respectively. We also show that the fluorescence lifetime of vanadium and titanium at low concentrations in the oxide rich host gallium lanthanum oxy-sulphide (GLSO) is 43 μs and 97 μs respectively, which is longer than that in GLS. From this we deduce that vanadium and titanium fluorescing ions preferentially substitute into high efficiency oxide sites until at a critical concentration they become saturated and low efficiency sulphide sites start to be filled.
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(2007) 'Operation of a reversed pentacene-fullerene discrete heterojunction photovoltaic device 10.1063/1.2713345'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 90 (11) Article number ARTN 113505 doi: 10.1063/1.2713345Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/110181/
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(2006) 'Structural and optoelectronic properties of C-60 rods obtained via a rapid synthesis route'. ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, 16 (37), pp. 3715-3720.doi: 10.1039/b609074e
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(2006) 'Field emission from multiwall carbon nanotubes prepared by electrodeposition without the use of a dispersant'. A V S AMER INST PHYSICS JOURNAL OF VACUUM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY B, 24 (3), pp. 1362-1364.doi: 10.1116/1.2198855Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/110182/
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(2006) 'Modified dipicolinic acid ligands for sensitization of europium(III) luminescence'. AMER CHEMICAL SOC INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 45 (4), pp. 1739-1744.doi: 10.1021/ic051461u
Patents
- . (2010) Phase change memory materials, devices and methods. EU: Article number 06820493.2 and PCT/GB2006/004635
Teaching
I currently teach level-1 undergraduate (Electromagnetism) and level-M (Molecular Electronics) modules. I supervise undergraduate and, as part of the MSc in Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronic Devices, MSc project students. I have a postgraduate certificate in academic practice (PGCAP) and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
Departmental Duties
Director of Postgraduate Studies, Department of Electronic Engineering.
Patents
Light-Emitting Systems. W.P. Gillin and R.J. Curry. PCT WO 01/78203 01 A1.
Optical Amplifiers. W.P. Gillin and R.J. Curry. PCT WO 02/078097 A3.
Phase change memory materials, devices and methods. D.W. Hewak, R.J. Curry, A.K. Mairaj, and R.E. Simpson. PCT WO 2007/071922 A1 (2007).
A full publication list is available here: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Curry/ or via http://www.nano-mpd.org
Research Funding
Current Research Funding | Funding Body | PI or CI | Year |
Direct magnetic measurement of excitonic induced magnetization in colloidal nanocrystals | The Leverhulme Trust | PI | 2011 to 2013 |
Amorphous Chalcogenide-Based Optoelectronic Platform for Next-Generation Optoelectronic Technologies | EPSRC
| PI | 2011 to 2013 |
Investigation of stochastic variations in growth rate as the mechanism of drug tolerance in mycobacterium tuberculosis | BBSRC
| CI | 2012 to 2015 |
PI = principle investigator; CI = co-investigator.
