Gordana Dukovic
Professor • Institute Fellow, RASEI
Chemistry • Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI)
gordana.dukovic@colorado.edu
303-735-5297

Office: Ekeley Science M331
Lab: Ekeley Science M332 & M366
Lab Phone: 303-492-8957
Fax: 303-492-5894

Education

Ph.D.: Columbia University, 2006 
Postdoctoral Scholar: University of California, Berkeley and LBNL 2006-2009

Areas of Expertise

Nanotechnology/Materials, Physical Chemistry, Renewable Energy

Awards and Honors

2014 Sloan Research Fellowship
2013 Beckman Young Investigator
2013 Cottrell Scholar
2012 NSF CAREER Award
2012 Scialog Collaborative Innovation Award (with Sean Elliott, Boston University)
2012 Fellow, Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder
2006 Hammet Award, for excellence in studies and research toward the PhD, Columbia University
2003 Jack Miller Award, for excellence in teaching, Columbia University

Our research is focused on fundamental problems in nanoscience and how they impact the application of nanoscale materials to solar energy harvesting. Our approach integrates the design and synthesis of novel nanomaterials with detailed electronic spectroscopy in order to reveal how such materials interact with light. The group welcomes a broad spectrum of scientists, with interests ranging from synthetic chemistry to femtosecond spectroscopy.

One of the defining themes in nanoscience is the control of physical properties of a material (such as its electronic structure) through solution-phase synthesis that produces nanostructures of well-defined composition, size, and shape. Our synthetic efforts are directed at creating complex nanomaterials that incorporate the properties necessary for solar energy applications, such as optimized light absorption and spatial separation of photoexcited charges.

Time-resolved electronic spectroscopy allows us to directly probe the behavior of excited electrons and holes created when a material absorbs sunlight. Events such as charge separation, transfer, recombination, and trapping determine the efficiency of solar energy harvesting. We are interested in mapping out the dynamics of such events to understand how to improve the design of next generation solar materials.

Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers interested in joining or learning more about the group are encouraged to contact Prof. Dukovic by email. Postdoctoral applicants should include a CV and a brief description of research skills and interests.