Welcome to the Wilson Lab, a research effort at the intersection of experimental physical chemistry & nanoscience in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto.
We use spectroscopy to understand the excitonic materials that we make, and chart the flow of excitonic energy in the multi-component architectures that we fabricate. We apply this knowledge to build novel optoelectronic devices—particularly those that can interact with infrared light.
2020-03-19 – After four long days of hustle, the Wilson lab is set for shut-down as part of the University’s response to the COVID pandemic. It’s certainly a disruption, but there are times when it’s more important to do one’s bit. Farewell, freshly-regenerated gloveboxes (<200ppb O2/H20!), we’ll be watching you (…as we furiously work on manuscripts!)
2020-03-07 – WilsonLabbers participate in an action-packed Graduate Student Recruitment Weekend. Kelly’s poster game proved very strong, and keyed many conversations with the strong class of prospective PChemists. Looking forward to new faces in the fall!
2020-02-12 – An unseasonably warm day in February lets us take a new group picture outside! Knox College across-the-road serving as a lovely backdrop.
2020-01-24 – Prof. Wilson returns to Queen’s University to give a departmental colloquium in the physics department. A day filled with great interactions with grad students, and hearing of exciting directions in nanoscale light-matter interactions from faculty—both familiar faces and fellow early-career researchers! Philippe enjoys a well-earned dinner after a day of discussions with Prof. Nobuhiro Yanai and his research group at Kyushu University.
2020-01-08
Philippe visits the Yanai group at Kyushu University in Fukuoka to present his latest insights into the mechanism of nucleation and growth of PbS nanocrystals—key materials for triplet-fusion upconversion. (Not just our favourite topic, but one where Nobuhiro’s team continues to make groundbreaking discoveries!) Thanks to all the Yanai group members for great interactions and kind hospitality.
The obligatory MIT crest photo—Minhal saved his excitement for single-molecule shop-talk with gracious hosts Hendrik Utzat, Katie Shulenberger, and Cole Perkinson. 2020-01-01 – The WilsonLab rings in the new year by welcoming new graduate student Kelly-Marie Yokuda! Kelly joins us from WWU with an interest (and track-record!) in using spectroscopy to explore how molecular structure influences excited-state dynamics in in molecules and nanostructured materials.
2019-12-06 – WilsonLabbers represent at the 2019 Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society in Boston. Christian, Philippe, & Minhal give orals presentations of their recent work, interact with researchers in spectrosopy and excitonic nanoscience from around the globe, and are treated to tours of the Bawendi, Tisdale, and Baldo labs across the Charles at MIT. An action-packed week of science! (…and, nerds that we might be, we couldn’t help but check out the mapparium :-)
Red laser light is converted to yellow emission by a solution including a norbornyl-bridged tetracene dimer via triplet fusion upconversion.
2019-11-02 – WilsonLabbers head up to the 35th Waterloo Symposium on Chemical Physics, held in honour of the late Prof. Bob LeRoy. Many highlights, including Christian winning the prize for best poster, and a keynote lecture by Nobel laureate (and co-inventor of Prof. Wilson’s favourite laser!) Prof. Donna Strickland, where she gave a memorable visual explanation of self-phase modulation.
(Left) Nobel laureate Prof. Donna Strickland memorably explains self-phase modulation of ultrafast optical pulses… with a slinky! (Right) Christian presents his prize-winning poster on kinetic modelling of triplet fusion upconversion at the 35th Waterloo SCP
