5200 North Lake Rd.
S&E Bldg., RM 324 (office), RM 361 (lab)
Merced, CA 95343
Research Interests
Professor Kelley's research group uses ultrafast optical spectroscopy to examine the optical and electronic properties of semiconductor nanoparticles. He focuses on layered semiconductors — specifically gallium selenide and indium selenide — which have layered crystal structures and form two-dimensional, disk-like nanoparticles. The optical properties of indium selenide are very well suited for the absorption of sunlight; therefore, its nanoparticles hold considerable promise as the active media in photovoltaics.
Professor Kelley's group synthesizes nanoparticles that have diameters from 2 nm to tens of nanometers — all of which are four atoms thick — as the properties of such nanoparticles are strongly size dependent, due to quantum size effects. He is primarily interested controlling and optimizing the properties of the nanoparticles for solar energy conversion.
Education
- Ph.D., 1980 — University of Washington, Seattle
- B.S., 1976 — Whitworth College
