Scott Darveau, Ph.D.

Professor, Physical Chemistry

Office: BHS 216   |    Phone: (308) 865-8491   |    Email: darveausa@unk.edu

Scott Darveau

Biography

I studied Chemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I first became interested in Physical Chemistry working with Dr. Craig Eckhardt to measure the specular reflectance spectra from a pair of single crystals of related bi-molecular organometallic complexes. I went on to the University of Chicago for graduate studies in Physical Chemistry with R. Stephen Berry. In his group I worked on high-vacuum systems in the measurement of atomic collision processes including Penning Detachment and electron super-elastic scattering from excited atoms. I started at UNK in 1997 teaching a variety of classes and conducting research. My early work focused on laser-applications in the teaching laboratories. Dr. Chris Exstrom and I have been research collaborators since around 2002 and our research has focused on nano-materials and their applications primarily as absorbers in solar photovoltaics but also in sensors and other materials. I have been privileged to serve as department chair since 2011.

Education
Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, University of Chicago, 1998
B.S., Chemistry, University of Nebraska Lincoln, 1992

Awards
Donald Fox Endowed Chair of Chemistry                                                   2017-2022
Pratt-Heins Foundation Faculty Award for Service                                     2017
The David Stevensen Faculty Senate Distinguished Service Award         2008, 2013
Outstanding Honors Faculty of the Year, UNK                                            2006

Recent Courses
General Chemistry and Labs (Chem 160, 160L, 161, 161L)
Physical Chemistry (Chem 480, Chem 481)
Advanced Chemistry Lab (Chem 490L, Chem 491L)


Recent Publications

  • “Non-vacuum Preparation of WSe2 Thin Films via the Selenization of Hydrated Tungsten Oxide Prepared using Chemical Solution Methods,” Exstrom, C.L.; Darveau, S.A.; Falconer, M.E.*; Blum, J.R.*; Colling, W.M.*; Ianno N.J. (2018), MRS Advances, 3(56), 3281-3286.
  •  “A Low-Temperature Fabrication Method for WSe2 Films Grown from Nanocrystalline Precursors.” Exstrom, C., Darveau, S. A., Edgar, J. S., Curry, C. J., Hanrahan, M. P., Ma, Q., Hilfiker, M., Ediger, A., Ianno, N. J. (2016). MRS Advances, 1(41), 2821-2826.  doi:10.1557/adv.2016.437
  •  “Preparation of CIGS Thin Films by HiPIMS or DC Sputtering and Various Selenization Processes,” Olejníček, J.; Hubička, Z.; Kšírová, P.; Kment, Š; Brunclíková, M.; Kohout, M.; Čada, M.; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L., Journal of Advanced Oxidation Technologies, 2013, 16, 314-319.
  •  “Zinc Alloyed Iron Pyrite Nanocrystals for Band Gap Broadening,” Mao, B.; Dong, Q.; Xiao, Z.; Exstrom, C.L.; Darveau, S.A.; Webber, T.E.*; Lund, B.D.*; Huang, H.; Kang, Z.; Huang, J., Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2013, 1, 12060-12065.
  • “Air Sensitive, Photosensitive, Phase Pure Iron Pyrite Nanocrystal Thin Films for Photovoltaic Application,” Bi, Y.; Yuan, Y.; Exstrom, C.L.; Darveau, S.A.; Huang, J. Nano Letters, 11, 4953-4957 (2011).
  • “CuIn1-xAlxS2 Thin Films Prepared by Sulfurization of Metallic Precursors,” Olejníček, J.; Slaymaker, L.E.; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L.; Kment, Š.; Prabukanthan, P.; Ianno, N.J.; Soukup, R.J. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 509, 10020-10024, 2011.
  • “Properties of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 Films Prepared by the Rapid Thermal Annealing of Spray-deposited CuIn1-xGaxS2 and Se,” Slaymaker, L.E.; Hoffman, N.M.; Ingersoll, M.A.; Jensen, M.R.; Olejníček, J.; Exstrom, C.L.; Darveau, S.A.; Soukup, R.J.; Ianno, N.J.; Sarkar, A.; Kment, Š., Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 2011, 1324, DOI: 10.1557/opl.2011.1152
  • “Thermoelectric Properties of p-type CuInSe2 Chalcopyrites Enhanced by Introduction of Manganese,” Yao, J.; Takas, N.J.; Schliefert, M.L.*; Paprocki, D.S.*; Blanchard, P.E.R.; Mar, A.; Exstrom, C.L.; Darveau, S.A.; Poudeu, P.F.P.; Aitken, J.A., Physical Review B, 84, 075203. 2011.
  •  “Formation of CuIn1-xAlxSe2 Thin Films Studied by Raman Scattering”, Olejníček, J.; Kamler, C.A.; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L.; Slaymaker, L.E.*; Vandeventer, A.R.*; Ianno, N.J.; Soukup, R.J. Thin Solid Films, 519, 5329-5334 (2011). 

Recent Presentations

  1. “Non-vacuum Preparation of WSe2 thin films via the Selenization of Hydrated Tungsten Oxide Prepared using a ChemicalBath Method,” Exstrom, C.L.; Darveau, S.A.; Falconer, M.E.*; Blum, J.R.*; Colling, W.M.*; Ianno, N.J. , Materials Research Society Symposium, Phoenix, AZ, April 3-6,
  2. “Facile One-pot Synthesis of WSe2 Nanoparticle from the Reaction between Diphenyl Diselenide and Tungsten Hexacarbonyl,” Blum, J.A.*; Colling, W.M.*; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L. 52nd Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Lawrence, KS, October 19,
  3. “Chemistry of Tungsten-selenium Nanocrystalline Product Formation from a Mild-Temperature Reaction between Tungsten Hexacarbonyl and Selenium,” Colling, W.M.*; Blum, J.A.*; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L. 52nd Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Lawrence, KS, October 19,
  4. “Fabrication of WSe2 Thin Films via a Mild Temperature Selenization of Chemical Bath-deposited Tungsten Oxide,”Falconer, M.E.*; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L. 52nd Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Lawrence, KS, October 19, 2017.
  5. “Effect of Silica Aerogel Embedment on the Wetting Properties of Femtosecond Laser Surface Processed Aluminum-1100 Surfaces,” Everitt, K.R.*; Tanbouza-Husseini, A.*; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L.; Peng, E.; Shield, J.E.; Bell, R.B.; Zuhlke, C.A.; Alexander, D.A. 52nd  Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Lawrence, KS, October 19,
  6. “Manipulation of Femtosecond Laser Processed Aluminum-1100 surface wetting behavior via coating by silanes with long-chain alkyl or fluoroalkyl substituents,” Tanbouza-Husseini, A.*; Everitt, K.R.*; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L. 52ndMidwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Lawrence, KS, October 19,
  7. “Effects of Acid Catalysts on the Preparation of Ambient-dried Titania Aerogels,” Hansen, L.M.*; Darveau, S.A.; Exstrom, C.L. 52nd Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Lawrence, KS, October 19,

Recent and Ongoing Projects

Characterization of Novel Thin Films for Use in Solar Cells:
In collaboration with Christopher Exstrom from UNK, Natale Ianno and Rodney Soukup from the Electrical Engineering department at UNL, we are studying the optical characteristics of amorphous thin films of Silicon, silicon-germanium alloys, germanium-carbide alloys, copper indium selenide family, iron pyrite and now tungsten selenide.  We hope to create high-efficiency materials for solar energy conversion.

We have the capability of high-resolution surface Raman microscopy, X-Ray Powder diffraction (XRD), profilometry, ICP-OES, TGA, and visible spectroscopies, atmosphere controlled annealing and reactivity, thin-film metal plasma sputtering, and supercritical carbon dioxide drying. These techniques allow us to understand both the composition and behavior of the materials we create. We focus many of our approached on ways to create nanoparticulate precursors (see Dr. Exstrom's Research) that can be annealed to create thin films.


Major Funded Research Grants

  1. “Development of Next-generation Photovoltaic Solar Cells based on Tungsten Selenide,” $175,000, University of Nebraska Foundation, 2016-2018.
  2. “Highly Permanent Biomimetic Micro/Nanostructured Surfaces by Femtosecond Laser Surface Processing for Thermal Management Systems,” $90,369, NASA Nebraska Space Grant Program (NASA-EPSCoR). 2014-2017
  3. “Nanoscale Imaging at the Benchtop: Enhancing Materials Science Research and Education across the Physical and Life Sciences using New Low-Voltage Electron Microscope Technology” Nebraska Research Initiative Program, $286,610, July 2011-June 2012.
  4. “Center for Nanohybrid Functional Materials,” $312,990, Nebraska EPSCoR (NSF-RII), 2010-2015.
  5. “Satellite Contaminant Materials Program”, Scott Darveau and Chris Exstrom, University of Nebraska at Kearney.  $134,523 subcontract from UNL, NASA, 2008-2011.
  6. “CIBS Solar Cell Development”, Chris Exstrom and Scott Darveau, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Rodney Soukup and Natale J. Ianno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Funded by U.S. Department of Energy, $936,000, 2008-2011
  7. “A New Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Material for High Efficiency Solar Cells.” Rodney Soukup and Natale J. Ianno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Chris Exstrom and Scott Darveau, University of Nebraska at Kearney. Funded by Nebraska Research Initiative. $299,790. 2006-2008
  8. “Development of CIBS Solar Cells,” Chris Exstrom and Scott Darveau, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Rodney Soukup and Natale J. Ianno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Funded by DOE, $770,000, 2006-2008
  9. “A Multicampus Renewable Energy Laboratory of Excellence: Cost Effective Solar Cells.” Chris Exstrom and Scott Darveau, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Rodney Soukup and Natale J. lanno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Funded by Nebraska Research Initiative. $303,255.00. 2002-2006