Our group's research focuses on the molecular structure and dynamics of surfaces and condensed phase interfaces.  Two complementary aspects of our research program are (1) development of new surface-selective laser spectroscopy techniques and (2) application of these techniques to study molecular structure (e.g., conformation), organization (orientation, packing, self-assembly), and dynamics of molecular motions in the condensed phase.  We are interested in systems important in life sciences, material science, solar energy (photovoltaics), nano- and bio-technology. 

Recent Research Highlights

High-Performance Flexible Nanostructured Silicon Solar Modules with Plasmonically Engineered Upconversion Medium
Adv. Energy Mater. 2015, 1500761 
Orientational Dynamics in Sum Frequency Spectroscopic Line Shapes
J. Phys. Chem. B 2013, 117, 15833-15842
Annealing-Induced Changes in the Molecular Orientation of Poly-3-hexylthiophene at Buried Interfaces 
J. Phys. Chem. C 2013, 117, 15213–15220

Benderskii Group News

  • May 12, 2016 : Hooding Ceremony 2016.  Check out  pictures of Dr. Purnim Dhar wearing his robe. 
  • September 2015 : We have started a collaborative project with Cronin group at USC. We will be looking deep into the water splitting and CO2 reduction on TiO2-passivated III-V compounds. The project is funded by NSF.
  • August 2015 : Our collaborative paper on plasmonically engineered, high-performance flexible silicon solar modules has come out in Advanced Energy Materials. Check it out!  
  • August 2014 : Muhammet Mammetkuliyev has joined our group. Great deeds ahead!
  • January 2014 : Dhritiman Bhattacharyya and Angelo Montenegro have joined our group. Welcome guys!
  • October 16, 2013  : Misha's paper describing the contribution of orientational dynamics of molecules at interfaces to sum frequency spectroscopic line shapes has come out in Michael D. Fayer Festschrift special issue. 
  • July 11, 2013 : Our heterodyne-detected SFG (HD-SFG) technology receives official patent! US patent 8,451,442   Congratulations to all authors! Here is the link to the original paper: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 2271-2275 (2008).
  • June 21, 2013 : Purnim's paper describing molecular orientation at interfaces of organic photovoltaic materials has just come out in J. Phys. Chem. C.  Congratulations to all authors!
  • June 3, 2013 : Shuhui Yin from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has joined our lab. She will be working as a summer REU student. 
  • May 16, 2013 : Hooding Ceremony 2013.  Check out  pictures of Dr. Shalhout wearing his robe.  
  • May 6, 2013 : Congratulations to Fadel Shalhout for his successful Ph.D. defense.
  • April 17, 2013 : Fadel Shalhout got The Michael Dulligan Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding graduate research in the area of physical chemistry at the 2013 Stauffer Symposium.
  • April 2013 : Dr. Sean Roberts will be joining Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at University of Texas at Austin as an Assistant Professor in January 2014. Check out his faculty webpage at UT Austin. Good luck Sean!
  • January 2013 : Warmest welcome to our newest group member Chayan Dutta.
  • December 2012 : Congratulations to Dr. David Valley  for his successful defense. He will be joining The Mathies Lab at UC Berkeley as a postdoc. We wish you all the luck!
  • September 25, 2012 : We are deeply saddened and shocked to hear the passing of Mikhail Vinaykin in a tragic car accident. His enthusiasm for science, curiosity and liveliness were contagious. His passion for learning and values of life will live with us.

Benderskii Group 

Picture
            Fadel's graduation party at Alex's house, June 2013

Press Coverage

Our work on the hydrogen bonding at the water surface published in
 Nature has generated some interests in popular media.