PHYSICAL & MATERIALS CHEMISTRY

Assistant Professor

B.Eng. Tecnologico de Monterrey (Mexico), 2006
Ph.D. Stanford University, 2013
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California at Berkeley, 2013-2016


Phone: (801) 587-7979

Office: 2428 TBBC

Email:  noriega@chem.utah.edu

RESEARCH GROUP

Research Interests

My group employs ultrafast laser spectroscopy tools to establish relationships between chemical identity, molecular-scale dynamic processes, and macroscale observables with the purpose of directing materials development. We are particularly interested in molecular systems because a large number of chemical variations can yield a seemingly boundless portfolio of materials with tunable properties. Most functional materials operate in the condensed phase and thus experience the presence of nearby molecules; this local environment has substantial effects on their behavior. Our goal is to tailor the molecular environment in order to tune the properties of functional materials.

Selected Publications

Role of polar protic solvents in the dissociation and reactivity of photogenerated radical ion pairs. M. Jonely, R. Noriega. J. Phys. Chem. B, 124 (15), 3083-3089 (2020)

Efficient charge transport in disordered polymer microstructures. R. Noriega. Macromol. Rapid Commun., 39 (14), 1800096 (2018)

Manipulating excited state dynamics of light harvesting chromophores through restricted motions in a hydrated nanoscale protein cavity. R. Noriega, D.T. Finley, J. Haberstroh, P.L. Geissler, M.B. Francis, N.S. Ginsberg. J. Phys. Chem. B, 119, 6963-6973 (2015)

Chain conformations dictate multiscale charge transport phenomena in disordered semiconducting polymers. R. Noriega, A. Salleo, A.J. Spakowitz. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 110, 16315-16320 (2013)

A general relationship between disorder, aggregation and charge transport in conjugated polymers. R. Noriega, J. Rivnay, K. Vandewal, F. Koch, N. Stingelin, P. Smith, M.F. Toney, A. Salleo. Nat. Mater., 12, 1038-1044 (2013)

Current Teaching Portfolio

• Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 5720)
• Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I & II (CHEM 7000 & 7010)