Jason’s research is centered around understanding the thermodynamics of small systems, particularly nanomaterials, with an emphasis on experimental calorimetry. At small scales, the surfaces of materials play an increasingly important role in dictating their properties and their stability. Jason has used isothermal titration calorimetry in Dr. Paul Alivisatos’ lab to study binding energies of the molecules that terminate the surfaces of colloidal quantum dots, and how these surface species influence the properties of the materials, such as their luminescence and stability. Currently he is applying calorimetry to study the structure of organic ligand shells, core/shell quantum dots, and faceting in nanocrystals. As a Kavli ENSI Philomathia fellow, Jason will collaborate with Dr. Omar Yaghi to incorporate nanocrystals in open frameworks and investigate gas adsorption in the structures for photocatalysis.