Cherie R Kagan Research Group
The Kagan group’s research is focused on studying the chemical and physical properties of nanostructured materials and in integrating materials with optical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and thermal properties for (multi-)functional devices. We combine the flexibility of chemistry and bottom-up assembly with top-down fabrication techniques to design materials and devices. We explore the properties of materials and measure the characteristics of devices using spatially- and temporally-resolved optical spectroscopies, AC and DC electrical techniques, electrochemistry, scanning probe and electron microscopies, and analytical measurements.
Announcements
- Congratulations to Cherie on Signing the Academy’s Book of Members during her Induction!
On Oct. 11, 2025, Cherie joined the 2025 Class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’s Induction Ceremony to become an official member. - Welcome, Michelle!
Michelle Riemann has joined our group as a first-year PhD student in the Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE) department. - Welcome, Quinn!
Quinn Haverstick has joined our group as a first-year PhD student in the Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE) department. - Congratulations to Jonah on Winning Best Poster in IMOD!
Jonah presented a poster of his work on improving device properties by a controllable atomic layer deposition process at the 2025 IMOD Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA. - Congratulations to Akhila for being awarded a grant by the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy!
The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy awards grants to support research in energy and climate research. Akhila won a grant for her proposal on Optical Leaf Sensors for her work in IoT4Ag. (More information here)
Research Highlights

Cavity-Mediated Radiative Energy Transfer Enables Stable, Low-Threshold Lasing in Hybrid Quantum Dot-Nanoplatelet Supraparticles Journal Article
In: ACS Nano, 2026.

Hydrazine-free precursor for solution-processed all-inorganic Se and Se1−xTex photovoltaics Journal Article
In: Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2025.

Shape effects on the 2D self-assembly of lithographically fabricated nanoparticles Journal Article
In: Nanoscale, 2025.

Prospects of Nanoscience with Nanocrystals: 2025 Edition Journal Article
In: ACS Nano, 2025.

Composite Chitosan-TiO2 Nanocrystal Optical Metasurfaces for Humidity Sensing in the Visible Spectrum Journal Article
In: ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2025.




