Research Interests:

The Grieco lab aims to develop a fundamental understanding of mixed ionic-electronic conduction in conjugated polymers for ion-charge signal transduction and energy storage. Inspired by bioelectronic and solar energy storage/conversion applications, our research lies at the interface between Physical Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, and Engineering. We develop and apply in situ time-resolved optical spectroscopic methods for probing the elementary processes that occur during mixed ionic-electronic conduction in polymers.

Research in the Grieco lab focuses on characterizing the electronic structure and environment of charge carriers in mixed ionic-electronic conductors as they undergo electrochemical changes in working devices. Our strategy is to develop new spectroscopic approaches to study the complex interplay of ionic and electronic transport, and their dependence on the dynamic nanoscale environment and morphology of the polymers. Through spectroscopy, we aim to learn how to design the chemical structure and morphology of polymers for maximizing their performance in electrochemical devices.

Our spectroscopy instruments include:

• Ultrafast broadband visible/near-infrared pump-probe spectroscopy (~500 - 2400 nm)
• Visible/near-infrared absorbance spectrometer (~400 - 2500 nm, ≥5 ms spectral acquisition rate)
• FTIR spectrometer with rapid acquisition capability

Keywords: Time-resolved spectroscopy, physical/analytical chemistry, polymers, energy, materials, bioelectronics, spectro-electrochemistry.

Courses Taught:

• CHEM 7380: Molecular Spectroscopy (3x)
• CHEM 4980: Undergraduate Research in Chemistry (2x)
• CHEM 4070: Physical Chemistry I (1x)
• CHEM 3160: Survey of Physical Chemistry (1x)
• CHEM 1110: General Chemistry I (*currently in progress)

1. Clark, C.; Pawłowski, F.; Brook, D. J.R.; Grieco, C. Ultrafast Excited State Dynamics of a Verdazyl Diradical System. Photochem. 2024. 4, 404-416.
2. Umar, AR.; Dorris, A.L.; Grieco, C. Photoexcited Polaron Relaxation as a Structurally Sensitive Reporter of Charge Trapping in a Conducting Polymer. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2024, 2407181.
3. Dorris, A.L.; Umar, AR; Grieco, C. Ultrabroadband Near-Infrared Transient Absorption Spectrometer with Simultaneous 900–2350 nm Detection. Appl. Spectrosc. 2024, 78, 1043-1050.
4. Umar, AR; Dorris, A.L.; Kotadiya, N.M.; Giebink, N.C.; Collier, G.S.; Grieco, C. Probing Polaron Environment in a Doped Polymer via the Photoinduced Stark Effect. J. Phys. Chem. C. 2023, 127, 20, 9498–9508. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c01364

Selected publications prior to Auburn University

1. Grieco, C.; Kohl, F.R.; Kohler, B. Ultrafast Radical Photogeneration Pathways in Eumelanin. Photochem. Photobiol. 2023, 99, 680-692. DOI: 10.1111/php.13731
2. Grieco, C.; Kohl, F.R.; Hanes, A.T.; Kohler, B. Probing the heterogeneous structure of eumelanin using ultrafast vibrational fingerprinting.  Nat. Comm. 2020, 11, 4569. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18393-w
3. Grieco, C.; Hanes, A.; Blancafort, L.; Kohler, B. Effects of Intra- and Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding on O−H Bond Photodissociation Pathways of a Catechol Derivative.  J. Phys. Chem. A. 2019, 123, 5356-5366. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b04573
4. Grieco, C.; Kennehan, E.R.; Rimshaw, A.; Anthony, J.E.; Asbury, J.B. Direct Observation of Correlated Triplet Pair Dynamics during Singlet Fission Using Ultrafast Mid-IR Spectroscopy.  J. Phys. Chem. C.  2018,  122, 2012-2022. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b11228
5. Grieco, C.; Kennehan, E.R.; Rimshaw, A.; Anthony, J.E.; Asbury, J.B. Harnessing Molecular Vibrations to Probe Triplet Dynamics During Singlet Fission.  J. Phys. Chem. Lett.  2017, 8, 5700-5706. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b02434
6. Grieco, C.; Doucette, G.S.; Pensack, R.D.; Payne, M.M.; Rimshaw, A.; Scholes, G.D.; Anthony, J.E.; Asbury, J.B. Dynamic Exchange during Triplet Transport in Nanocrystalline TIPS-Pentacene Films.  J. Am. Chem. Soc.  2016, 138, 16069-16080. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b10010
7. Grieco, C.; Aplan, M.P.; Rimshaw, A.; Lee, Y.; Le, T.P.; Zhang, W.; Wang, Q.; Milner, S.T.; Gomez, E.D.; Asbury, J.B.  Molecular Rectification in Conjugated Block Copolymer Photovoltaics.  J. Phys. Chem. C.  2016, 120, 6978–6988. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.6b00103