Andrew Crowther headshot

Andrew Crowther

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Department

Chemistry

Office

Office Hours ALT 611A

Tuesday 10-11 am
Wednesday 4-5 pm
Altschul 611A

Contact

Andrew C. Crowther joined the Barnard College Department of Chemistry in 2012.  Professor Crowther is a physical chemist interested in the fundamental molecular processes and properties of nanomaterials.  

Prior to joining Barnard, Crowther received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he used ultrafast spectroscopy to study the role of molecular complexes in CN radical reactions in solution.  During his postdoctoral research at Columbia University, Crowther used various spectroscopic techniques to study charge-transfer dynamics between graphene and absorbed molecular species.

At Barnard, undergraduate research students in the Crowther Laboratory use micro-Raman spectroscopy to study the vibrational structure of nanocrystals and the chemistry of carbon-based nanostructures.  A major current focus is understanding how the vibrational properties of atomically precise nanostructures varies with nanostructure size and dimensionality.  

  • A.B. ,Washington University in St. Louis
  • Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • Advisor:  F. Fleming Crim
  • Postdoctoral, Columbia University
    • Advisor: Louis E. Brus

  • Vibrational Properties of Nanomaterials
  • Chemistry of Graphene
  • Raman Spectroscopy
  • Reaction Dynamics

  • CHEM BC 3253  Quantum Chemistry
  • CHEM BC 3252  Thermodynamics and Kinetics
  • CHEM BC 3254  Methods and Applications of Physical Chemistry
  • CHEM BC 3348  Advanced Spectroscopy and Analysis Laboratory
  • CHEM BC 3365  Integrated Chemistry Laboratory
  • CHEM BC 3368  Integrated Chemistry Laboratory II

  • National Science Foundation
  • American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund 
  • Barnard College Presidential Research Award
  • Barnard College Department of Chemistry
  • Barnard College Hughes Science Pipeline Project (HHMI)
  • Barnard College Mellon Environmental Science Grant
  • Barnard College Office of the Provost

  • Gladys Brooks Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (2020)
  • Emily Gregory Teaching Award, Barnard College, nominated (2015) 
  • Vilas Travel Fellowship, University of Wisconsin (2007)
  • McElvain Travel Grant, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin (2006)
  • McElvain Award, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin (2002)
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2002-2005)

  • American Chemical Society
  • American Physical Society
  • Phi Beta Kappa

RECENT INVITED TALKS

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Structural Properties of Atomically Precise Quantum Dots”, Atomically Precise Nanochemistry Gordon Research Conference, Galveston, TX, February 10, 2020.

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Structural Properties of Quantum Dots”, Advancing Infrared Spectroscopic Techniques and Vibrational Sensing Session, Southeastern Regional American Chemical Society Meeting, Savannah, GA, October 22, 2019.

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Atomically Precise Nanostructures: From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, October 1, 2019.

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Nanostructures: From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, February 20, 2019.

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Nanostructures: From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, February 19, 2019.

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Nanostructures: From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, February 15, 2019.

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Nanostructures: From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, February 14, 2019.

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Nanostructures: From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, Fordham University, New York, NY, November 7, 2018. 

“Using Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Nanostructures: From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, October 30, 2018. 

“Raman Spectroscopic Studies of the Transition from Molecular Vibrations to Phonons in Atomically Precise Nanostructures”, Vibrational Spectroscopy Gordon Research Conference, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, July 31, 2018.

“Transition from Molecular Vibrations to Phonons in Atomically Precise Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots”, Colloidal Semiconducting Nanocrystals Gordon Research Conference, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, July 17, 2018.

“Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Atomically Precise Nanostructures:  From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, Long Island University, New York, NY, September 26, 2017. 

Andrew C. Crowther and Rachel N. Austin, “Research Experiences in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Curriculum at Barnard College: A Structure that Supports Student Learning, Faculty Development, and Safety for a Diverse Population”, American Chemical Society National Meeting, April 4, 2017.

“Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Atomically Precise Nanostructures: From Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots to Graphene”, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI, February 7, 2017.

“The Chemistry of Graphene: A Versatile Two-Dimensional Carbon Material”, Siena College, March 4, 2016.

“The Chemistry of Graphene: A Versatile Two-Dimensional Carbon Material”, Union College, March 3, 2016.

“The Chemistry of Graphene: A Versatile Two-Dimensional Carbon Material”, Smith College, February 11, 2016.

“Raman Spectroscopic Study of Graphene-Halogen Reaction Dynamics in the Gas Phase and in Solution”, College of Charleston, October 9, 2014.

Undergraduate co-authors bold

1) Rachel A. Dziatko, Blanka E. Janicek, Jessie L. Karten, Kiana A. Harris, Marion M. Gibson, and Andrew C. Crowther, "Solvent-Mediated Chemical Hole Doping of Graphene by Iodine", Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 124, 3827-3834 (2020).

2) Leslie Hamachi, Haoran Yang, Ilan Jen-La Plante, Natalie Saenz, Kevin Qian, Michael Campos, Gregory Cleveland, Iva Rreza, Aisha Oza, Willem Walravens, Emory Chan, Zeger Hens, Andrew Crowther, and Jonathan Owen, "Precursor Reaction Kinetics Control Compositional Grading and Size of CdSe1-xSx Nanocrystal Heterostructures", Chemical Science, 10, 6539-6552 (2019).

3) Kihong Lee, Bonnie Choi, Ilan Jen-La Plante, Maria Paley, Xinjue Zhong, Andrew C. Crowther, Jonathan Owen, Xiaoyang Zhu, and Xavier Roy, "Two-Dimensional Fullerene Assembly from an Exfoliated van der Waalks Template", Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 57, 6125-6129 (2018).

4) Evan S. O’Brien, M. Tuan Trinh, Rose L. Kann, Jia Chen, Giselle A. Elbaz, Amrita Masurkar, Timothy L. Atallah, Maria V. PaleyNilam Patel, Daniel W. Paley, Ioannis Kymissis, Andrew C. Crowther, Andrew J. Millis, David R. Reichman, Xiaoyang Zhu, and Xavier Roy, “Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Intercalation of a Low-Bandgap Superatomic Crystal”, Nature Chemistry, 9, 1170-1174 (2017).

5) Alexander N. Beecher, Rachel A Dziatko, Michael L. Steigerwald, Jonathan S. Owen, and Andrew C. Crowther, “Transition from Molecular Vibrations to Phonons in Atomically-Precise Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138, 16754-16763 (2016).

6) Bonnie Choi, Jaeeun Yu, Daniel W. Paley, M. Tuan Trinh, Maria V. Paley, Jessica M. Karch, Andrew C. Crowther, Chul-Ho Lee, Roger A. Lalancette, Xiaoyang Zhu, Philip Kim, Michael L. Steigerwald, Colin Nuckolls, and Xavier Roy, “van der Waals Solids from Self-Assembled Nanoscale Building Blocks”, Nano Letters, 16, 1445-1449 (2016).

7) Chul-Ho Lee, Lian Liu, Christopher Bejger, Ari Turkiewicz, Tatsuo Goko, Carlos J. Arguello, Benjamin A. Frandsen, Sky C. Cheung, Teresa Medina, Timothy J. S. Munsie, Robert D’Ortenzio, Graeme M. Luke, Tiglet Besara, Roger A. Lalancette, Theo Siegrist, Peter W. Stephens, Andrew C. Crowther, Louis E. Brus, Yutaka Matsuo, Eiichi Nakamura, Yasutomo J. Uemura, Philip Kim, Colin Nuckolls, Michael L. Steigerwald, and Xavier Roy, “Ferromagnetic Ordering in Superatomic Solids”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136, 16926-16931 (2014).

8) Zheyuan Chen, Pierre Darancet, Lei Wang, Andrew C. Crowther, Yuanda Gao, Cory R. Dean, Takashi Taniguchi, Kenji Watanabe, James Hone, Chris A. Marianetti, and Louis E. Brus, “Physical Adsorption and Charge Transfer of Molecular Br2 on Graphene”, ACS Nano, 8, 2943-2950 (2014).

9) Xavier Roy, Chul-Ho Lee, Andrew C. Crowther, Christine L. Schenck, Tiglet Besara, Roger A. Lalancette, Theo Siegrist, Peter W. Stephens, Louis E. Brus, Philip Kim, Michael L. Steigerwald, and Colin Nuckolls, “Nanoscale Atoms in Solid State Chemistry”, Science 341, 157 (2013)

10) Elizabeth S. Thrall, Andrew C. Crowther, Zhonghua Yu, and Louis E. Brus, “R6G on Graphene: High Raman Detection Sensitivity, Yet Decreased Raman Cross-Section”, Nano Letters, 12, 1571-77 (2012).

11) Andrew C. Crowther, Amanda Ghassaei, Naeyoung Jung, and Louis E. Brus, “Strong Charge-Transfer Doping of 1 to 10 Layer Graphene by NO2”, ACS Nano, 6, 1865-75 (2012).

12) Naeyoung Jung, Bumjung Kim, Andrew C. Crowther, Namdong Kim, Colin Nuckolls, and Louis Brus, “Optical Reflectivity and Raman Scattering in Few-Layer-Thick Graphene Highly doped by K and Rb”, ACS Nano, 5, 5708-16 (2011).

13) Andrew C. Crowther§, Naeyoung Jung§, Namdong Kim, Philip Kim, and Louis Brus, “Raman Enhancement on Graphene: Adsorbed and Intercalated Molecular Species”, ACS Nano, 4, 7005-13 (2010).  §These authors contributed equally to this work.

14) Stacey L. Carrier, Thomas J. Preston, Maitreya Dutta, Andrew C. Crowther, and F. Fleming Crim, “Ultrafast Observation of Isomerization and Complexation in the Photolysis of Bromoform in Solution”, J. Phys. Chem. A., 114, 1548-55 (2010).

15) Andrew C. Crowther, Stacey L. Carrier, Thomas J. Preston, and F. Fleming Crim, "Time-Resolved Studies of the Reactions of CN Radical Complexes with Alkanes, Alcohols, and Chloroalkanes", J. Phys. Chem. A., 113, 3758-64 (2009).

16) Andrew C. Crowther, Stacey L. Carrier, Thomas J. Preston, and F. Fleming Crim, "Time-Resolved Studies of CN Radical Reactions and the Role of Complexes in Solution", J. Phys. Chem. A., 112, 12081-89 (2008).

17) Joshua P. Darr, Andrew C. Crowther, Richard A. Loomis, Sara E. Ray, and Anne B. McCoy, "Probing the Dependence of Long-Range, Four-Atom Interactions on Intermolecular Orientation. 1. Molecular Hydrogen and Iodine Monochloride", J. Phys. Chem. A., 111, 13387-96 (2007).

18) Leonid Sheps, Andrew C. Crowther, Stacey L. Carrier, and F. Fleming Crim, "Time-Resolved Spectroscopic Study of the Reaction Cl + n-C5H12 → HCl + C5H11 in Solution", J. Phys. Chem. A., 110, 3087-92 (2006).

19) Leonid Sheps, Andrew C. Crowther, Christopher G. Elles, and F. Fleming Crim, "Recombination Dynamics and Hydrogen Abstraction Reactions of Chlorine Radicals in Solution", J. Phys. Chem. A, 109, 4296-4302 (2005).

20) Joshua P. Darr, Andrew C. Crowther, and Richard A. Loomis, "Direct measurement of the binding energy of the linear He-I(35,37)Cl(X) isotopomers", Chem. Phys. Lett., 378, 359-67 (2003).

In The News

The chemistry major breaks down how she balances her classes with research at both Barnard and Columbia.

November 23, 2021

Chemist and professor Andrew Crowther contributed to a new discovery on the properties and potential of chemically combined solids. 

June 23, 2021