Christopher Grieco, PhD

Christopher Grieco, PhD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry
    • (334) 844-6973
    czg0090@auburn.edu
    261 Chemistry Building
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    Grieco Lab Website

    Dr. Chris Grieco is an assistant professor of chemistry at Auburn University. His research group develops laser spectroscopy methods to probe charge carriers in conducting polymers used in electrochemical applications ranging from bioelectronics to batteries.

    Prior to Auburn, Grieco earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Penn State University, where he worked with Prof. John Asbury studying ways to improve exciton and charge carrier dynamics in organic molecules and polymers for solar cells. He then worked with Prof. Bern Kohler as a postdoctoral scholar at The Ohio State University, where he developed ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy methods to probe the structure and photochemistry of the eumelanin biopigment.

    Education

    • PhD, Chemistry The Pennsylvania State University 2017

    • BS, Chemistry Rochester Institute of Technology 2012

    • BS, Applied Mathematics Rochester Institute of Technology 2012

    Professional Experience

    • Secretary, East Alabama/West Georgia Local Section, American Chemical Society, 2024-present
    • Cofounder, Magnitude Instruments, 2018-present
    • Postdoctoral Scholar, The Ohio State University, 2017-2021, Advisor: Bern Kohler
    • Research Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University, 2012-2017, Advisor: John Asbury

    Innovation

    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 of physical chemistry, materials chemistry and engineering. We develop and apply in situ time-resolved optical spectroscopic methods to probe 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, as well as 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 to maximize their performance in electrochemical devices.

    Our spectroscopy instruments include:

    • Ultrafast broadband visible/near-infrared pump-probe spectroscopy, approximately 500-2400 nm
    • Visible/near-infrared absorbance spectrometer, 400-2500 nm, greater than or equal to 5 ms spectral acquisition rate
    • FTIR spectrometer with rapid acquisition capability

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

    Engagement

    • Summer Science Institute, Auburn University, 2022 − 2025
    • Destination STEM, Auburn University, 2022 − 2025

    Courses Taught

    • CHEM 7380: Molecular Spectroscopy (5x)
    • CHEM 4980: Undergraduate Research in Chemistry (6x)
    • CHEM 4070: Physical Chemistry I (2x)
    • CHEM 3160: Survey of Physical Chemistry (1x)
    • CHEM 2980: Undergraduate Research in Chemistry (1x)
    • CHEM 2100: Professional Development - Careers in Chemistry (1x)
    • CHEM 1110: General Chemistry I (1x)

    Selected Publications

    1. Spencer, R.J.; Fico, D.A.; Flagg, L.Q.; Adeoluwa, Z.A.; Clark, C.; Umar, AR.; Mansoorabadi, S.O.; Grieco, C. Utilizing Vibrational Probes to Monitor Polaron–Anion Interactions during Polymer Electrochemical Doping. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, 148, 30037-30050.
    2. Clark, C.; Umar, A.R.; Grieco, C. In situ monitoring of polarons in a mixed conducting polymer using ultrafast transient absorption spectroelectrochemistry. Chem. Sci. 2025, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/d5sc04619j.
    3. Umar, A.R.; Taba, A.; Mahjouri-Samani, M.; Grieco, C. Effect of local chain ordering on macroscopic charge mobility in chemically doped P3HT. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2025, 27, 18517-18524.
    4. Clark, C.; Pawlowski, F.; Brook, D.J.R.; Grieco, C. Ultrafast Excited State Dynamics of a Verdazyl Diradical System. Photochem. 2024, 4, 404-416.
    5. Umar, A.R.; 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.
    6. Dorris, A.L.; Umar, A.R.; Grieco, C. Ultrabroadband Near-Infrared Transient Absorption Spectrometer with Simultaneous 900-2350 nm Detection. Appl. Spectrosc. 2024, 78, 1043-1050.
    7. Umar, A.R.; 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, 9498-9508.

    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.
    2. Grieco, C.; Kohl, F.R.; Hanes, A.T.; Kohler, B. Probing the heterogeneous structure of eumelanin using ultrafast vibrational fingerprinting. Nat. Commun. 2020, 11, 4569.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.

    Honors and Awards

    • NSF CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 2025
    • Ultrafast Educational Award, Bronze, Edmund Optics, 2024
    • Norman Edmund Inspiration Award Winner, Edmund Optics, 2024
    • I-APS Gerhard Closs Postdoctoral Award, Inter-American Photochemical Society, 2023
    • 2019 PHYS Division Young Investigator Award, American Chemical Society, 2019
    • 2016-17 Continuing Graduate Award, Pennsylvania State University, 2016
    • Dan H. Waugh Memorial Teaching Award, Pennsylvania State University, 2014
    • Undergraduate Senior Achievement Award in Chemistry, American Institute of Chemists, 2012
    • John Wiley Jones Outstanding Students in Science Award, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2012
    • Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2012