Quan, Matthew2022-01-042022-01-042020-10https://hdl.handle.net/11299/225863University of Minnesota M.S.Ch.E. thesis. October 2020. Major: Chemical Engineering. Advisor: Vivian Ferry. 1 computer file (PDF); xiii, 98 pages.This thesis explores three projects involving the interaction of incident light with nanocrystals: absorption enhancement in patterned quantum dot solids (pQDS), time dynamics of plasmonic nanorod assemblies, and the usage of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) to enhance upconversion. First, the effect of nanostructure shape on the absorption in pQDS is studied, and then these structures are integrated with plasmonic nanorings and bullseyes to enhance both absorption and photoluminescence (PL). In the next chapter, the time-dependent optical properties of a gold nanorod assembly is modeled following ultrafast laser illumination, accounting for both changes in the electron density and the nanostructure geometry. Finally, Monte Carlo modeling is used to study the effect of LSCs and mirrors on the absorption and upconverted PL from a hydrogel containing the upconverting donor/acceptor pair PtOEP/DPAS.enNanopatterningNanophotonicsQuantum DotsSimulationsUpconversionThesis or Dissertation