Research
Our group at UTSA works on two major research areas:
In the field of nano-photolithography, we seek to develop a method for 3D-printing of soft matter with ultra-high resolution. This method overcomes the diffraction limit by surface plasmons and improves the resolution to sub-50 nm by assessing various types of photosensitive resins. Surface plasmons are the collective charge oscillation at metal/dielectric interface (Fig. 1). They can be excited by a polarized optical electromagnetic field and are located at the close vicinity of plasmonic structures (e.g. metal nanoparticles) and enhances the local optical field intensity.
We manipulate the optical field at the metal nanoparticle surface, so that the polymerization process was only triggered by surface plasmons. Fig. 2. is an SEM image showing polymer nanolobes were fabricated in the close vicinity of a gold nanodisk.
- Nano-photolithography
- Materials under high pressures and shock wave
In the field of nano-photolithography, we seek to develop a method for 3D-printing of soft matter with ultra-high resolution. This method overcomes the diffraction limit by surface plasmons and improves the resolution to sub-50 nm by assessing various types of photosensitive resins. Surface plasmons are the collective charge oscillation at metal/dielectric interface (Fig. 1). They can be excited by a polarized optical electromagnetic field and are located at the close vicinity of plasmonic structures (e.g. metal nanoparticles) and enhances the local optical field intensity.
We manipulate the optical field at the metal nanoparticle surface, so that the polymerization process was only triggered by surface plasmons. Fig. 2. is an SEM image showing polymer nanolobes were fabricated in the close vicinity of a gold nanodisk.
Fig. 1. Surface plasmons on a metal nanoparticle
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Fig. 2. SEM image on a the MNP/photopolymer hybrid structure. The photopolymer lobes were fabricated with the surface plasmon-triggered photopolymerization with a linearly polarized incident light [X. Zhou et al. Nano Lett. 2015, 15, 7458-7466]. |
In the field of high pressures, we compress materials, photonic devices and electrochemical systems with GPa (10,000 atm)-level high pressures in a diamond anvil cell to find out-of-box solutions to current major challenges in nano-optics and electrochemistry. High pressure is a powerful tool to systematically tune the intrinsic properties of materials without introducing new chemical component.
In addition to the static high pressures, we also study shock wave compression of semiconductor materials in collaboration with Dr. Bhowmick at Miami University.
In addition to the static high pressures, we also study shock wave compression of semiconductor materials in collaboration with Dr. Bhowmick at Miami University.
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Fig. 3. Schematic of compressing electrochemical system and plasmonic devices in a diamond anvil cell.
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