Research Overview
Research in our laboratory focuses on both fundamental studies of plasmonic and semiconductor materials and the development of devices for biosensing and optoelectronic applications with an integrated computational and experimental approach. Our biosensing work aims on designing plasmonic nanostructures and developing surface chemistries to enable label-free, molecular analysis and detection based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Additionally, we synthesize conducting polymers and develop organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) for wearable and remote sensing systems. In developing semiconductor materials and devices for optoelectronic applications, specifically, photovoltaic devices and photodetectors, we focus on using new emerging organic-inorganic halide perovskites, organic semiconductors, and nanocomposites as the light absorbers and developing new conducting materials for charger transport layers. Applying our expertise in plasmonics, we integrate plasmonic nanostructures into photovoltaic devices and photodetectors to enable flexible devices and to manipulate light absorption and electric field distribution for improved device performance. We design photodetector device structures to achieve strong, yet tunable and spectrally selective, photoresponse. Furthermore, we develop and utilize a variety of nanofabrication techniques to incorporate plasmonic nanostructures into both biosensors and optoelectronic devices.