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USTAR Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry
The research of the Zang Group covers broad range in nanomaterials, nanoscale and molecular imaging and probing, optoelectronic sensors and nanodevices, aiming at long-term real applications in the fields relevant to security, energy, and environment. Implementation of the research represents a synergism between “making,” “measuring,” and “manipulating,” where the conventional barriers between chemistry, physics, and engineering will be broken down. The current research effort in the Zang lab is portioned into four major directions: (1) One-Dimensional Nanomaterials of Organic Semiconductors and Optoelectronic Sensing (one-dimensional self-assembly vs. molecular structure/conformation, one-dimensional confinement of optoelectronic properties [linear polarization, waveguide, lasing, etc.], amplified optical sensing with nanofibers, electrical sensing based on conductivity modulation of nanowires, and multimode sensing with integrated nanodevices with nanowires as active channels). (2) New Type Photovoltaic Cells (coaxial self-organization of electron donor and acceptor molecules, long-range charge transport vs. molecular arrangement, molecular self-assembly vs. device configuration, molecular design and synthesis for optimized self-assembly and spectral response). (3) Single-Molecule Imaging and Molecular Probing (selective probing or sensing of bio-related metal ions [e.g. Zn2+], detection of environmentally relevant hazardous metals [e.g. mercury], single-molecule imaging of dynamic structure and adaptable function of proteins and living cells). (4) Single-Molecule Electronics (single-molecule charge transfer vs. molecular structure/configuration, single-molecule FET [sensor, switch, etc.], photoinduced electron transfer kinetics vs. electrical conductivity).