Nanoarchitectonics: Shape-dependent effect is actually the most important prorpety of nanomaterials. A crystal is known a structure composed by atoms stacking in a specific way like fcc and bcc. Notably, there are over one kind of "coordination planes" in the same crystal. When we cut it along different orientations, the cross-sections show you different roughness at atomic scale. It represents the atoms exposed to the cut-faces have different coordination environments and thus show different electronic properties. Based on the idea, shaped nanoparticles attract huge attention due to their high surface area, in other words, large area of facets (cut-faces). Below, the left anime is a typical heterogeneous hydrogenation taking place via forming an intermediate. The intermediate, as shown, results from the interaction between the precursors and the surface of the catalyst. Therefore, to kinetically control the results of sensing and catalysis is to control the surface structures of the sensors and catalysts. In fact, there are two other ways to change the surface state of a crystal, alloying or distortion by lattice mistmatch. The models below right clearly show the different surface states and their corresponding nanostructures. Other than development of systematic strategies for making those different nanostructures, we also love to study the kinetic mechanisms and reactions taking place on different facets of a same material.

Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Nanostructures for Catalysis and Energy Storage: In the past decades, over 90% of heterostructured nanomaterials were confined to the range of inorganic components. Some exceptions including carbon nanotubes with nanoparticle decorated and organic ligand functionalized nanocrystals don't really show a huge impact on thier functions. Recently, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) begin to catch attention of nanomaterial scientists. MOFs are the nanoporous structures consist of metal ions polymerized with organic units and linkers. Although MOFs are less thermostable compared to zeolites (~ 500˚C), they have highly modifiable skeletons possessing different functions. MOFs are excellent materials for gas separation and storage. By the combination of nanocrystals and MOFs, such inorganic and organic hybrid composites can maintain their own properties and function synergistically. Below is an example of a catalyst-MOF composite performing molecule filtration (size selectivity) in hydrogenation while hydrogen gas, cyclohexene and cis-cyclooctene coexist. Regardless of these advantages, it is predictably hard to make the hybrid composites due to their distinct synthetic conditions, especially phase. In our group, we will put effrots into breaking the barrier while making the hybrid nanocomposites in "aqueous phase". Once this targe is done, a new door leading to a much wider range of scientific applications will be opened. Afterwards, we will also perform energy-related storage like hydrogen storage as well as catalysis.

Nanoplasmonic Sensors for Chemical and Biological Sensing: Like a metal film with the propagating plasmonic wave from surface plasmonic resonance (SPR), a metal nanocrystal possesses the non-propagating plasmonic wave under radiation of light. Light, a kind of electromagnetic waves, induces the electrons of a nanocrystal oscillate along the periodically varied direction of the electric field, called localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR), while a certain range of its frequency was absorbed or scattered. LSPR generates non-propagating plasmonic wave. The wave damps quickly in 5 to 10 nm from the surface of a nanocrystal and hence sensitive to a tiny environmental change (due to the change of refraction index) in this decay length. Based on the principle, LSPR has been utilized in the field of sensing, catalysis and imaging. In our group, we will put much into setting a sensing plateform consisting of our designed plasmonic nanostructures and microfluid channels for in-situ detecting crystalline evolution, protein behaviors, gas storage in MOFs, , and catalytic reactions. Below, left shows the LSPR of a nanoparticle and right is the research perspectives we are heading to.