Synthesis, characterization and application of highly functional nanoparticles

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Nanomaterials (size scale: 1-100 nm) with their novel properties unique to matter at this scale are offering new ways to address many pressing biomedical issues. Tailoring nanostructured materials for specific applications is at the core of successful nanoscience and nanotechnology. The deep understanding of the fundamentals (such as structure-property relationships) is critical and underpins the development of novel and advanced nanomaterials. In the framework of this application, I plan to develop new approaches to synthesize functional nanoparticles and to modify their surfaces, as well as to study their intriguing properties, possibly resulting in not only original approaches, but also new concepts and applications. Specifically, in the next five years, I will study on two types of most important nanoparticles: 1) near-infrared emitting quantum dots (mainly, PbS) that have high potential for deep-tissue imaging. The program aims to achieve water soluble near-infrared quantum dots with high photoluminescence efficiency, exceptional photostability and wide wavelength tunability. Particularly, a new approach based on a better surface passivation by designing both inorganic and organic surface structures will be developed to address some of the current challenges of near-infrared quantum dots such as the significant decrease of photostability and quantum yields after transfer into water; and 2) plasmonic gold nanoparticles fabricated by a new physicochemical approach (chemically prepared gold nanoparticles followed by carefully tailored laser irradiation). The objective is to gain a better understanding of the surface chemical state of laser-processed gold nanoparticles and how the surface chemistry affects their unique optical (such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering) and other properties, and to establish whether laser-induced surface modification represents a new, alternative route to effectively tune nanoparticle properties.