Our research lies at the interface of materials chemistry and analytical chemistry. We are developing unconventional materials, devices, and tools as analytical platforms to sense and modulate physiological and biochemical events in specific tissue regions or down to a few-cell level.

These analytical tools rely on integrated optoelectronic devices made from either traditional or new materials (e.g. colloidal nanocrystals). The former exploits microscale optoelectronic devices based on conventional inorganic semiconductors and microfabric techniques. These integrated devices enable implantable oxygenation saturation sensing in targeted brain/cardiac regions for freely moving mice (Sci. Adv. 2019; Sci. Adv. 2021). The latter relies on new patterning methods for emerging materials such as colloidal nanocrystals (surface chemistry of nanocrystals: Nature 2017; Science 2015; the patterning methods: Sci. Adv. 2022, Angew 2022, ACS Nano 2022, Science 2017). By rational design of surface chemistry, we are developing various strategies for 2D/3D patterning and assembly colloidal nanocrystals and other functional materials. We expect these new patterning methods to connect the remarkable properties of colloidal nanocrystals with unprecedented capabilities in sensing at the biotic/abiotic interfaces.