Zhang web research page


Welcome to the Nano/Femto World in Chemistry at UCSC


    The Zhang research group is primarily interested in the design, development, characterization, and application of advanced materials with emphasis on optical and electronic nanomaterials (nanocrystals or quantom dots) of both semiconductors and metals. These nanomaterials have novel physical and chemical properties due to quantum confinement and exceedingly large surface to volume ratio. The design and synthesis of the materials are mostly based on inorganic colloidal chemistry methods. The synthesized materials are characterized systematically and extensively using a variety of experimental techniques including SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering), optical spectroscopy, ultrafast laser, x-ray (XAFS, XPS), ESR, electrochemical, and microscopy. In the meantime, the group actively explores emerging technological applications of these advanced nanomaterials in areas such as solar energy conversion, hydrogen generation and storage, cancer biomarker detection, photocatalysis, sensors, imaging, detectors, and lasers. A number of projects have been accomplished and several are currently under investigation. Some examples of on-going projects include:

    1. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) based on Au and Ag nanoparticles/aggregates and development of SERS sensors for chemical and biomedical detection with emphasis on cancer biomarkers including antigens and antibodies of ovarian and lung cancers.

    2. Ultrafast interfacial electron dynamics and surface modification of semiconductor nanoparticles: CdS, CdSe, CdTe, PbS, Ag2S, CuS. Biocnjugation of semiconductor quantum dots to proteins for biomedical detection based on photoluminescence

    3. Hydrogen generation and storage based on novel semiconductor, oxide, and metal nanostructures including nanowires and nanorods via photoelectrochemistry or photocatalysis.

    4. Photoluminescence and up-conversion luminescence of doped semiconductor nanoparticles: Mn2+ in Mn2+-doped ZnS, ZnSe, CdS nanoparticles

    5. Solar energy conversion based on dye, polymer, or quantum dot sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells using conjugated polymers as solid electrolytes

    6. Hot electron relaxation in metal nanoparticles and nanoparticle aggregates: Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt

    7. Photothermal imaging and therapy of cancer cells using hollow gold nanoshells (HGNs)


    Acknowledgement of Financial and Facility Support of our Research

    US Department of Energy, GCEP-Global Climate and Energy Project, Petroleum Research Fund/ACS, National Science Foundation, US Army, Alternative Research and Development Foundation, LLNL Materials Institute, LANL CULAR, UCOP CLE, California Energy Commission, UCSC Faculty Research Fund, UC Energy Institute, SSRL, LLBL National Microscopy Facility


    For equipment or financial contributions to our research program or possible collaboration, please contact Jin Zhang directly at zhang@chemistry.ucsc.edu


    List of Publications