Research
Professor Wei's research focuses on interdisciplinary cutting-edge nanoscience and nanotechnology. Research interests include advanced functional materials and nanostructures, fundamental studies in electron transfer, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and applications in biosensors & bioelectronics, nanobiomedicine, energy and environments by employing methods of materials synthesis, nanofabrication, electrochemistry, microscopy, spectroscopy, and modeling and simulations. The nanobioelectronics thrust focuses on the electrochemistry of immobilized redox species and biomimetics electron transfer studies, and the applications in sensing. The nanoplasmonics thrust combines nanofabrication, synthesis and bottom-up approach to develop unique nanophotonic structures for light-matter interaction studies and miniaturized chip-based devices for biosensor and biomedicine applications. The advanced materials thrust is focused on developing new nanomaterials or nanocomposites for biomedicine, energy conversion and storage, and environment applications.
The current research topics are:
Nanobioelectronics and biomimetics
Artificial bio-interfaces and biomimetics
Heterogeneous electron transfer studies
Electochemical and electrical biosensors and sensors
2. Nanoplasmonics and nanophotonics
SPR of nanostructured metal films
Nano-opto-fluidics platform and sensing applications
LSPR-fiber-optic detector and miniaturization
3. Advanced functional materials
Functional materials and nanocomposites for energy and environments
New nanoparticles and quantum dots for biomedicine
Environmental remediation and sustainability
Research Support:
Grant:
NSF/CBET: 1511194, 2015-2019 (PI)
NIH/R15: 1R15HL129221-01, 2016-2019 (Co-I)
NSF/I-Corps: 1824872, 2018-2019 (PI)
NSF/EiR: 1832134 2018-2022 (Co-PI)
NC Biotech Center/TEG 2019-2021 (PI)
NIH/R15: 1R15HL150664-01 2020-2023 (Co-I)