1. Efficient energy storage devices such as supercapacitor and batteries: We are developing highly efficient energy storage materials with high energy/power densities and good cyclic stability. Research is being conducted with a variety of carbon materials (onion-like carbons, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and sp3-bonded nanodiamond), which can be further modified with metal-oxide and conductive polymers to enhance pseudo-capacitance. We are also interested in modifying the electrode surface and interface via electrochemical method in order to tailor the electronic and electrochemical properties.
2. Advanced electrocatalyst and catalyst support system for polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs): High cost, rareness, limited lifetime of Pt electrocatalyst and the deterioration of its catalytic activity during the extended running cycles are the critical hurdles for launching PEMFC in the commercial market, especially in the transportation application. Our approach are being taken in two directions: (i) to develop alternative catalyst materials using heteroatom doping into carbon nanomaterials and (ii) to improve support stability by non-traditional sp3-bonded carbon (conductive diamond). Research will include material synthesis, elecrochemical analysis, and characterizations with X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and electrochemical test.
3. Fluorescent carbon nanodots (FCNs): Fluorescent carbon nanodots (FCNs) are emerging nano-materials with promising properties for many applications such as bioimaging, sensing, photocatalysis, and photovoltaics. A confined, conjugated sp2-bonded carbon core surrounded by a shell of chemical functional groups can produce bright, photostable and tunable photoluminescence. Our research is being broadly conducted, including : (i) synthesis of FCNs, (ii) spectroscopic studies in ensemble and at single-particle level (iii) heteroatom doping to tune opitcal properties, and (iv) chemical and electrochemical treatments of FCNs.
4. Electroanalysis, electrochemical sensing, and neuroscience: Detecting the release or uptake of neurotransmitter in biological tissue (e.g. brain tissue) is an important research area and critical for understanding the metabolism and development of related drugs. Electrochemical method is a powerful method of identifying and quantifying the neurotransmitters. We are pursuing the research to understand structure-function relationship of electrode materials and to develop high-performance macro- and micro-electrode with high selectivity and sensitivity by combining electrochemical methods with spectroscopic tools.