Research Interest

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Sustainable Use of Carbon for Energy

Burning of carbon-rich substances (such as coal) has been a major source of energy we use today. It not only depletes resources but also adversely impact the environment. We have been exploring renewable ways to use carbon for energy with the colloidal graphene quantum dots we recently developed. Our work includes chemical synthesis and spectroscopic studies of the quantum dots for potential applications such as photovoltaics, catalysis, and thermoelectricity.

Voltage-Sensitive Dyes for Brain Imaging

Fast, sensitive methods to simultaneously monitor neuronal activities at multiple locations are key to understanding how the brains process information and to developing therapies for neuronal disorders. To facilitate the related work in neurosciences, we develop voltage-sensitive dyes that are capable of converting the voltage changes across neuron membranes during neuron actions to changes in optical signals, so that neuronal activities can be monitored optically.