Engineering Functionality in Nano-Materials

Nanomaterials have been rigorously investigated due to their superlative mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties. Being composed entirely of surface atoms, they are incredibly amenable to surface modification and thus provide the opportunity towards extreme control over surface interactions.  

Surface engineering of 1-D and 2D materials composed of carbon based materials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, conducting polymers), oxides, and metals is achieved by plasma modification and site-specific electrochemical deposition.  Well controlled patterned surface functionalities provide the ability to manipulate the material attributes locally, offering a range of opportunities for the composite materials.  Such precise nano-engineering opens up a wealth of opportunities in biosensing, plasmonics, catalysis, and device applications.