Newdirections in Nanomaterials and Surface Plasmons

The field of nanoscienceand nanotechnology has been rapidly expanding in the last decade, with theexciting new discoveries involving nanomaterials of various sizes and shapes.In the first part of my talk, I will present my research on nanomaterials(carbon nanotubes, graphene and inorganic nanowires). Application ofnanomaterials in nanocomposites (polymer-inorganic nanowire composites) andrenewable energy (first demonstration of graphene based electrochemicalsupercapacitors) will also be discussed. In the second part of the talk, I willpresent my recent work on ‘liquid plasmonics’ and on the use of 3D-pyramidalgrating structures for bio-molecular sensing. Liquid plasmonics involves themanipulation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in a liquid plasmonic metalby changing its physical phase. This was achieved by the fabrication of 1D Gagratings using a simple molding process. The solid and liquid phases were foundto exhibit different plasmonic properties, where light coupled to SPPs moreefficiently in the liquid phase. Demonstration of real-time sensing ofbio-molecules using 3D-pyramidal grating structures will be also be touchedupon.