Research focuses on using molecular self-assembly at the air-water and oil-water interface to fabricate novel two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. Specifically, I am using functionalized amphiphiles (i.e. lipid-like molecules), to self-assemble with hydrophobic gold nanoparticles at fluid interfaces. The assembled 2D amphiphile-nanoparticle films can be transferred to solid surfaces, where they have the potential to be used as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors for environmental pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The research in my group is interdisciplinary in nature, so students will be exposed to a wide range of experimental techniques related to the physical chemistry of fluid interfaces, the deposition of thin films, the characterization of 2D nanomaterials, and the detection of environmental pollutants.
