B.A., magna cum laude Chemistry (1980) La Salle College
M.A. Physics (1984) Bryn Mawr College
Ph.D., Physics (1987) Bryn Mawr College
D.Sc. (2007) LaSalle University
Nanophotonics, Plasmonics, design, fabrication and properties of optically responsive nanoparticles and nanostructures
Email: halas@rice.edu
Phone: 713-348-5611
713-348-3646
Office: Abercrombie Lab, A237
Dell Butcher Hall, 150
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Naomi Halas
Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor of Chemistry
Professor Naomi Halas is interested in the rational design of nanoscale optical devices which exploit the plasmon resonant properties of ultrasmall metal structures to focus and manipulate light. This work combines electromagnetic theory with nanofabrication tools developed largely from chemistry. For the past few years her research has focused primarily on Nanoshells, a layered dielectric core/metal shell composite nanoparticle developed in her laboratory at Rice. Metal Nanoshells have geometrically tunable optical resonances that can span a large portion of the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum, and can be exploited as ultrasensitive nanosensors where their Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) properties can be controlled and optimized by varying the geometry of the nanostructure. Research on the fundamental plasmonic properties of metal nanostructures is currently being extended to other manipulatable nanoscale geometries. Her research group uses a variety of characterization methods for studying the nanostructures that they fabricate, including electron microscopies, scanning probe microscopies and optical spectroscopies, including femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, time-resolved two-photon photoemission and standard cw spectroscopies. The Halas Nanoengineering Group is actively pursuing applications of nanoshells in biomedicine, in applications relating to ultrafast immunoassays, optically triggerable drug delivery, early stage cancer detection and photothermal cancer therapy. For a more detailed look at the specific projects addressed in her research, check out the Halas Nanoengineering Group homepage. Professor Halas was recently named Fellow of the American Physical Society and has recently received the "Cancer Innovator" Award from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs of the U. S. Department of Defense.
Research Statement
To create new nanoscale objects that perform a function...to understand the physical properties of those objects, both at the microscopic and macroscopic level...to incorporate them into unique applications with societal and technological impact.
Selected Publications
Carly S. Levin, Janardan Kundu, Benjamin G. Janesko, Gustavo E. Scuseria, Robert Raphael, and Naomi J. Halas "Surface Enhanced Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy (SERS and SEIRA) of Ibuprofen Intercalated Hybrid Bilayer Nanoshells." Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 112 (2008): 14168-14175.
N. Fofang, Tae-Ho Park, P. Nordlander, and N.J. Halas "Plexcitonic Nanoparticles: Plasmon-exciton hybridization in a nanoshell-J-aggregate complex." Nano Letters, 8 (2008): 3481-3487.
Mark Knight and N.J. Halas "Nanoshells to nanoeggs to Nanocups: symmetry breaking beyong the quasistatic limit in complex plasmonic nanoparticles." New Journal of Physics, 10 (2008): 105006.
S. Lal, S.E. Clare and Naomi J. Halas "Nanoscience-enabled cancer therapy: impeding clinical impact." Accounts of Chemical Research (2008).(In Press)
Rizia Bardhan, Nate K. Grady, and Naomi J. Halas "Nanoscale control of Near-Infrared Fluorescence Enhancement using Au Nanoshells." Small, 4 (2008): 1716-1722.
D.R. Ward, N.J. Halas, and D. Natelson "Localized heating in nanoscale Pt constrictions measured using blackbody radiation emission." Applied Physics Letters (2008).(In Press)
D.R. Ward, G.D. Scott, Z.K. Keane, N.J. Halas, J.W. Ciszek, and D. Natelson "Electronic and Optical Properties of Electromigrated Molecular Junctiona." J. Phys: Condensed Matter, 20 (2008): 374118.
"Correlation of Molecular Orientation and Packing density in a dsDNA self-assembled momolayer observable with Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy." JACS, 130 (2008): 14040-14041.
Rizia Bardhan, Oara Neumann, N. Mirin, H. Wang, and N.J. Halas "Au nanorice assemble electrolytically into mesostars." ACS Nano (2008).(Submitted)
F. Wei, D. Zhang, N.J. Halas, and J.D. Hartgerink "Aromatic Amino Acids provide characteristic motifs in the Raman and SERS Spectroscopy of Peptides." Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 112 (2008): 9158-9164.
Presentations
"Plasmonics: merging nanoparticles with light." Drexel University Department of Physics, Philadelphia, PA. (October 30, 2008)
"Plasmonic Nanoparticles: artificial molecules with real applications." MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology Annual Meeting, Enschede, The Netherlands. (September 8, 2008)
"To be determined." University of Pennsylvania NBIC Research Excellence Award, Philadelphia, PA. (October 29, 2008)
"Merging Nanotechnology with light for Biomedicine." Institute for Optical Science University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. (October 24, 2008)
"Nanoscale optical approaches for molecular sensing and recognition." Institute for Optical Science University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. (October 22, 2008)
Editorial Positions
Member of the Editorial Board, (2007).
Member of the Editorial Board, Nano Letters, (2006).
Member of the Editorial Board, (2008).
Associate Editor.
Other.
Theses
Hui Wang, PhD. "Tunable Plasmonic Nanostructures: from Fundamental Nanoscale Optics to Surface-enhanced Spectroscopies." (2007).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Sripriya Sundararajan, PhD. "Plasmonic Nanostructures on Silicon." (2007).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Felicia Tam, PhD. "Optimization of the Nanoshell Geometry for Plasmon Enhanced Fluorescence." (2007).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Nyein Lwin, M.S. "Fabrication of Plasmonic Nanoparticle Structures on Planar Substrates." (2006).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Surbhi Lal, PhD. "Mapping the Near field of Nanoshells using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Spectroscopy." (2006).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Joseph Cole, MS. "Optimization of Nanoshell Mixtures for Solar Applications." (2006).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Yu Liu, M.S. "Chemistry of Novel nanoscale Carbon Materials: Nanodiamond and carbon Nano-onions." (2006).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Jennifer Steele, Ph. D. "Plasmonics of Nanostructures in Planar Geometries." (2004).
Felicia Tam, M.S. "Geometrical Parameters Controlling Sensitivity of Nanoshell Plasmon Resonances to Changes in Dielectric Environment." (2004).
Bruce Brinson, M. S. "Identification by Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectroscopy of Large." (2004).
Lee Hirsch, Ph.D. "Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Metal Nanoshells." (2004).
Joseph Jackson, Ph.D. "Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering with Metal Nanoshells." (2004).
Nate Grady, M. S. "Influence of Dielectric Function Properties on the Optical Response of Plasmon Resonant Metallic Nanoparticles." (2004).
Awards
Research Excellence Award, Nano/Bio Interface Center at the University of Pennsylvania. (October 29, 2008).
Doctor of Science, honoris causa, LaSalle University. (October 2007).
Nano 50 Innovator Award, Nanotech Brief. (November 2006).
Fellow, SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering. (May 2007).
Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. (January 2008).
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