Research Interests(Full Synopsis)

Our research interests focus on the manipulation of functional nanostructures and molecular devices, and the investigation at single-molecule and nanometer scale using scanning probe microscopies: atomic force microscopy (AFM), near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) and scanning confocal microscopy (SCM). The implementation of the research requires a synergism between 'making', 'measuring' and 'manipulating', where the conventional barriers between subdisciplines of chemistry are broken down. Students involved will be exposed to a variety of cross-discipline areas in chemistry and materials, and be trained with a broad range of instruments in nanoscale imaging and fabrication. Students will also have the opportunity to work as part of a coherent team in collaboration with different groups on different campuses, to practice teamwork skills and be familiar with necessary intellectual and scientific methods to solve scientific problems.

The current research efforts in our group are aimed at:

(1) single-molecule fluorescence sensors and switches for nanoscale probing and molecular electronic devices;

(2) dimensional control of self-assembly of organic semiconductor materials;

(3) and development of novel photocatalysts for degradation of organic pollutants and exploration of the mechanism at the single-molecule level (an internationally collaborative project between SIUC and ICCAS, Beijing).

Selected Publications

1. Xiulan Li, Joshua Hihath, Fang Chen, Takuya Masuda, Ling Zang* and Nongjian Tao*, Thermally Activated Electron Transport in Single Redox Molecules, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129 (2007) in press.

2. Yanke Che, Aniket Datar, Kaushik Balakrishnan, and Ling Zang, Ultralong Nanobelts Self-Assembled from an Asymmetric Perylene Tetracarboxylic Diimide, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129 (2007) 7234-7235 .

3. Tammene Naddo, Yanke Che, Wei Zhang, Kaushik Balakrishnan, Xiaomei Yang, Max Yen, Jincai Zhao, Jeffrey S. Moore, and Ling Zang, Detection of Explosives with a Fluorescent Nanofibril Film,  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129 (2007) 6978-6979.

4. Yanke Che, Aniket Datar, Xiaomei Yang, Tammene Naddo, Jincai Zhao, and Ling Zang, Enhancing One-dimensional Charge Transport through Cofacial pi-Electronic Delocalization: Conductivity Improvement for Organic Nanobelts, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129 (2007) 6354-6355.

5. Kaushik Balakrishnan, Aniket Datar, Tammene Naddo, Jialing Huang, Randy Oitker, Max Yen, Jincai Zhao, and Ling Zang, Effect of Side-chain Substituents on Self-assembly of Perylene Diimide Molecules: Morphology Control, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128 (2006) 7390-7398.

6. Kasuhik Balakrishnan, Aniket Datar, Wei Zhang, Xiaomei Yang, Tammene Naddo, Jialing Huang, Jianmin Zuo, Max Yen, Jeffrey S. Moore, and Ling Zang, Nanofibril Self-assembly of an Arylene Ethynylene Macrocycle, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128 (2006) 6576-6577.

7. Kaushik Balakrishnan, Aniket Datar, Randy Oitker, Hao Chen, Jianmin Zuo, Ling Zang, Nanobelt Self-assembly from an Organic n-Type Semiconductor: Propoxyethyl-PTCDI, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127 (2005) 10496-10497.

8. Bingqian Xu, Xiaoyin Xiao, Xiaomei Yang, Ling Zang* and Nongjian Tao*, Large Gate Modulation in the Current of a Room Temperature Single Molecule Transistor, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127 (2005) 2386-2387.