Research & Publications

Plasmonic photochemistry

Metallic nanoparticles act as nanoscale antennas that amplify and concentrate light in their vicinity. Our research group specializes in harnessing these unique optical properties to enhance and control photochemical processes. To achieve this, we engineer innovative metallic nanoparticle hybrid systems and investigate how their structure, composition, and plasmonic behavior influence light-driven reactivity. We then apply these nanomaterials toward photochemical and antimicrobial applications.

Singlet Oxygen

Singlet oxygen is an excited state of molecular oxygen generated through photosensitization. Due to its short lifetime and highly reactive nature, singlet oxygen acts locally at the site of production, making it an effective tool for targeted antimicrobial applications against pathogens ranging from viruses to bacteria. Our group is interested in harnessing singlet oxygen to address antimicrobial resistance through the development and optimization of new photosensitizers, as well as strategies to enhance singlet oxygen generation and efficacy.

Excited-state modulation

Our research group is interested in understanding and controlling excited-state pathways through unconventional approaches to triplet-state access. Using polymer-based systems, we investigate how polymer composition, thickness, and the incorporation of plasticizers or antiplasticizers influence excited-state behavior and relaxation processes. By establishing fundamental structure–property relationships, our goal is to develop design principles that enable the rational tuning of excited-state dynamics, reducing reliance on trial-and-error approaches in photochemical material design.

publications

Amplified Production of Singlet Oxygen in Aqueous Solution Using Metal Enhancement Effects

Photochem. Photobiol. 2013, 90, 85. Studies involving metal enhancement effects have gained popularity, and enhancement of fluorescence due to the close proximity of a dye molecule to a metal nanoparticle is well documented. Although enhancement of singlet oxygen production by metal has been reported, studies are relatively scarce and so far only stationary silver island films have been proven to be adequate to do so. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of

Size Does Matter: How To Control Organization of Organic Dyes in Aqueous Environment Using Spec

Langmuir, 2012, 28, 16524. Understanding the role played by external factors on the organization of molecules has the potential to contribute greatly to fundamental research and applications in fields as diverse as nanotechnology, medicine, material chemistry, etc. Countless studies involve the organization of small organic molecules in environments rich in ionic species, yet their participation in molecular organization is often overlooked. Herein, we critically assess the o

Achieving Organic Nanoparticles with Redox-Active Capabilities: Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles

J. Nanopart. Res. 2012, 14, 1099. Herein, we present a unique approach to easily achieve redox-active nanosized organic particles in aqueous environment using a strategy based on ion association between large organic ions, namely tetraphenylborate anions and thiazole orange cations. The anionic tetraphenylborate associates tightly with the cationic redox-active thiazole orange producing a well-defined meta-stable organic nanoscale particle (73 +/- 20 nm). These redox-active n

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