Naomi J. Halas Research Group

Rice University

How does nanoparticle morphology control optical response and enable applications across sensing, medicine, and energy? The Halas Research Group designs and fabricates optically responsive metal nanoscale structures to control plasmonic resonances through structural control in colloidal synthesis. The group studies coupled plasmonic systems and characterizes their optical properties to pursue applications in biosensing, optoelectronics, and plasmonic photocatalysis. Researchers develop photocatalyst particles and prototype light-based chemical reactors for ambient-temperature ammonia cracking and methane reforming using particles invented in the laboratory. The laboratory pursues photothermal nanoparticle approaches to ultralocalized cancer therapies and solar steam generation for water treatment.