« Faculty Index
Guangzhao Mao
577-3805
gzmao@eng.wayne.edu
Area of Interest
The primary research focus of Prof. Guangzhao Mao is the self-assembly of various nanoscale building blocks ranging from nanoparticles, nanorods, molecular aggregates, lipid bilayers, and polymeric chains. Self-assembly takes the bottom-up approach to nanotechnology, which is complementary to the top-down approach of the lithographical methods. One of the major hurdles in nanoscale manufacturing is the assembly and connection of various functional elements, such as nanoparticle quantum dots. Prof. Mao is working on a general scheme to create inter-element connections and their interface to the macroscopic electrodes. For example, nanorod linkers have been prefabricated onto nanoparticle quantum dots by nanoparticle-induced nucleation. Self-assembled bilayer patterns have been used as molecular templates for the synthesis of semiconductor nanorod arrays. The nanoscale confinement effect on molecular aggregation, nucleation, and crystallization has been exploited for the making of nanoscale organic/inorganic hybrid thin films and devices. The self-assembled structures, patterns, and the self-assembly process are characterized at the molecular scale and in situ by atomic force microscopy and single-molecular force spectroscopy.
Resources
1. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM): Digital Instruments Nanoscope IIIA (AFM, STM, Magnetic Force Microscopy, Fluid Tapping, Force Modulation, Pico-Force Spectroscopy, and air/fluid sample heater), and Digital Instruments Dimension 3100 (fully automated stepping motor, open-cell design, AFM, Magnetic Force Microscopy, Fluid Tapping, Force Modulation, and Scanning Spreading Resistance Microscopy).2. Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM): Olympus BX60 with Sony digital camera. 3. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR): Nicolet Magna IR 560 with attenuated total reflection (ATR) attachment.4. Contact Angle Goniometer: Ramé-Hart. 5. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) Mini-Trough: KSV M1200 and M1003 with dipping system and microscopy trough with quartz window.
Collaboration Interests:
Most in need of expertise in biomedical fields and electronic device manufacture. The distance does not matter to me.
