Chiang Research Group

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Goals

Our group focuses on developing and applying plasmonic-enhanced near-field optical techniques to investigate fundamental light-matter interactions at the quantum limit and their applications to emerging technologies. Specifically, we are interested in the chemical and biological processes at the solid-liquid interfaces with custom-built laser-coupled scanning probe microscopes for tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, we are also interested in bridging the atomistic understanding to the mesoscopic world by exploring large-area uniform plasmonic metasurfaces.

Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopy with Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SICM-TERS)

1. X. He, L. Scarabelli, and N. Chiang*, “Construction of a Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscope for Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy”, Anal. Chem. 2025, 97, 30, 16098. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40708098/

2. X. He, AM. Tareq, K. Qi, Y.Conti, V. Tung, and N. Chiang*, “High-Resolution Distance Dependence Interrogation of Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopic Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Enabled by Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide Substrates”, Nano Lett. 2024, 24, 43, 13805. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39432812/

Ultraprecise Plasmonic Intracellular Delivery

The goal is to develop plasmon-induced intracellular delivery and imaging platforms capable of facilitating efficient and precise delivery of a variety of cargos into living cells, while maximizing their survivability. This presents unique capabilities that can drive innovation in fundamental science and translational medicine.

Solid-liquid interfacial processes at the Angstrom scale

1. Y-C. Chen, C. Li, AM. Tareq, L.R. Madison*, and N. Chiang*, “Sub-Molecular Resolution Imaging of Self-Assembled Metallocene Dimers under Aqueous Environment”, Opt. Comm. 2025, 591, 132119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132119

Plasmonic Metasurfaces

1. Y. Conti, X. He, Y-C. Chen, N. Chiang*, and L. Scarabelli*, “Enhanced Two-photon Excited Emission of Quantum Emitters by Colloidal Plasmonic Metasurfaces”, Adv. Photonics. Res. 2025, 6, 7, 2500075. https://doi.org/10.1002/adpr.202500075
2. Y. Conti*, N. Chiang, and L. Scarabelli*, “Colloidal Plasmonic Metasurfaces for the Enhancement of Non-Linear Optical Processes and Molecular Spectroscopies”, ChemNanoMat 2024, 10, e202300566. https://doi.org/10.1002/cnma.202300566
3. N. Chiang+,*, L. Scarabelli+,*, G. Vinnacombe-Willson, L. Pérez, C. Dore, A. Mihi, P. S. Weiss* and S. Jonas*, “Large-scale Soft Lithographic Patterning of Plasmonic Nanoparticles”, ACS Materials Lett. 2021, 3, 3, 282. (+ equal contribution). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.0c00535