Naomi J. Halas
Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and
Professor of Chemistry and Bioengineering
Nanoengineering, Plasmonics, Nanophotonics
B.A. (1980) La Salle College
M.A. (1984) Bryn Mawr College
Ph.D. (1986) Bryn Mawr College
Professor Naomi Halas is interested in the rational design of nanoscale optical devices which exploit the plasmon resonant properties of ultrasmall metal structures to focus and manipulate light. This work combines electromagnetic theory with nanofabrication tools developed largely from chemistry. For the past few years her research has focused primarily on Nanoshells, a layered dielectric core/metal shell composite nanoparticle developed in her laboratory at Rice. Metal Nanoshells have geometrically tunable optical resonances that can span a large portion of the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum, and can be exploited as ultrasensitive nanosensors where their Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) properties can be controlled and optimized by varying the geometry of the nanostructure. Research on the fundamental plasmonic properties of metal nanostructures is currently being extended to other manipulatable nanoscale geometries. Her research group uses a variety of characterization methods for studying the nanostructures that they fabricate, including electron microscopies, scanning probe microscopies and optical spectroscopies, including femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, time-resolved two-photon photoemission and standard cw spectroscopies. The Halas Nanoengineering Group is actively pursuing applications of nanoshells in biomedicine, in applications relating to ultrafast immunoassays, optically triggerable drug delivery, early stage cancer detection and photothermal cancer therapy. For a more detailed look at the specific projects addressed in her research, check out the Halas Nanoengineering Group homepage. Professor Halas was recently named Fellow of the American Physical Society and has recently received the "Cancer Innovator" Award from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs of the U. S. Department of Defense.
Naomi J. Halas Curriculum Vitae
