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Welcome to the Link Lab
In the Link Lab we are applying physical methods to solve problems in nanoscience. One of our main focus
areas is the study of noble metal particles in the size range of 2-100 nm. These nanoparticles have long
fascinated scientists because of their intense color, which is caused by the surface plasmon resonance, a
coherent motion of the conduction band electrons induced by interaction with light. The excitation of a
nanoparticle surface plasmon also creates a strong local electromagnetic field around the metal nanoparticle
surface. The unique optical properties of metal nanoparticles have caused a tremendous interest in building
improved and new devices from novel materials that consist of nanoparticles building blocks and are designed
in a bottoms-up approach. As our main tool, we are using optical single molecule/nanoparticle imaging and
spectroscopy techniques. Single molecule spectroscopy provides the ultimate molecular resolution and has
enabled major breakthroughs in materials chemistry and physics because heterogeneous distributions of
nanoparticle shape, size, and orientation or interfacial nanoscale structure in layered thin film devices can
be measured directly.
We invite you to take a closer look at our ongoing research projects. Please feel free to contact us if you
would like to learn more.
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Created by Alexei Tcherniak. 2006.