Faculty - Materials Science & Engineering

Puxian Gao Assistant Professor Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology Phone: (860) 486-9213 Email: Puxian.gao@ims.uconn.edu

Research
Our research concentrates on the synthesis, characterization and applications of low dimensional nanomaterials. Our research objective is to improve and better bridge the gap between the nanoscience exploration and nanotechnology innovation. Specifically, we are looking for a better understanding on the physical, chemical and biological problems involved in nanoscale materials systems such as semiconductor quantum dots, nanorods and nanowires. In the meantime, we are looking forward to optimized nanomaterials design and synthesis, and trying to bring up specifically suited nanotechnology innovations in conjunction with biotechnology and energy related applications, such as nanoscale biosensors, bioactuators and biogenerators.

Research Group Web

Recent Publications - Peer-review journal publications
1. P.X. Gao, J.L. Lee, and Z.L. Wang, "Multi-colored ZnO Nanowire Architectures on Trenched Silicon Substrates", J. Phys. Chem. C, 2007, in press.

2. Y. Xi, C.G. Hu, X.Y. Han, Y.F. Xiong, P.X. Gao, "Hydrothermal Synthesis of ZnO Nanobelts and Gas Sensitivity Property" Solid State Comm., 2007, 141, 506

3. P.X. Gao, J.H. Song, J. Liu and Z.L. Wang, "Nanowire Piezoelectric Nanogenerators on Plastic Substrates as Flexible Power Source for Nanodevices", Adv. Mater., 2007, 19, 67.

4. C.G. Hu, Z. Zhang, H. Liu, P.X. Gao, Z.L. Wang, "Direct synthesis and structure characterization of ultrafine CeO2 nanoparticles", Nanotech. 2006, 17, 5983.

5. P.X. Gao, W.J. Mai, and Z.L. Wang, "Superelasticity and Nanofracture of ZnO Nanohelix", Nano Lett. 2006, 6, 2536.

6. J. Zhou, J. Liu, R.S. Yang, C.S. Lao, P.X. Gao, R. Tummala, N.S. Xu and Z.L. Wang, "Shelled SiC nanostructures fabricated by replicating ZnO nano-objects—a technique for producing hollow nanostructures of desired shapes", Small, 2006, 2, 1344.

7. J. Liu, P.X. Gao, W.J. Mai, C.S. Lao, R. Tummala and Z.L. Wang, "Quantifying Oxygen Diffusion in ZnO Nanobelt Nanodevices ", Appl. Phys. Letts, 2006, 89, 063125.

8. J. Zhou, C.S. Lao, P.X. Gao, W.J. Mai, Z.L. Wang and N.S. Xu, "Nanowire as pico-gram balance at workplace atmosphere", Solid State Comm., 2006, 139, 222.

9. C.S. Lao, J. Liu, P.X. Gao, L.Y. Zhang, D. Davidovic, R. Tummala and Z.L. Wang, "ZnO nanobelt/nanowire Schottky diodes formed by dielectrophoresis alignment across Au electrodes ", Nano Letts, 2006, 6, 263.

10. P.X. Gao, C.S. Lao, Y. Ding and Z. L. Wang, "Metal-Semiconductor Core-Shell Nanodiskettes and Nanotubes", Adv. Funct. Mater. 2006, 16, 53.

11. C. S. Lao, P.X. Gao, R. S. Yang, Y. Zhang, Y. Dai and Z. L. Wang, "Formation of double-side teethed nanocombs of ZnO and self-catalysis of Zn-terminated polar surface ", Chem. Phys. Letts., 2005, 417, 359.

12. P.X. Gao, Y. Ding, W. J. Mai, W. L. Hughes, C. S. Lao and Z. L. Wang, "Conversion of Zinc Oxide Nanobelts into Superlattice Structured Nanohelices", Science, 2005, 309, 1700.

13. P.X. Gao and Z. L. Wang, "High-yield synthesis of single-crystal nanosprings of ZnO", Small, 2005, 1, 945.

14. P.X. Gao, C. S. Lao, W. L. Hughes and Z. L. Wang, "Three-dimensional interconnected nanowire networks of ZnO", Chem. Phys. Letts., 2005, 408, 174.

15. P.X. Gao and Z. L. Wang, "Nanoarchitectures of Semiconducting and Piezoelectric Zinc Oxide", J. Appl. Phys., 2005, 97, 044304.

16. W. G. Lu, P.X. Gao, W. B. Jian, Z. L. Wang and J. Y. Fang, "Perfect Orientation Ordered in-Situ One-Dimensional Self-Assembly of Mn-Doped PbSe Nanocrystals", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 14816.

17. Z. L. Wang, X. Y. Kong, Y. Ding, P.X. Gao, W.L. Hughes, R. Yang and Y. Zhang," Semiconducting and Piezoelectric Oxide Nanostructures induced by Polar Surfaces", Adv. Funct. Mater., 2004, 14, 943.

18. F. Li, Y. Ding, P.X. Gao, X. Q. Xin, and Z. L. Wang, "Single-Crystal Hexagonal Disks and Rings of ZnO: Low-Temperature, Large-Scale Synthesis and Growth Mechanism", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2004, 116, 5350.

19. P.X. Gao and Z.L. Wang, "Substrate atomic-termination induced anisotropic growth of ZnO nanowires/nanorods by VLS process", J. Phys. Chem. B, 2004, 108, 7534 + Cover.

20. P.X. Gao and Z. L. Wang, "Nanopropeller Arrays of Zinc Oxide", Appl. Phys. Letts., 2004, 84, 2883 + Cover.

21. Y. Ding, P.X. Gao and Z. L. Wang, "Catalyst-nanostructure interfacial lattice mismatch in determining the shape of VLS grown nanowires and nanobelts: a case of Sn/ZnO", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 2066.

22. C. Ronning, P.X. Gao, Y. Ding, and Z.L. Wang, D. Schwen, "Manganese doped ZnO nanobelts for spintronics", Appl. Phys. Letts., 2004, 84, 783.

23. P.X. Gao, Y. Ding and Z. L. Wang, "Crystallographic-Orientation Aligned ZnO Nanorods Grown by Tin Catalyst", Nano Letters, 2003, 3, 1315.

24. X. D. Bai, E. G. Wang, P.X. Gao and Z. L. Wang, "Measuring the work function at a nanobelt tip and at a nanoparticle surface", Nano Letters, 2003, 3, 1147.

25. P.X. Gao and Z. L. Wang, "Mesoporous Polyhedral Cages and Shells formed by Textured Self-assembly of ZnO Nanocrystals", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 11299.

26. X.D. Bai, P.X. Gao, Z.L. Wang and E.G. Wang, "Dual-mode mechanical resonance of individual ZnO nanobelts", Appl. Phys. Letts., 2003, 82, 4806.

27. P.X. Gao and Z.L. Wang, "Self-assembled Nanowire-Nanoribbon Junction Arrays of ZnO", J. Phys. Chem. B, 2002, 106, 12653 + Cover.

28. X. D. Wang, P.X. Gao, J. Li, C. J. Summers and Z. L. Wang, "Rectangular porous ZnO-ZnS nanocables and ZnS nanotubes", Adv. Mater., 2002, 14, 1732.

Patents
29. Z.L. Wang and P.X. Gao, "Nanoscale junction arrays and methods for making same", US patent No. 6,918,959, 2005.

30. Z.L. Wang, P.X. Gao and Y. Ding, "Superlattice structured nanohelix for electromechanical coupled piezoelectric sensor, actuator and resonator", provisional patent filed (2005).

31. Z.L. Wang and P.X. Gao, "Bionanogenerator", provisional patent filed (2006).

Book Chapters
32. P.X. Gao and Z.L. Wang, "One dimensional semiconducting wurtzite nanostructures", Chapter 13 in Advanced Scanning Microscopy: Techniques and Applications, W.L. Zhou Eds, Springer, New York; November, 2006; ISBN: 0387333258.

Biography
Dr. Puxian Gao received his Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology on December 2005. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship in the Center for Nanostructure Characterization and Fabrication at the Georgia Institute of Technology, he joined the department as an assistant professor on January 2007. Dr. Gao has authored or co-authored over 30 publications including 28 peer-reviewed journal publications, 3 patents and one book chapter. His expertise and research interests lie in synthesis, characterization and growth theory studies of low-dimensional nanomaterials; biomedical applications such as biosensors, bioactuators and biogenerators; and energy related applications of low-dimensional nanomaterials.