General Lab Information

Fang Lu

Staff Scientist, Soft/Bio Materials, Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Fang Lu

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Center for Functional Nanomaterials
Bldg. 735
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-7032
flu@bnl.gov

Expertise | Research | Education | Appointments | Publications | Highlights


Expertise

  • Shape- and Size-controllable Nanoparticle Synthesis
  • Particle Surface Modification
  • Nanoparticle Self-assembly
  • Small-angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)
  • Electron Microscopy (EM) Structural Characterizations
  • Collective Optical and Plasmonic Property 
  • Catalyst

Research Activities

Research activites are focused on developing synthetic strategies for preparing various shape- and size-controllable nanoparticles (Au, Ag, Pd, Pt, etc.) as well as their designable multi-component nanostructures (e.g. core-shell). Good interfacial compatibility and high crystalline quality of nanoparticles allow for their applications in biomolecule (e.g. DNA) functionalization and electrocatalysis. Superstructure with designable function  can be achieved by DNA-driven assembly of multi-component nanoparticles. SAXS and EM techniques used for structural characterizations as well as study on the collective optical and electrocatalysis properties from nanostructures promise us to approach a goal of realizing a new generation of energy-conversing and storage materials.

Education

  • Ph.D.: Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
    • Condensed Matter Physics
    • Dissertation Title: Chemical Solution-Phase Synthesis and Physical Property Studies of Complex-Nanostructured II-VI Semiconductor Materials
  • B.S.: Guangxi University, China
    • Major: Mathematics and Physics

Professional Appointments

  • Staff scientist: Brookhaven National Laboratory (2012-Present)
    • Center of Functional Nanomaterials
  • Adjunct professor: Stony Brook University (2021-Present)
    • Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
  • Postdoctoral researcher: Brookhaven National Laboratory (2009-2012)
    • Center of Functional Nanomaterials
  • Postdoctoral researcher: University of California, Los Angeles (2008-2008)
    • Department of Materials Science & Engineering
  • Assistant researcher: Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2007-2008)

Selected Publications

  • Mou H, Lu F, Zhuang Z, et al (2024) Glycerol Electrooxidation over Precision-Synthesized Gold Nanocrystals with Different Surface Facets. Precision Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/prechem.3c00105
  • Mao R, Minevich B, McKeen D, et al (2023) Regulating phase behavior of nanoparticle assemblies through engineering of DNA-mediated isotropic interactions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120:. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2302037120
  • Lu F, Vo T, Zhang Y, Frenkel A, Yager KG, Kumar S, Gang O (2019) Unusual packing of soft-shelled nanocubes. Science Advances 5:eaaw2399. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw2399
  • Li M, Kuttiyiel K, Lu F, et al (2019) Platinum Monolayer Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation. Journal of The Electrochemical Society 166:F3300–F3304. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0321907jes
  • Lu F, Xin H, Xia W, Liu M, Zhang Y, Cai W, Gang O (2018) Tailoring Surface Opening of Hollow Nanocubes and Their Application as Nanocargo Carriers. ACS Central Science 4:1742–1750. doi: 10.1021/acscentsci.8b00778
  • Guo J, Lu F, Zhang Y, Ma Q, Yang S, Liu G, Cai W (2018) Controllable corrosion-assisted fabrication of Au–Ag alloyed hollow nanocrystals for highly efficient and environmentally-stable SERS substrates. Nanotechnology 29:455604. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/aade27
  • Lu F, Zhang Y, Liu S, Lu D, Su D, Liu M, Zhang Y, Liu P, Wang JX, Adzic RR, Gang O (2017) Surface Proton Transfer Promotes Four-Electron Oxygen Reduction on Gold Nanocrystal Surfaces in Alkaline Solution. Journal of the American Chemical Society 139:7310–7317. doi: 10.1021/jacs.7b01735
  • Lu F, Gang O (2016) DNA Functionalization of Nanoparticles. 3D DNA Nanostructure 99–107. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6454-3_7
  • Lu F, Yager KG, Zhang Y, Xin H, Gang O (2015) Superlattices assembled through shape-induced directional binding. Nature Communications. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7912
  • Lu F, Tian Y, Liu M, Su D, Zhang H, Govorov AO, Gang O (2013) Discrete Nanocubes as Plasmonic Reporters of Molecular Chirality. Nano Letters 13:3145–3151. doi: 10.1021/nl401107g
  • Zhang Y, Lu F, Yager KG, van der Lelie D, Gang O (2013) A general strategy for the DNA-mediated self-assembly of functional nanoparticles into heterogeneous systems. Nature Nanotechnology 8:865–872. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2013.209
  • Lu F, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Wang JX, Adzic RR, Stach EA, Gang O (2011) Truncated Ditetragonal Gold Prisms as Nanofacet Activators of Catalytic Platinum. Journal of the American Chemical Society 133:18074–18077. doi: 10.1021/ja207848e
  • Zhang Y, Lu F, van der Lelie D, Gang O (2011) Continuous Phase Transformation in Nanocube Assemblies. Physical Review Letters. doi: 10.1103/physrevlett.107.135701
  • Lu F, Cai W, Zhang Y (2008) ZnO Hierarchical Micro/Nanoarchitectures: Solvothermal Synthesis and Structurally Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance. Advanced Functional Materials 18:1047–1056. doi: 10.1002/adfm.200700973

Research Highlights

Nanoscale Sculpturing Leads to Unusual Packing of Nanocubes

Carrying and Releasing Nanoscale Cargo with "Nanowrappers"

Scientists Use Nanoscale Building Blocks and DNA 'Glue' to Shape 3D Superlattices

Tiny Nanocubes Help Scientists Tell Left from Right

Mixing Nanoparticles to Make Multifunctional Materials

Fang Lu

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Center for Functional Nanomaterials
Bldg. 735
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-7032
flu@bnl.gov

Fang's Links