Optics and Photonics Research Faculty
e-mail: lyon@chemistry.gatech.edu phone: 404-894-4090Optics + Photonics Research Area Affiliations
Research Summary
Dr. Lyon's work in optics and photonics focuses on environmentally responsive (or "smart") materials for photonic materials, bioanalysis, and biomimetics.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Lyon’s research interests center around the development and implementation of new environmentally responsive (or “smart") materials for photonic materials, bioanalysis, and biomimetics. The approach the group is taking is to design hydrogel nanoparticles that undergo large changes in their chemical, mechanical, optical or electrical makeup in response to a chemical stumulus, biomolecular interaction, or electromagnetic field; such materials can be viewed as amplifiers or sensitizers of the environmental event. As a result of their environmental sensitivity, nanogels have potential in a number of applications. For example, nanogels have recently been assembled into a new type of soft-sphere photonic crystal that displays advantageous optical and mechanical properties over hard-sphere analogues. Other application targets for responsive hydrogels include biosensors, artificial muscles, drug delivery systems, and chemical separations.
Because of the wide range of synthesis, fabrication and analysis methods used in the group, typical graduate student research projects will often involve many tasks, including polymer synthesis, bioconjugate synthesis, self-assembly or directed-assembly of colloidal materials, and extensive characterization of the resultant material properties. A variety of modern analytical methods are used to characterize and evaluate these materials and interfaces, including photon correlation spectroscopy (dynamic light scattering), fluorescence spectroscopy, quartz crystal microgravimetry, surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopies, and electrochemistry.
Specific projects currently underway in the Lyon group include studies of hydrogel nanoparticle bioconjugates, core-shell hydrogel nanoparticles, processable photonic crystals, polymeric microlenses, thin films for drug delivery, tunable colloidal crystal optical filters, and fast-responding nanostructured polymer films.
