Expertise

The Sun group’s research interests lie in organometallic photonic and biophotonic materials. We have been focused on the design, synthesis and characterization of transition-metal complexes (TMCs), such as Pt(II), Ir(III), and Cu(I) complexes, for optical limiting, photodynamic therapy (PDT), optical sensing, organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), and bioimaging applications.

The current major research projects include:

  • Developing NIR-absorbing theranostic Ir(III) complexes for imaging-guided photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy
  • Data-driven and computationally assisted design of near-infrared emissive metal-organic complexes with earth-abundant metals
  • Developing AIE (aggregation-induced emission)-active, multistimuli-responsive Pt(II) and Ir(III) complexes for bioimaging, sensing or OLED applications
  • Developing heavy transition-metal complexes for broadband optical limiting applications.
Affiliations

Walter F. and Verna Gehrts Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science and Mathematics, North Dakota State University

Affiliate Faculty, Materials and Nanotechnology Program, College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies, North Dakota State University

Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama

Past Affiliations

Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science and Mathematics, North Dakota State University (past)

Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science and Mathematics, North Dakota State University (past)

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science and Mathematics, North Dakota State University (past)

Research Assistant Professor, Nonlinear optics division

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Nonlinear optics division

Research Associate Professor, Organic photofunctional materials division

Research Assistant Professor, Organic photofunctional materials division

Communities
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cellular Biochemistry, Molecular Biochemistry
Degrees
PhD, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chemistry, 1995
BS, Wuhan University, Chemistry, 1990
Keywords
biochemistry & molecular biology chemical sciences spectroscopy photochemistry
Languages
Chinese, Mandarin, English
Honors

NSF CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (NSF), 2005-2010

Chinese National Science Award, 2nd-class, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2002

Outstanding Visiting Scholar, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1999

Excellent Presidential Award, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1995

YiLiDa Prize, Yi Li Da Corporation, Hong Kong (Chinese Academy of Sciences), 1995

Associations
American Chemical Society
Materials Research Society
Optical Society of America
Sigma Pi Sigma
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society