Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, QNC 3606
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West,
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
519-888-4567, ext. 38654
win-office@uwaterloo.ca
Research interests: chemical physics; surface chemistry; nano-materials; nano-devices; nano-biotechnology
Professor Tong Leung and his research group are investigating coreshell metal nanoparticles (Cr, Mn, Ni,Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) and metal-oxide (CrO2, ZnO, TiO2) nanostructured materials. These nanostructures range from 7 to 200 nanometres in size, and exhibit a variety of novel structures and morphologies, including nanoneedles, nanowalls, nanodisks, nanospikes, nanopillars, nanowires and nanotubes.
New fabrication methods of nanostructures are being developed on a conducting polymer (polypyrrole) substrate, single-crystal silicon, and on Indium-Tin-Oxide coated glass or plastic by both (wet) electrochemical deposition and (dry) pulsed laser deposition techniques. The research group seeks to develop a better understanding of the growth mechanism and structure-properties relationships, and the surface physics and chemistry. These studies also focus on several strategic applications, zinc oxide nanostructures on ITO including; CrO2 based spin-valve for spintronics; metal and metal-oxide based nanocatalysi; two-dimensional nanostructured ZnO field-emitters for the nextgeneration display technology; and quantum-dot photovoltaics.
Using electron beam lithography and nanolithography, Leung’s group designs and builds simple nanodevices, with the specific goal to investigate the substrate effects of different nanoscale geometric patterns on the growth physics and surface and electronic properties of the deposited nanostructures. Current projects also attempt to develop flexible display involving ZnO nanowalls on plastic-ITO, spin-based electronic components based on CrO2 nanoneedles/micropallets, and grid-based hybrid biosensors.
In the area of bio-nanotechnology, the focus is on biomolecular electronics and macromolecular nanodevices. Using a state-of-the-art molecular beam epitaxy instrument, the surface chemistry of DNA-based biomaterials is probed as functions of surface concentration, substrate temperature, nanocluster size and morphology. The chemical physics and surface chemistry of these biomolecular nanomolecules, particularly their electron transfer and temperature evolution behaviours, are investigated by using scanning probe and other surface science techniques. Using the MAPLE and Langmuir-Brodgett deposition bio-tools, Leung’s group is also studying the self-assembly of ferritin and cholesterol to develop applications in bioorganic data storage and chemical sensors.
As one of Canada’s premier materials research laboratories, theWaterloo Advanced Technology Laboratory (WATLab) is equipped with a full range of state-of-the-art instrument-clusters for:
Ultrahigh-vacuum-based scanning probe microscope (Omicron VT-SPM), atomic force microscope (DI Nanoscope IV), scanning electron microscope (Zeiss FESEM 1530), 4-circle high-resolution X-ray diffractometer (PANalytical Xpert Pro MRD);
Imaging ESCA microprobe (Thermo VG ESCALab 250), scanning auger microscope (Thermo VG MicroLab 350), raman confocal microscope (Bruker Senterra), UV/Vis, photoluminescence and FTIR spectrometers;
Electrochemical workstations and microbalance, pulsed laser deposition (PVD NanoPLD and MAPLE), molecular beam epitaxy (Omicron); and
lithography and patterning: electron-beam lithography (Raith-Navidy), nanolithography (DI Nanoman).
WATLab not only offers a unique interactive environment for multidisciplinary advanced research and training to university researchers that is second to none in Canada, but also provides important research and development services to local industries in Canada’s Technology Triangle (Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph).
Recent publications include:
Office: C2 061A
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 35826
Email: tong@uwaterloo.ca
Personal Website: Tong Leung
Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, QNC 3606
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West,
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
519-888-4567, ext. 38654
win-office@uwaterloo.ca
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.