The Willets lab is focused on using ultrasensitive spectroscopic techniques to study molecular photophysics and environmental interactions at the nanoscale level. The research will involve characterizing the probes used in ultrasensitive spectroscopy as well as studying the photophysics and environmental response of these probes in actual nanoscale systems, especially those of a biological nature. To do this, we use a variety of microscopy techniques including single-molecule fluorescence, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as simple electronic structure calculations.


In particular, we are interested in characterizing and understanding the interactions between metallic nanoparticles and organic molecules. Metallic nanoparticles offer their own unique spectroscopic signature, the LSPR, but can also enable surface-enhanced spectroscopies such as SERS or surface-enhanced fluorescence. This leads to a complex interplay between the nanoparticles and organic molecules since each can affect the spectroscopic properties of the other. As such, we are interested both in using organic molecules with known spectroscopic properties to understand the LSPR response of single nanoparticles, as well as using the surface-enhancing ability of metallic nanoparticles to characterize organic molecules with hidden spectral properties. Along the way, we will develop new forms of microscopy and work towards the development of new nanoscale probes.



Olympus IX-71 microscope and spectrometer for SERS




Take a closer look!




Olympus IX-71 microscope for dark-field TIR




Our wet lab bench




Our hoods and photobleaching set up



For more information on our research, please see our poster.