Bo Zhang

Assistant Professor
(Chemistry, Ph.D. University of Utah, 2006)

(phone number not yet available)
Email: zhang@chem.washington.edu

Research Interests

Research in the Zhang group is primarily focused on fundamental and applied aspects of electrochemistry and bioanalytical chemistry utilizing materials of nanoscale dimensions. We are interested in developing novel electrochemical methods for the study of single molecules (e.g., redox, DNA and proteins) and single biological cells (e.g., neurons and neuron model cells). Current projects include electrochemistry and electrochemical sensing utilizing molecular/atomic scale electrodes, electrochemical imaging of single neurons and neural networks, and bioanalytical applications of solid-state nanopores. To accomplish these projects, various novel nanomaterials and nanodevices are developed and applied, including nanoelectrodes, nanowires, nanopores, nanochannels, and nanoporous membranes.

Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Sensing.

Nanoelectrodes are electrodes with radii between 1 and 100 nm. Nanoelectrodes are extremely useful in both fundamental electrochemical research and electrochemical sensing. We are interested in the development and electrochemical investigations of molecular-scale electrodes (e.g., a < 3 nm). These electrodes will allow us to study properties of single redox molecules and single metal nanoparticles.

Electrochemical Imaging of Single Neuronal Cells.

Neuronal communication is facilitated by the release of chemical messengers, often via a process called exocytosis. Electrochemical methods utilizing carbon-fiber microelectrodes have been extremely useful in the detection of easily oxidizable neurochemicals (e.g., dopamine, epinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and histamine) from single neuronal cells. Such experiments provide valuable information such as chemical identity, amount of the neurotransmitter released, event frequency, and kinetic information relating to fusion pore opening. Novel electrochemical imaging methodologies with nanoscale spatial resolution and very high temporal resolution are currently developed in our lab for studying cellular secretions from single neurons. The goal of this research is to study subcellular spatial distribution of exocytotic events and secretory machinery on single neurons.

Solid-State Nanopores.

Nanometer-scale pores and channels offer tremendous opportunities in numerous analytical applications, such as single-molecule detection, and lab-on-chip devices. Silica-based nanopores are currently being developed to analyze single biomolecules (e.g., DNA, protein) and nanoparticles, and to study molecular interactions.