The Tao Ye group is focused on the interface between DNAs and materials.  Understanding and controlling the interface between dynamic and soft DNA molecules and much more rigid materials poses unique technical and intellectual challenges.  However, such hybrid materials Surfaces/materials underlie many biosensors and microarrays as well as new generations of optoelectronic devices. Here are some of the questions we seek to address:

• What are the conformations and spatial arrangement of DNA molecules when they are anchored to a material? How do we develop simpler and more reliable attachment chemistry to functionalize a variety of materials with DNA? 

• How does the environment of the surface influence the ability of DNAs to interact and recognize other molecules, such as biomarkers?

• How can information encoded into the surface to direct the self-assembly of complex DNA nanostructures? 

• How can information encoded into the DNA direct the self-assembly of nanoparticles into superstructures.

• Can DNA molecules have electronic coupling with nanomaterials, and how does such coupling impact the properties of hybrid materials? 

​