Stephan Link’s pioneering work in nanophotonics has earned him the 2015 Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research. This “rising star” has expanded our understanding of how single nanoparticles, or tiny bits of metal, interact with light to create heat.
Dr. Link and his group apply knowledge and techniques from chemistry, physics, engineering and mathematics, including single-molecule and single-particle spectroscopy, to decipher the physical rules governing how plasmonic nanoparticles interact with one another and with their environment. His goal is to facilitate the use of plasmons, or light photons, to probe materials and initiate chemical reactions. This work may prove useful in such diverse areas as cancer treatment, light displays, steam generation, energy-efficient catalysts and diagnostics.
Born in Germany where he earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry, Dr. Link holds a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech and pursued postdoctoral research at The University of Texas at Austin. The associate professor of chemistry joined the Rice faculty in 2006 and has been a Welch Foundation principal investigator since 2007.