Yao Zhang
zhy2008@ustc.edu.cn
Education
2011-2014 Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at Microscale, USTC
2008-2011 Master's Degree in Condensed Matter Physics, Solid Physics Institute, CAS
2004-2008 Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Shanxi Univerisity
Experience
2019-Present Professor, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at Microscale, USTC
2018-2019 Research Professor, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at Microscale, USTC
2014-2017 Postdoctoral Fellow, Material Physics Center, San Sebastian, Spain
Overview of Academic Research
Prof. Zhang’s research primarily focuses on quantum precision measurement at the single-molecule level, specifically investigating the interaction mechanisms between individual molecules and nano-cavity plasmonics at the sub-nanometer scale. By developing key technologies for single-molecule photoelectric detection, Prof. Zhang continuously advance technological progress and theoretical innovation in the field of single-molecule tip-enhanced spectroscopy and imaging. Significant achievements have been made in several areas, including spatially high-resolution chemical imaging of single molecules, mechanisms of single-molecule electroluminescence, and photoluminescence imaging of single molecules. Particularly, my research in the field of high-resolution single-molecule imaging is internationally leading. Relevant scientific research outcomes have been published in over 40 papers where I served as corresponding author or first author, appearing in prestigious international journals including Nature, Nat. Photon., Nat. Nanotechnol., Nat. Commun., Sci. Adv., Phys. Rev. Lett., J. Am. Chem. Soc. and Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Additionally, Prof. Zhang have co-authored multiple invited reviews and book chapters published by Chemical Society Reviews, Chemical Reviews, Springer, and World Scientific.
Research Directions/Fields:
1. Single-molecule Raman spectroscopy and mapping technique
2. Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and mapping technique
3. Single-molecule-surface-plasmon coupled system
Major Honors and Awards
2019 Major Scientific and Technological Achievements and Landmark Progress in 'Toward the Frontiers of World Science' under Phase I of the CAS Pioneer Initiative.
Representative Publications
1. Qiu-Shi Meng†, Jun-Xian Zhang†, Yao Zhang*, Wei-Zhe Chu, Wen-Jie Mao, Yang Zhang, Jin-Long Yang, Yi Luo, Zhen-Chao Dong*, J. G. Hou*, “Local heating and Raman thermometry in a single molecule”, Sci. Adv. 10, eadl1015 (2024).
2. Yu Han†, Li Dong†, Lu-Yao Zhu†, Chun-Rui Hu, Hang Li, Yang Zhang, Chao Zhang*, Yao Zhang*, Zhen-Chao Dong*, “Real-space spectral determination of short single-stranded DNA sequence structures”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 33865-33873 (2024).
3. Yao Zhang†, Ben Yang†, Atif Ghafoor†, Yang Zhang, Yu-Fan Zhang, Rui-Pu Wang, Jin-Long Yang, Yi Luo∗, Zhen-Chao Dong∗ and J. G. Hou∗, “Visually constructing the chemical structure of a single molecule by scanning Raman picoscopy”, Nat. Sci. Rev., 6, 1169-1175 (2019).
4. Yang Zhang†, Yang Luo†, Yao Zhang†, Yun-Jie Yu, Yan-Min Kuang, Li Zhang, Qiu-Shi Meng, Yi Luo, Jin-Long Yang, Zhen-Chao Dong, Jian-Guo Hou, “Visualizing coherent intermolecular dipole–dipole coupling in real space”, Nature, 531, 623-627 (2016).
5. Rui Zhang†, Yao Zhang†, Zhen Chao Dong, Song Jiang, Chao Zhang, Liu Guo Chen, Li Zhang, Yuan Liao, Javier Aizpurua, Yi Luo, Jin Long Yang, and Jian Guo Hou, “Chemical mapping of a single molecule by plasmon-enhanced Raman scattering”, Nature, 498, 82-86 (2013).