Project Information

Title: Developing Optomechanical Devices based on Layered Nanomaterials for Single-Biomolecule Mass Spectrometry
PI: Prof. Xiankai Sun, Electronic Engnieering, CUHK
Period: 1 Jul 2015 - 30 Jun 2017

Project Description

The capability of determining the mass of biomolecules with high accuracy and fast speed has been playing a crucial role in proteomics for the development of molecular and cellular biology. Conventional mass spectrometers suffer from high cost, relatively large sample consumption, and low sensitivity. Nanoelectromechanical-system-based mass spectrometers can measure the proteins' mass directly. Landing of analyte (e.g., a protein) onto the device results in a variation of the resonator mass and thus shifts its resonant frequency. By tracking the frequency shift in real time, one can measure the mass variation, so as to determine the analyte species and quantity. However, the large parasitic capacitance and impedance mismatch inherent with the electrical transduction scheme limit the operation bandwidth and detection sensitivity. Here we propose to develop nano-optomechanical devices based on layered nanomaterials to obtain the ultimate sensitivity. The mass of the mechanical resonator is greatly reduced from that made in a traditional material, thus enabling a much higher resolution for detecting the analyte mass. By using optical methods for mechanical actuation and detection, we can obtain theoretically unlimited operation bandwidth and, more importantly, the ultimate detection sensitivity that is capable for resolving a single biomolecule.

Project Achievements

1. Xiang Xi, Zefeng Chen, Jingwen Ma, Jian-Bin Xu, and Xiankai Sun, "Graphene nano-optomechanical resonators on an integrated photonic platform," CLEO 2018, San Jose, CA, May 2018. [link]
2. Jiahua Gu, Xiang Xi, Jingwen Ma, Zejie Yu, and Xiankai Sun, "Parity-time-symmetric circular Bragg lasers: a proposal and analysis," Scientific Reports 6: 37688, Nov. 2016. [link]
3. Wen Zhou, Zejie Yu, Jingwen Ma, Bingqing Zhu, Hon Ki Tsang, and Xiankai Sun, "Ultraviolet optomechanical crystal cavities with ultrasmall modal mass and high optomechanical coupling rate," Scientific Reports 6: 37134, Nov. 2016. [link]
4. Jingwen Ma, Xiang Xi, Zejie Yu, and Xiankai Sun, "Hybrid graphene/silicon integrated optical isolators with photonic spin-orbit interaction," IEEE Photonics Conference 2016, Waikoloa, HI, Oct. 2016. [link]
5. Jingwen Ma, Xiang Xi, Zejie Yu, and Xiankai Sun, "Spin-orbit interaction of light in photonic nanowaveguides: a proposal of graphene-based optical isolators," PIERS 2016 in Shanghai, Shanghai, China, Aug. 2016. [link]
6. Jingwen Ma, Xiang Xi, Zejie Yu, and Xiankai Sun, "Hybrid graphene/silicon integrated optical isolators with photonic spin-orbit interaction," Applied Physics Letters 108 (15): 151103, Apr. 2016. [Featured as cover article and selected as Editor's Pick] [link]