Narrative CV

Dr. Chi Chen is dedicated to integrating atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with optical techniques, utilizing near-field optics (SNOM) to resolve spectroscopic properties of various materials at the nanoscale.

Dr. Chen's work spans the development of near-field optical instruments, fundamental principles of near-field optics, and spectroscopic imaging/analysis of both hard and soft matter materials. Throughout her career, she has successfully implemented all near-field optical modalities-including a-SNOM, s-SNOM, STM- EL, and TERS -achieving optical resolutions and image quality ranked among the highest reported in the literature.

Since joining RCAS in 2013, Dr. Chen's laboratory has succussed in establishing three highly stable near-field optical systems operating in ambient air, nitrogen glove boxes, and aqueous environments. These systems enable advanced near-field fluorescence/absorption spectroscopy and imaging, serving as powerful tools for studying excitonic properties of 2D materials and nanoscale spectroscopic investigations.

Recently, Dr. Chen has further incorporated electrical circuitry into AFM/SNOM platforms. Beyond measuring microscopic conductive properties of materials, her work focuses on electroluminescence and nanoscale photocurrent imaging, aiming to extend near-field optical-electrical integration for studying microscale optoelectronic conversion in low-dimensional materials.

Education

• B. S., National Taiwan University, 1999
• M. S., National Taiwan University, 2001
• Ph. D., University of California- Irvine, 2009

Positions and Career

• 2022- Associate Research Fellow, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica
• 2013-22 Assistant Research Fellow, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica
• 2009-13 Postdoctoral researcher, Nanophotonics laboratory, RIKEN, Japan

Honors and Awards

• 2022 Academia Sinica career development award
• 2014 “96 Achievements at RIKEN in 100 years“, RIKEN, Japan
• 2008-09 University of California Regent’s dissertation fellowship award
• 2002 Dr. Yan’s thesis award in National Taiwan University
• 2002 Chinese chemical society outstanding thesis award.

Selected Publications

• P.-W. Tang, S.-Y. Shiau, H.-C. Chou, J.-R. Yu, X.-Q. Zhang, C.-T. Sung, Y.-H. Lee*, and C. Chen*, Visualization of bandgap evolution and bilayer coupling in W_xMo_1-xS₂ alloy by near-field broadband absorption microscopy. ACS Nano , 16, 7503 (2022)
• H.-C. Chou, X.-Q. Zhang, S.-Y. Shiau, C.-H. Chien, P.-W. Tang, C.-T. Sung, Y.-C. Chang, Y.-H. Lee*, and C. Chen*, Near-field spectroscopic imaging of exciton quenching at the atomically sharp MoS₂/WS₂ lateral heterojunction. Nanoscale 14, 6323 (2022)
• S. Luo, P. P. Lin, L.-Y. Nieh, G.-B. Liao, P.-W. Tang, C. Chen, and J. C. Liao*, A cell-free self-replenishing CO₂ fixing system. Nature Catalysis 5, 154 (2022)
• H.-C. Chou, C.-K. Fang, P.-Y. Chung, J.-R. Yu, W.-S. Liao, S.-H. Chen, P. Chen, I.-S. Hwang, J.-T. Chen*, and C. Chen*, Structural and optical identification of planar side-chains stacking P3HT nanowires. Macromolecules 54, 23, 10750 (2021)
• H.-C. Chou, W.-C. Hsu, Y. Yang, K. S. Schanze*, S.-C Luo *, C. Chen*, “Real-time spectral evolution of interchain coupling and assembling during solvent vapor annealing of dispersed conjugated polymers”, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 222, 2100125 (2021)
• W.-P. Chan, J.-H. Chen, W.-L. Chou, W.-Y. Chen, H.-Y. Liu, H.-C. Hu, C.-C. Jeng, J.-R. Li, C. Chen, S.-Y. Chen *, “Efficient DNA-driven nanocavities for approaching quasi-deterministic strong coupling to a few fluorophores”, ACS Nano, 15, 13085 (2021)
• J.-R. Yu, H.-C. Chou, C.-W. Yang, W.-S. Liao, I.-S. Hwang, and C. Chen*, A horizontal-type scanning near- field optical microscope with torsional mode operation toward high-resolution and nondestructive imaging of soft materials. Review of Scientific Instruments 91, 073703 (2020)
• K.-C. Chen, S.-M. Lai, B.-Y. Wu, C. Chen*, and S.-Y. Lin*, Van der Waals epitaxy of large-area and single-crystalline gold films on MoS₂ for low contact-resistance 2D–3D interfaces. ACS Applied Nano Materials 3, 2997 (2020)
• V. M. Balois, N. Hayazawa*, C. Chen*, E. Kazuma, Y. Yasuyuki, Y. Kim, T. Tanaka*, Development of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based on a scanning tunneling microscope in a controlled ambient environment, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 58, SI0801 (2019)

• P.-W. Tang, S.-Y. Shiau, H.-C. Chou, J.-R. Yu, X.-Q. Zhang, C.-T. Sung, Y.-H. Lee*, and C. Chen*
  Visualization of bandgap evolution and bilayer coupling in W_xMo_1-xS₂ alloy by near-field broadband absorption microscopy.
  ACS Nano, 16, 5, 7503–7511(2022)
• H.-C. Chou, X.-Q. Zhang, S.-Y. Shiau, C.-H. Chien, P.-W. Tang, C.-T. Sung, Y.-C. Chang, Y-H Lee*, and C C. Chen*
  Near-Field Spectroscopic Imaging of Exciton Quenching at the Atomically Sharp MoS₂/WS₂ Lateral Heterojunction.
  Nanoscale 14, 6323 – 6330 (2022)
• S. Luo, P. P. Lin, L.-Y. Nieh, G.-B. Liao, P.-W. Tang, C. Chen, and J. C. Liao*
  A cell-free self-replenishing CO₂ fixing system.
  Nature Catalysis 5, 154–162 (2022)
• H.-C. Chou, C.-K. Fang, P.-Y. Chung, J.-R. Yu, W.-S. Liao, S.-H. Chen, P. Chen, I.-S. Hwang, J.-T. Chen*, and C. Chen*
  Structural and Optical Identification of Planar Side-Chains Stacking P3HT Nanowires.
  Macromolecules 54, 23, 10750–10757 (2021)
• J.-R. Yu, H.-C. Chou, C.-W. Yang, W.-S. Liao, I.-S. Hwang, and Chi. Chen*
  A Horizontal-type Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscope with Torsional Mode Operation Toward High-Resolution and Non-destructive Imaging of Soft Materials.
  Rev. Sci. Instrum. 91, 073703 (2020)