Education

• 1989 Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
• 1994 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Experience

• 2023,1 - present Director, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2022,2 - 2022,12 Acting Director, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2012,4 - 2019,2 Deputy Director, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2009,2 - present Research Fellow, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2015,8 - present Adjunct Professor, Department of Photonics, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
• 2024,2 - present Adjunct Professor, Department of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
• 2024,2 - present Adjunct Professor, Institute of Optoelectronic Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University
• 2011,1 - present Adjunct Professor, Institute of Biophotonics Engineering, National Yang- Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan
• 2006,8 - present Adjunct Professor, Institute of Optoelectronic Sciences, National Taiwan Ocean University
• 2009,7 - 2014,12 Acting Executive Officer of the thematic center for Mechanics and Engineering Science, Academia Sinica
• 2007 - 2011,1 Associate Professor, Institute of Biophotonics Engineering, National Yang Ming University, Taiwan
• 2004,6 - 2009,1 Associate Research Fellow, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2000,7 - 2004,5 Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of Applied Science and Engineering research (preparatory house), Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2002,9 Visiting Scholar, Lund University, Sweden 1995 - 2000 Postdoctoral Research, Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica

Research Achievements

Dr. Pei-Kuen Wei has published more than 190 SCI papers and got 14 patents/3 technology transfers. Some of his works were selected as Sinica significant researches and reported by news or profssional magazines. His research interests include nanoplasmonic devices, optical bioimaging/sensing and nanotechnologies for biomedical/green-energy devices.

Recent Research Topics

In the field of label-free detection technology, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has gained widespread popularity and reliance among markets and manufacturers due to its high surface sensitivity. SPR technology finds extensive applications in studying interactions between biomolecules and in pharmaceuticals for selecting drugs with high affinity. However, its broader application in other areas has been greatly limited by the expensive measurement systems and detection components.
Over the past decade, with the rise of nanotechnology, nano-scale SPR chips have emerged. These chips utilize metal nanostructures to effectively enhance SPR detection capabilities, enabling miniaturization and high-throughput detection. Our patented dual-layer metal cleft structure, utilizing efficient Fano coupling, effectively enhances resonance quality and sensitivity, making it suitable for mass production. We utilize plastic injection molding technology for mass production of these plasmonic chips, achieving both cost-effectiveness and commercial application value in terms of quality.
However, a simple, inexpensive, effective, and widely applicable SPR measurement technology is necessary for the widespread application of these chips in the market. Our plasmonic imaging patent technology utilizes the tunable characteristics of nano-plasmonic SPR chips to set their SPR bands between the R and G bands of a color CCD. When the SPR wavelength changes due to the interaction of surface biomolecules, the intensity in the R and G bands undergoes inverse changes. By using the algorithm (R-B)/(R+B) for image analysis, this algorithm not only doubles the light intensity signal but also effectively eliminates instability in the light source and detector, significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio of SPR. With a standard color CCD, our detection limit can reach 10^-6 RIU.
We have practically applied this technology in virus-like particle measurement by modifying virus-specific receptors on gold surfaces. Using devices like iPhones to capture the chip, we can obtain changes in refractive index caused by captured virus particles. The detection limit for virus measurement is less than 1 pg/ml. Furthermore, we have verified this technology in high-throughput, large-area chip detection applications using commercially available transmissive scanners, successfully demonstrating high-throughput biomolecular reaction measurements and high-throughput cell drug screening for biomedical applications.
This technology realizes the feasibility of widespread SPR applications. We have successfully developed highly sensitive, patented nano-plasmonic chips. Using plastic injection molding technology, the cost per unit chip can be below one US dollar. Combining this imaging technology with smartphone photography allows for real-time analysis of SPR signals, which is simple and convenient. Additionally, utilizing a smartphone app to further establish a database online or even for IoT applications adds significant commercial value.

Honors and Awards

• 2021 Presidential scholars, Academia Sinica
• 2018 Industrial paper award (Champion), International Conference on Smart Sensors
• 2017 SPIE Senior Member
• 2016 OSA Senior Member
• 2015 Investigator Award, Academia Sinica
• 1994 Doctoral Thesis Award, Optical Society of Taiwan

Students

• Wei-Lun Cheng, 2005 Optics and Photonics in Taiwan, Student Paper Award
• Kuang-Li Lee, 2007 Optics and Photonics in Taiwan, Student Best Post Award
• Shen-Yu Hsu, 2008 SID International Conference, Student Travel Grant (US$500)
• Chia-Wei Lee, 2008 International Conference on Laser Applications in Life Sciences (LAIS), Student Paper Award
• En-Hong Lin, 2009 Optics and Photonics in Taiwan, Student Paper Award
• Su-Hann Wu, 2009 Optics and Photonics in Taiwan, Student Paper Award
• Yu-Hsuan Ho, 2011 SID International Conference, Student Travel Grant (US$500)
• Su-Hann Wu, 2011 Optics and Photonics in Taiwan, Student Paper Award
• Yu-Hsuan Ho, 2013 SID International Conference, Student Travel Grant (US$500)
• Yu-Hsuan Ho, 2013 International Display Manufacturing Conference, Distinguished Paper Award.
• Kuang-Li Lee, Best Oral Presentation Award, 2016 BEST conference & International Symposium on Biotechnology and Bioengineering.
• Cheng-Chuan Chen, 2017, Poster Award, International conferences of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP8)

News

• Our research, “Giant Birefringence Induced by Plasmonic Nanoslit Arrays,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 013105 (2009), was selected and reported in the Laser Focus World as one of the Accelerated Ingenuity in 2009.
• Our paper, "Size-Dependent Endocytosis of Gold Nanoparticles Studied by Three-Dimensional Mapping of Plasmonic Scattering Images" 2010, 8：33, J. Nanobiotechnology. (2010) was is a high access paper in Journal of Nanobiotechnology (Total accesses to this article since publication： 2197)
• Our paper, ”Sensitive Label-Free Biosensors by Using Gap Plasmons in Gold Nanoslits”, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 24, 210-215 (2008), was selected in the book “Chemical Sensors： Fundamental of Sensing Materials (2010)” with 2 pages introduction.
• The research, “Intensity sensitivity of gold nanostructures and its application for high-throughput biosensing,” Optics Express, 17 Issue 25, pp.23104-23113 (2009), was selected as significant research of Academia Sinica in 2010.
• The paper, ”Extraction enhancement in organic light emitting devices by using metallic nanowire arrays”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 013303 (2008), was a top 20 download paper in Jan. issue (2008) of Appl. Phys. Lett. and was reported by the website (IOP), nanotechweb.org.
• The research, ”Two-Dimensional Refractive Index Profiling by Using Differential Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 061123 (2007), was introduced by the optical magazine, Photonics Spectra in 2010
• The research, “Fabrication of a close-packed hemispherical submicron lens array and its application in photolithography”, Optical Express, Vol. 15, Issue 11, pp. 6774-6783, (2007), was selected in significant researches of Academia Sinica (2007).
• The paper, “Sensitive Biosensor Array by Using Surface Plasmon Resonance on Metallic NanoSlits”, J. Biomedical Optics, 12(4), 044023 (2007), was most a frequently downloaded paper in digital library and selected as top notch research in December, 2007.
• The paper, “Characterization and applications of single fluorescent nanodiamonds as cellular biomarkers” PNAS 104： 727-732 (2007), (collaborated with W. S. Fann in IAMS, academia sinica) was reported by news of Anal. Chem., 2007, 79, 1768.
• Many published papers were also selected by Virtual Journals such as Nanoscale Sciences and Technology and Biological Physics Research.

Technology Transfers

1. Non-exclusive License “Curved diffraction grating, spectrometer and curve diffraction grating manufacturing method", PacificImage Electronics. 2017-2019
2. Non-exclusive License “Curved diffraction grating, spectrometer and curve diffraction grating manufacturing method" STC Optical & Chemical co Ltd. 2018-2019
3. Non-exclusive License, “Nanoslot structure” PacificImage Electronics. 2017-2019

Industrial Cooperation

1. “Development of multiple SPR detections system and its clinical detection applications” PacificImage Electronics. 2017-2019
2. “Development of the prototype of handheld mini-spectrometer”. STC Optical & Chemical co Ltd. 2018-2019
3. “Development of Reading System for Scanning Nanoplasmonic Chips” MicroTek International Inc. 2023,1 - 2023,12
4. “Surface Plasmon Imaging System” VisEra Technologies Co. Ltd. 2023-2024