Dr. Qi Lu has a broad research interest in the molecular
interactions in nano-scale and their implications. She has studied
the binding of RNA and single-walled carbon nanotubes, the
diffusion of solubilized carbon nanotubes in aqueous solution,
cellular uptake of carbon nanotubes; and the transmission of photon
energy through carbon nanotube arrays.
Her finding of the excellent solubility of carbon nanotubes
rendered by single-chained phospholipids has enabled many follow-up
studies of the environmental consequences of nanomaterials.
She has also studied systematically the density of carbon
nanotubes of different types so that the experimentally determined
densities can be correlated to the structures of different
types.She has also participated in the project aiming to the
understanding of the solvation of hydrocarbon clumps by
dendrimer.
Currently, she is working with Dr. Vladimir Samuilov to reveal
the electrical transport in a unique fabrication of silica fiber
coated with carbon nanotubes.