Our group focuses on designing structured nanoscale materials with exceptional properties. We make precious metals more precious by tuning the size and shape of noble metals at the nanoscale. We transform ordinary materials into extra-ordinary ones by controlling their architectures over multiple length scales. We use modeling to assist in understanding the properties of single structures as well as collective effects of assemblies of nanoparticles. Applications of our unique materials include nanomedicine, nano-lasing, photovoltaics, wetting, and imaging.