Dr. Nie’s research focuses are in the areas of analytical chemistry and surface chemistry. He is interested in developing analytical approaches to studies in soft materials, mainly using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). He carries out research work on the manipulation of the surface energy of materials with surfactants for enhancing the chemical stability and compatibility of organic/inorganic hybrid systems such as organic electronic devices and polymer composites.