Poon’s research program is in materials physics. He designs and synthesizes novel amorphous metals, nanostructured materials, and intermetallic compounds. The problems he investigates include structure-property relationships particularly on how atomic- and nano-scale structures determine magnetic anisotropy, thermoelectric performance, and mechanical behavior. His multi-level study employs both experimental and computational methodologies, utilizing various state-of-the-art electrical, thermoelectric, magnetic, and mechanical probes to measure properties. The materials studied have the potential for technological applications. In recent years, the effort has resulted in the discovery of a new type of amorphous metals that exhibit ultrahigh strengths and corrosion resistance. His group has also observed unusual electronic and magnetic structures in the metal-based compounds including resonant state near the Fermi level and half-metallic behavior.