(7ew) Novel Approaches for Carbon Neutral Energy Conversion

Research Interests:

Global energy needs are met by the combustion of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal – finite resources while polluting the environment through carbon emissions. In order to achieve energy security in an environmentally friendly manner, the energy strategy must create alternative technologies based on renewable sources. A central challenge, however, is the development of new processes capable of tapping these sources and feeding the vast energy needs. One of the promising routes is to convert renewable energy into chemical energy, a process typically involves catalysis, speeding up and directing chemical reactions. My particular research interest roots in catalysis advance understanding of reactions essential to industrial production, health and the environment; harnessing catalysis to make chemical bonds in new ways; developing new materials that overcome the power density and stability limitations faced by existing catalysts in the conversion and storage of electrochemical energy.

Research Experience:

Postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley: My research focuses on the development of catalysts for CO₂ reduction as a route towards the storage of intermittent renewable energy sources. We are taking a unified approach to this small-molecule activation problem by developing molecular and materials catalysts for CO₂ reduction that can be used in parallel under environmentally green, aqueous conditions. Materials science provide concepts as well as components to develop new solar-to-chemical conversion processes. In particular, molecular materials derived from molecular-nanoparticle composites and molecular-bulk materials hybrids, complement heterogeneous catalyst designs. In particular, we are inspired by recent advances in organometallic chemistry, where careful design and modification of ligand structures has led to novel reactivity of small molecule organometallic complexes for homogeneous catalysis of organic reactions. As such, these molecular-material hybrids can be thought of as heterogeneous analogs to homogeneous organometallic complexes.

Ph.D research at Purdue University: we pursue several research fronts rooted in synthetic and physical inorganic chemistry, with emphasis on compounds of importance in electronic and opto-electronic materials, and energy science. We focus on improving the energetic efficiency of electronic devices through molecular design. We seek to functionalize state-of-the-art organic molecular wires through incorporation of redox-active transition metal building blocks. Our particular interest in the area of carbon-rich organometallic materials focuses on the synthesis and characterization of conjugated Ru2-alkynyl and 3d earth-abundant transition metal-alkynyl compounds. These wire-like single molecules are fabricated into electronic circuits to serve as electronic components, which exhibit undiscovered electron transport efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

Future Direction:

New catalysts for carbon-neutral energy conversion processes are essential to addressing climate change and rising global energy demands. The emphasis of my future research will be focused on the design and optimization of catalytic materials present new opportunities for overcoming current performance constraints, especially targeting energy inputs from renewable sources. Due to my multiple training background in chemistry, materials, and engineering, my primary research interest roots in the merging of different disciplines, discovering specific properties of known materials at new interfaces, whereas open up new routes for the design of novel materials with unprecedented interfaces. Particularly, creation of molecule/materials interface may further advance materials’ robustness by integrating the strength from both molecular and materials side. These interfaces are capable of creating special synergistic effects between each component, leading to significantly improved efficiencies of the energy conversion/storage systems. The sparks from interfacing chemistry, materials science, and engineering are expected to enable new technological advancements in sustainable energy conversion and storage.

Grant Writing Experience:

I have received the Young Researcher Program of Synfuels China (YRPSC) Fellowship, which was awarded for my independent proposal of “Hybrid Molecular-Materials Catalysts for Carbon-Neutral Energy Conversion”

I have participated in drafting of six grant proposals and three beamline proposals for my graduate and postdoctoral supervisors. Successful proposals include:

1) The “Novel Carbon Rich Organometallics based on iso-Triacetylene: Effects of Cross Conjugation” funded by National Science Foundation (NSF).

2) “Cross-conjugated 3d and 4d Metal-alkynyl Frameworks: Synthesis and Properties” funded by National Science Foundation (NSF).

3) The “Molecular/Material hybrid catalysts for electrochemical N₂ reduction” funded by the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI)

Teaching Interests:

I have broad research interests supported by my experience in various areas of chemistry. At Purdue, I was a teaching assistant for a sophomore inorganic chemistry course and a freshman general chemistry course. I worked closely with the professor to define the curriculum and develop problem sets and exams. This was a highly rewarding experience for me and helped me to formulate more clearly my teaching philosophy and to understand that I truly enjoy teaching and interacting with students both in the research laboratory and in the classroom. During my time at both Purdue and Berkeley, I have mentored the work of two graduate students and four undergraduates for their researches. Based on my experience, I hope to teach undergraduate General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, and Engineering Thermodynamics; a graduate course in Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Heterogeneous Catalysis, or Science and Engineering of Sustainable Energy.

Selected Publications: (40 Peer-Reviewed Papers Total, 2 Book Chapters)

Cao, Z.; Derrick, J. S.; Gao, R.; Gong, M.; Xu, J.; Nichols, E. M.; Smith, P. T.; Reimer, J. A.; Wen, X. and Chang, C. J. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2017, submitted. “A Molecular Surface Functionalization Approach to Tuning Bulk Palladium Electrocatalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction”

Gong, M.†; Cao, Z.†; Liu, W.†; Liu, J.; Nichols, E. M.; Smith, P. T.; Derrick, J. S.; Xu, J.; Liu, Y. –S.; Guo, J.; Wen, X. and Chang, C. J. ACS Central Science 2017, under revision. “Molecular Pocket Functionalized Metal Surfaces for Selective Electrochemical CO Reduction” (†Co-first author)

Gao, R.†; Cao, Z.†; Xie, L.†; Liu, X. –W.; Liu, X.; Ma, D.; Yang, Y.; Li, Y. –W. and Wen, X. ACS Catalysis 2017, accepted. “Theoretical Insights into Carbon Permeation of Iron-Catalyzed Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis” (†Co-first author)

Cao, Z.; Kim, D.; Hong, D.; Yu, Y.; Xu, J.; Lin, S.; Wen, X. D.; Nichols, E. M.; Jeong, K.; Reimer, J. A.; Yang, P. and Chang, C. J. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2016, 138, 8120-8125. “A Molecular Surface Functionalization Approach to Tuning Nano-particle Electrocatalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction”

Cao, Z.; Xi, B.; Jodoin, D. S.; Zhang, L.; Cummings, S. P.; Gao, Y.; Tyler, S. F.; Fanwick, P. E.; Crutchley, R. J. and Ren, T. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2014, 136, 12174-12183. “Diruthenium–Polyyn-diyl–Diruthenium Wires: Electronic Coupling in the Long Distance Regime”