(2af) Active Site Design That Traverses Catalytic Contexts

I received my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University, where I studied photoelectrochemistry in the lab of Bruce Clemens. I then completed my doctoral studies with Karthish Manthiram in the Chemical Engineering department at MIT, where I studied heterogeneous electrocatalysis. As of May 2023, I am a postdoctoral researcher working with Theodore Betley in the Chemistry department at Harvard University, where I am studying biomimetic metal clusters.

Research Interests

I am fascinated by catalysts in their many, many contexts. From enzymes to synthetic complexes to surfaces to electrodes, when chemistries or active sites look similar, how do we apply design principles from one context to inform active site design in another? Alternatively, are there phenomena that are specific to surfaces (rather than molecules) or electrochemical interphases (rather than thermochemical systems) that can uniquely affect the outcomes of catalysis? What model systems can help us interrogate these effects, and how do we leverage the resulting fundamental understanding to actually design impactful new catalysts? These are questions I have worked towards answering in both my doctoral and postdoctoral studies, and I envision that these questions will also remain at the heart of my independent career.

In my PhD I have largely thought about active sites that traverse the thermochemical/electrochemical divide. Specifically, how does an electrified interface, with its complex interactions between electric fields, solvent, ions, and catalysts, interact with and perturb catalysis? I have tackled this question in the context of mechanistic interrogation at well-known electrocatalysts for CO₂ to CO, as well as in the context of designing new electrocatalysts for the underexplored C–C bond formation reaction of electrochemical hydroformylation.

In my postdoctoral studies, I am designing homogeneous metal clusters that will serve as platforms for asking questions across both the homogeneous/heterogeneous and synthetic/biological divides. Specifically, how does the presence of multiple metal sites impart structural or redox flexibility that facilitates reactivity? Can these clusters provide molecular-level descriptions of salient bonding phenomena at either cluster-based metalloenzymes or heterogeneous catalysts?

Teaching Interests

Many students have an itch to understand or a drive to create. Learning should augment, not stifle, these urges. When something is new, but logically developed and clearly tied back to previous knowledge, the act of learning it is a satisfying and empowering experience. I want to efficiently create such an experience for my students. I will employ many strategies to accomplish this, some of which include: thoughtful alignment of course goals, lectures, homework, and assessment, creating conceptual connections with previous knowledge/other classes, emphasizing real-world implications and applications of fundamental concepts, and frequent, bidirectional feedback between students and instructors.

In terms of course topic, I would be comfortable and excited to teach any class within a typical Chemical Engineering core curriculum. I am particularly enamored with topics related to electrochemistry and thermodynamics/statistical mechanics.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are critically important to a vibrant and impact-generating academic community. As a faculty member, I will be committed to advancing DEI within my group, my department, and the broader academic community. For example, within my group, I will deliberately create spaces for discussions relevant to DEI, such as the roles of systemic bias on influencing the outcomes of scientists and narratives about science, as well as actions on different levels that can promote DEI. I will also participate in DEI-related initiatives both within my department and academic community, which could include facilitating dialogue, providing mentorship, and participating in outreach programs.

Selected Works

Zeng, S. Delgado, C. Jiang, J. Adams, Y. Roman, K. Manthiram, “Electrifying hydroformylation catalysts exposes voltage-driven C–C bond formation” In review

Zeng^‡, V. Padia^‡, A. Limaye, J. Maalouf, A. Liu, M. Yusov, I. Hunter, K. Manthiram, “Automated electrochemical kinetic data collection aids in statistical discrimination of candidate reaction mechanisms” In preparation

Zeng, K. Manthiram, “Designing new voltage-driven reactions by electrifying known thermally-driven catalysts” In preparation

Chung, K. Jin, J. Zeng, T. Ton, K. Manthiram, “Tuning Single-Atom Dopants on Manganese Oxide for Selective Electrocatalytic Cyclooctene Epoxidation” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 144, 17416-17422 (2022)

Zeng, K. Manthiram, “Redox Reservoirs: Enabling More Modular Electrochemical Synthesis” Trends in Chemistry, 3, 3 (2021)

Limaye, J. Zeng, A. Willard, K. Manthiram “Bayesian Data Analysis Reveals No Preference for Cardinal Tafel Slopes in CO2 Reduction Electrocatalysis” Nature Communications, 12, 703 (2021)

Park, J. Zeng, A. Sahasrabudhe, K. Jin, Y. Fink, K. Manthiram, P. Anikeeva, “Electrochemical Modulation of Carbon Monoxide-Mediated Cell Signaling” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 60, 20325-20330 (2021)

Chung, K. Jin, J. Zeng, K. Manthiram, “Mechanism of Chlorine-mediated Electrochemical Ethylene Oxidation in Saline Water” ACS Catalysis, 10, 14015-14023 (2020)

Zeng, N. Corbin, K. Williams, K. Manthiram, “Kinetic analysis on the role of bicarbonate in carbon dioxide electroreduction at immobilized cobalt phthalocyanine,” ACS Catalysis, 10, 7, 4326-4336 (2020)

N Corbin, J. Zeng, K. Williams, K. Manthiram, “Heterogeneous molecular catalysts for electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction,” Nano Research, 12, 2093-2125 (2019)

Zeng, X. Xu, V. Parameshwaran, J. Baker, S. Bent, H.-S. P. Wong, B. Clemens, “Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation by GaAs Nanowire Arrays Protected with Atomic Layer Deposited NiOx Electrocatalysts,” Journal of Electronic Materials, 47, 932 (2018)