(2jm) Exploiting Light-Matter Interactions for Renewable Chemical Production

I am interested in developing technologies that exploit light-matter interactions to enable renewable chemical production. These include (1) dynamic photocatalysts that can renewably produce fuels/chemicals using light, (2) optical metasurfaces that can improve photon management in photoelectrochemical systems, and (3) hybrid light-matter systems that can enable unprecedented chemistry.

Doctoral Research: My research in Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan utilized experimental/theoretical methods to determine how plasmonic and photonic nanostructures divert solar energy into materials that catalyze industrially relevant chemical reactions. The experimental component included synthesizing these multicomponent nanomaterials using wet chemical/nanofabrication methods, characterizing them with electron microscopies, and studying how they interact with light using steady-state optical spectroscopies. The theoretical component of my work focused on developing complex finite element electrodynamics simulations to model how light energy flows throughout these nanomaterials. This combined approach led me to develop a unifying physical framework that describes energy transfer in any type of multicomponent plasmonic system and has: 1) enabled the design of materials that can use light to perform fuel-forming chemical reactions, and 2) provided a base for exploiting other types of light-matter interactions to develop more efficient technologies for solar energy harvesting.

Postdoctoral Research: As a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University, I investigate how to predict dynamic changes in nanoparticle catalysts under reaction conditions that ultimately affect their activity and selectivity. I first use kinetic experiments to develop initial structure-activity correlations in well-defined Pt-M alloy nanoparticles prepared from colloidal synthesis. I then use ex situ and in operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and Transmission electron microscopy to study how the morphology and composition of the nanoparticles change under reaction conditions. I use these insights to develop a predictive model for catalyst restructuring, allowing more active, selective, and stable catalysts to be designed.

Research Vision: The vision of the Chavez Lab is to manipulate light-matter interactions to develop systems that can sustainably produce chemicals and fuels from light and electricity. The research approach includes (1) the synthesis and fabrication of well-defined nanoparticles and photonic structures, (2) initial characterization using optical spectroscopies and kinetic measurements, and (3) mechanistic understanding using in operando measurements and theoretical models. Employing this methodology will shed light on the fundamental mechanisms governing performance and enable rational system design.

Teaching Interests: I can teach any core chemical engineering course, but my expertise makes me most suitable for reaction engineering and thermodynamics courses. I am interested in potentially developing 2 different courses for graduate-level special topics classes. The first would be a Molecular Foundations of Heterogeneous Catalysis/Photocatalysis course. In this course, I will explore the concept of catalysts and catalytic chemistry from the nanoscale perspective. This includes deriving the quantum mechanical description of chemical reactions on metal surfaces and using these concepts to understand catalytic chemistry and photochemistry. The second class I would be willing to teach is an Introduction to Solar to Chemical Energy Conversion course. This class would introduce the concept of using light as a reactant to drive industrially important chemical reactions. The various types of light harvesting materials would be introduced, and their mechanism of light harvesting will be explained. The transfer of light energy to chemical energy will also be explored. The emphasis will be on semiconductors and plasmonic metals with a few examples from transition metal molecular photocatalysts. I have previously designed and co-taught an undergraduate research course that introduces sophomore undergraduates to experimental and computational chemical engineering research.

Mentorship and DEI: Outside of research and teaching, I strongly advocate for increasing diversity in STEM. I have 10+ years of experience conceiving, planning, and executing programs/events to improve the recruitment and retention of first-generation, low-income students in STEM fields. These efforts include securing paid research positions, providing career/academic advising, and fundraising thousands of dollars to send them to national conferences for networking opportunities. My proudest achievement is being recognized as UC Berkeley’s Most Outstanding Student Leader in 2014 for my achievements as the President of the Berkeley Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).