(2ki) Atomic-level Design of Sustainable Nanomaterials for Greenhouse Gas-Energy-Climate Nexus

I propose to develop new nanomaterials platforms and cutting-edge material characterization techniques to address global climate resilience and energy storage. My research portfolio will include three platforms: 1) Atomic-level design of robust, scalable, sustainable materials for CO2 capture, renewable energy, and environmental studies; 2) Cutting edge solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to quantify atomic interactions between CO2 and nanomaterials for CO2 capture, direct air capture, and conversion application. The techniques include pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG), dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). and 3) design and construction of the next generation of metal-organic framework catalysts for CO2 reduction. My background in material science and chemical engineering enables me to examine complex renewable nanomaterials systems in a systematic and novel perspective. I have developed multidisciplinary expertise in chemical fundamentals, renewable materials synthesis, atomic motion, NMR methods application, and instrument construction. These efforts have been academically illustrated through each of my peer-reviewed publications, particularly, a “Cheap and easy” material published by Science Advances found to slash expenses incurred by adopting net zero emission policies. This work was highlighted and featured by DOE, UC Berkeley News, VOA, and more than 32 global media. Moving forward, we foresee that this highly adsorptive, sustainable CO2 capture using networks (e.g., polymers, COFs, and MOFs) can open numerous industrial opportunities to tackle emerging challenges in CO2 capture and conversion, renewable energy, and nanomaterial synthesis.

Teaching Interests:

In addition to my passion and commitment to education, I am well prepared to teach core undergraduate courses on general chemistry, physical chemistry, and inorganic chemistry, as well as advanced courses on materials chemistry and spectroscopy. My interests in teaching at the graduate level are tied to my research work. Specific graduate-level teaching interests include conducting/nanoporous polymers, nanomaterials for energy applications, chemical & physical properties of nanoporous materials and the fabrication and characterization of thin film for gas/water separation. I look forward to applying these principles to new classes in the future.

My experiences at the University of Alberta and U.C. Berkeley have provided me with invaluable training for teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists. I have mentored 15 undergraduate and 4 graduate students. Here I designed the research, trained the students and guided them through the process of critically analyzing and communicating their results. Two of my mentees published first-author papers in high impact journals. I led chemistry laboratory classes for first year undergraduates at the University of Alberta, revisiting key concepts from their lectures and teaching them core synthetic skills. In addition, at my career as a post-doc in department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UC Berkeley for five years, I have also gained substantial teaching experiences including general chemistry, physical chemistry, thermodynamic lectures and providing mentorship for undergraduate and graduate students. The above broad professional background enables me to tackle multi-disciplinary problems with a depth in fundamental analysis. I am interested in teaching both fundamental classes as well as special topics.