(6dj) From Molecular-Level Catalyst Design to Reactor-Level Integration for Energy Conversion Technologies

As a future faculty member, I intend to conduct research on the synthesis of new catalyst materials (varying size, shape, and composition), the characterization of their electronic properties, and the evaluation of those materials for electrochemical reactions in energy conversion technologies such as fuel cells, CO₂ electroreduction, and solar fuel production. Specifically, I am interested in the development of scalable and broadly deployable mass electricity conversion and storage technologies which help reduce CO₂ emissions. One interesting method to reduce CO₂ emissions as well as providing a means of mass energy storage, is the electrochemical or photochemical reduction of CO₂ into useful chemicals, which can be stored or transported at scale, and used upon demand. Essentially the goal is to convert CO₂ emissions from coal and natural-gas fired power plants into useful products, such as alternative fuels or raw materials for the manufacture of plastics and other chemicals. However, as sceptics argued, conversion of such a stable molecule into useful chemicals would generally require a lot of energy, which may well come from coal-fired power plants. The conversion could cost a fortune and make more CO₂ than it consumed. But owing to recent advances in heterogeneous catalysis and reaction engineering, the balance is starting to shift as new conversion technologies are allowing the energy-intensive chemical transformations to proceed more efficiently. The key lies in the invention of a new way to overcome and lower the high energy barrier associated with breaking chemical bonds in CO₂ molecules through electrocatalysis or photocatalysis (i.e., artificial photosynthesis). Here, I propose to develop two energy conversion technologies through systematic catalyst design and reaction engineering to efficiently and selectively convert CO₂ to useful products (such as CO, formic acid, and liquid fuels): (1) electrochemical reduction of CO₂ and (2) plasmon-mediated photochemical conversion of CO₂. Together, I expect the outcome of my proposed research to present the framework for rational design of novel highly active catalyst, be it for CO₂ conversion of for other energy conversion applications. I also expect these studies to make a broader impact on shifting our society to a more sustainable energy future by turning CO₂ from a liability into an asset.

Teaching Interests:

My teaching interests are centered on training the next generation of chemical engineers using two teaching formats – classroom instruction and mentorship – in which my efforts will take a different form, but share a common goal. The goal of my teaching is to teach students to identify important problems, to think through the problem critically, and to arrive at useful/feasible solutions. In the classroom environment, I aim to achieve this goal through creative course design and effective teaching methods. In mentoring student researchers, I aim to build their critical thinking and problem solving skills through conducting research in my group. In either format, I will emphasize on the importance of drawing on the fundamental knowledge gained in the classroom and applying a critical eye to the scientific literature as they become independent engineers in the scientific community. I believe that my past experience in both academia and industrial R&D has shaped and prepared me to be a good mentor to train the next generation of chemical engineers to be able to design, optimize and operate chemical processes in a safe, sustainable, and efficient way.