(6fp) Understanding the Synthesis Pathways of Inorganic Functional Materials

Research Interests: I propose a research program combining materials synthesis and in-situ X-ray characterization focusing on the development of inorganic functional oxide materials. Designing synthesis strategies is a growing and challenging field driven by the desired goal to accelerate the discovery of novel functional materials, as emphasized by the US Department of Energy. My proposed research contributes to this field in the following principal directions: (a) guiding the discovery of new functional materials, (b) tailoring chemical composition, phase, and morphology of targeted materials,(c) developing energy-efficient synthesis approaches, and (d) monitoring the behavior of materials under reaction conditions. To achieve these goals, it is of particular importance to investigate reaction pathways, which involve the formation of intermediate/metastable phases.

My research effort combines in-situ characterization and inorganic materials synthesis, coupled with theoretical modeling through external collaborations. This integrated framework provides a mechanistic understanding of reaction progress and phase transitions during the formation process of materials. The in-situ characterization approach enables direct observations of real-time structural and chemical changes during reactions. This information not only helps define materials growth or reaction mechanisms, but also provide sufficient details for developing computational models for predictive synthesis guidelines, ultimately gaining insights into process design. The proposed work includes probing the changes in phases, local structures, and properties of the materials during synthesis processes or under reaction conditions. Understanding and optimizing synthesis and performance are critical for the advancement of sustainable energy materials, while finding accessible synthesis conditions is challenging. Robust knowledge of reaction pathways can accelerate the production of materials with desired characteristics via energy-efficient methods.

Teaching Interests: I am enthusiastic about teaching materials and surface characterization techniques at both undergraduate and graduate level. My experience working in ultra-high vacuum facilities and synchrotron radiation centers provides me a solid background in surface science and X-ray characterization methods. Therefore, I am highly interested in opening an introductory class to the principle and applications of commonly utilized characterization techniques, such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and spectroscopy. Meanwhile, based on my research interests, I also hope to open an advanced class about state-of-art X-ray analysis techniques being performed in synchrotron radiation facilities. I would like to introduce real-life examples on analysis that requires specific measurement conditions, for example, performing time-resolved in-situ analysis with a wave-length adjustable, high-brightness X-ray light source.