We study materials and interfaces for carbon conversion, photocatalysis, hydrogen storage and electrocatalysis. Our questions concern reactant activation, charge and mass transfer, and structural changes during use, connecting activity, selectivity and stability.
Members' research brings together material synthesis, structural analysis and reaction evaluation, with in situ characterization, reaction kinetics and theoretical analysis used in specific studies. Each of the four areas has its own material systems and measures of performance. The shared aim is to guide design with clear scientific questions and assess improvements under comparable conditions.
Carbon resources and selective catalysis
Research on carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, syngas and biomass-derived molecules examines how metal sites and support interfaces influence reaction pathways, with an emphasis on the selective synthesis of lower alcohols and oxygenated chemicals.
Cooperation between active sites and reaction pathways
A carbon feedstock can follow different pathways to alcohols, hydrocarbons and other products. We examine how metal sites in different chemical states work together, and how their spacing and interfacial contact affect the adsorption and conversion of intermediates. Adsorption strength needs to be considered alongside activation, carbon–carbon bond formation, hydrogenation and product release to explain why changes in composition alter the product distribution.
Metal–support interactions and structural evolution
Supports influence metal dispersion and the local reaction environment through surface groups, defects and interfacial charge interactions. Relevant studies combine detailed structural analysis with characterization under reaction conditions to examine changes in particle size, coordination and interface structure. Reactions such as carbon monoxide oxidation provide a basis for studying adsorption and interfaces, helping distinguish the active structures needed for different reactions.
Selective conversion of biomass-derived molecules
Biomass-derived syngas and oxygen-containing platform molecules offer distinct routes for carbon utilization. Work on syngas-to-alcohol conversion and platform-molecule hydrogenation examines how metals and promoters change surface binding and the transformation of different functional groups. Material design considers desired product formation, competing reactions and the conditions needed to maintain catalyst activity.
Evaluating selectivity and stability
Evaluation needs to specify temperature, pressure, feed composition and time on stream. Conversion, target-product selectivity and formation rate together help explain where the carbon goes. Comparing product analysis with adsorbed species and structural changes helps distinguish the effects of active sites, mass transport and deactivation, and assess whether a material can sustain the intended reaction.
Photocatalysis for energy and environmental applications
Carbon nitride, metal sulfides and their composites provide systems for studying light absorption, charge transfer and surface reactions, with applications in hydrogen production, hydrogen peroxide synthesis, pollutant transformation and self-cleaning films.
From light absorption to surface reactions
Whether absorbed light leads to a useful surface reaction depends on competition among charge separation, migration and recombination. Research on carbon nitride frameworks and molecular connections addresses light absorption and local electronic structure. Semiconductor–cocatalyst interfaces connect charge transfer with reaction sites. Band positions and surface reaction rates need to be considered together to identify what limits light utilization.
Defects, molecular junctions and reaction selectivity
Defects and dopants can change adsorption sites and local electronic structure, but can also increase charge recombination. We examine how defect type, molecular connections and heterointerfaces affect charge transfer and product formation. Hydrogen peroxide synthesis involves selective oxygen reduction and, under particular conditions, water oxidation. Hydrogen production involves cooperation between semiconductors and cocatalysts. Related work on photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction considers material design through defects, adsorption and charge utilization.
Pollutant transformation and self-cleaning films
Pollutant-transformation research examines the roles of illumination, surface contact and composite structures. Self-cleaning films extend these questions to use on glass and other surfaces. Hydrophilicity helps water spread and rinse a surface, while photocatalysis acts on susceptible organic contaminants. Film design must coordinate light transmission, wettability and photochemical reactions, while considering retention of function during use. Adsorption, pollutant transformation and further mineralization require separate evaluation.
Light and reaction conditions
Wavelength, incident light intensity, reaction medium and catalyst amount all affect results, so performance comparisons need to connect product formation with photon utilization. Hydrogen peroxide accumulation reflects both formation and decomposition. Hydrogen-production measurements must state whether sacrificial agents are present; hydrogen evolution with a sacrificial agent does not establish overall water splitting. These conditions determine how results can be compared and where conclusions apply.
Hydrogen storage and catalytic release
We study reversible hydrogen uptake and release in magnesium-based materials and catalytic release from chemical carriers such as formic acid, focusing on interfaces, reaction rates and stability, alongside the usable capacity of storage materials.
Reversible hydrogen uptake and release in magnesium-based materials
The reversible conversion between magnesium and magnesium hydride is Mg + H₂ ⇌ MgH₂. Temperature and hydrogen partial pressure affect equilibrium; hydrogen dissociation and recombination, diffusion and formation of new phases affect rates. Nanostructures, nickel- or lanthanum-containing components and composite interfaces provide ways to study these processes, distinguishing kinetic improvements from changes in equilibrium thermodynamics and examining structural evolution during cycling.
Composite interfaces and protective nanofilms
Nanosizing can shorten diffusion distances while increasing exposure to the surrounding environment. Polymers, boron nitride and two-dimensional materials offer different approaches to catalysis, dispersion or protection. Related film research examines growth, interfacial contact and protective-layer structure. Protection needs to preserve pathways for hydrogen transport, while added components must be considered in the usable storage capacity of the complete composite.
Catalytic release from chemical hydrogen carriers
Formic acid dehydrogenation releases hydrogen through HCOOH → H₂ + CO₂, while the competing dehydration pathway, HCOOH → CO + H₂O, produces carbon monoxide. Research on supported palladium catalysts examines how metal particles, basic support sites and defects affect adsorption and activation, connecting support composition, morphology and metal–support interactions with reaction pathways.
Evaluating capacity, rates and cycling
Storage evaluation must address how much hydrogen can be stored, the conditions for uptake and release, and repeated use. Capacity measurements for magnesium-based composites need a clear mass basis and comparable temperature, hydrogen pressure and cycling conditions. Chemical carriers also require consideration of gas composition, catalyst stability, carrier sourcing and regeneration. Material-level results inform further development; evaluation of a complete storage or hydrogen-supply system requires additional evidence.
Electrocatalysis and functional energy materials
Polyoxometalates and their derivatives, nickel-based electrodes and conductive frameworks provide systems for studying hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, urea oxidation and related energy-storage reactions, with attention to active structures under operating conditions.
Polyoxometalate-based materials and structural control
The metal–oxygen clusters in polyoxometalates provide a basis for tuning composition and connectivity. Research examines immobilization, covalent attachment and changes in local coordination, crystal phase and morphology when polyoxometalates are used to prepare derived electrodes. Whether the original clusters remain intact, and which active sites form in derived materials, depends on the reaction environment and needs to be related to conductive contact and interfacial transport.
Interfacial reconstruction and electrochemical hydrogen production
An electrode's initial structure can reconstruct during operation. Nickel sulfides, layered double hydroxides and nickel foam provide systems for studying surface modification, interfacial contact and working states. Water electrolysis uses electrical energy to drive cathodic hydrogen evolution and anodic oxygen evolution. Urea-assisted hydrogen production pairs hydrogen evolution with an anodic reaction that consumes urea. These reaction combinations place different demands on active sites, transport and stability.
Energy storage and related functional composites
Work on polyoxometalate-based materials, conductive frameworks and porous structures also informs questions about charge storage and cycling retention. Flexible conductive films, biosensing materials and lightweight epoxy composites are related research areas that share approaches to conductive networks, surface functionalization and interfacial bonding. Response selectivity, cycling retention and structural stability are evaluated according to the intended use.
Evaluating working states and products
Electrode evaluation needs to connect current with actual products and specify the electrolyte, loading and operating conditions. Faradaic efficiency describes the fraction of charge used for the target reaction; structure and performance after sustained operation help assess retention of the active state. Urea-assisted hydrogen production also requires consideration of urea consumption, anodic products and electrical input, rather than using current alone as a measure of reaction efficiency.