(4dq) Illuminating the Electrified Interfaces for Energy and the Environment

To realize the vision of sustainable energy and environments, my research explores electrochemical and plasmonic materials and technological solutions to control electron, chemicals, and energy flows in energy and environmental cycles. I develop electrochemical and spectroscopic materials, methods, and build mechanistic principles for electrification-driven processes, such as energy storage, catalysis, and sensing. I use light and electrochemistry both as probes to characterize and as tools to tailor the non-equilibrium molecular transformation and charge transfer. Specifically, by designing electrochemical and plasmonic interfaces and spectroscopies, I observe underlying physical, chemical and biological processes at the molecular scale. These understandings allow me to harness plasmonic excited states and biological pathways in electrochemistry, enhancing emerging energy-relevant processes (such as energy storage and decarbonized chemical manufacturing), biomedical diagnostics (such as bacterial infection detection), and environmental monitoring (such as wastewater-based epidemiology and real-time pollutant sensing).

Research Interests:

At the core of these electrochemical and electrokinetic processes is the electrified interface, where a solid electrode, including its surface plasmons or biological compartments, contacts a liquid environment under electrical bias. Unlike bulk materials, the interface hosts unique interfacial behaviors, such as dynamic molecule-surface interactions in the electrical double layer, non-equilibrium charge transfer, which can be either beneficial or detrimental to macroscopic performances. However, many fundamental mechanisms underlying these interfacial phenomena remain poorly understood, hindering the design of materials and devices with fast kinetics, improved selectivity, and low energy demands.

At the intersection of electrochemistry, in situ and data-driven spectroscopy, and biophotonics, my lab will advance the fundamental understanding and design of electrified interfaces in emerging technologies in energy and environmental applications. Specifically, I will investigate the electrochemical interfaces coupled with plasmons and living cells. My research will guide the design of (1) next-generation battery and electrosynthesis, where electrochemical interfaces under local solvation and confinements govern the thermodynamic stability and kinetics; (2) plasmon-assisted electrochemistry and sensing technologies, which harnesses light to direct selective electrocatalysis pathways and capture molecular-to-cellular fingerprints; (3) bio-inspired technologies, such as microbial electrosynthesis, where electrified bio-interfaces utilize functionalities of “living machines” on electrodes for precise and ecofriendly chemical conversion.

My lab will seek to understand the dynamic molecular interactions at electrified interfaces and mechanisms governing electron transfer reactions and mass transport in these systems; these understanding will guide the design of electrodes and electrolytes for improved efficiency. My lab will develop methods including in situ and data-driven vibrational spectroscopy, electrochemical electron transfer analysis, complemented by calculations. This interdisciplinary and collaborative research will integrate seamlessly with other major chemical engineering research areas, such as synthesis, catalysis, interfacial science, and biomaterials.

Research Experience:

My proposed research will be fueled by my interdisciplinary research experience in Li-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel cells in my PhD (MIT), and plasmonics and bacterial biosensing in my postdoctoral research (Stanford).

My Ph.D. research at MIT focused on understanding (electro-)chemical degradation mechanisms and charge transfer kinetics in Li-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Li-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. By developing an in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for battery cycling, I unveiled the key pathways of electrolyte oxidation in Li-ion batteries that accounted for capacity decay. Further, developing advanced electrochemical methods and collaborating with theorists allowed me to uncover that Li-ion intercalation occurs by coupled-ion electron transfer, linking reaction limitations to usable battery capacities. Moreover, I applied liquid physical chemistry principles to electrocatalytic reactions, demonstrating significant roles of hydrogen bonding in kinetics of hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions, providing design principles beyond covalent binding.

As a Schmidt Science Postdoctoral Fellow hosted by Stanford University, I pivoted to cellular biophotonics for bacterial sensing in wastewater. Motivated by the need for timely and broad-spectrum public health monitoring, I developed the label-free biosensing platform called “Generalized Enrichment with Raman-Machine learning Spectroscopy (GERMS)”, which enriches and identifies diverse species of bacteria within minutes. By designing electrokinetics to modulate bacterial transport and developing plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy and data-driven analysis to amplify and distinguish bacterial fingerprints, GERMS can rapidly and accurately identify bacterial pathogens in wastewater without labeling or time-consuming culturing.

Teaching Interests:

With my background in electrochemical kinetics, materials chemistry, and mechanical engineering, I am highly interested in teaching core undergraduate and graduate-level chemical engineering courses, including Thermodynamics, Chemical Kinetics, Fluid Mechanics. Additionally, I'm interested in teaching lecture- and laboratory-based courses related to electrochemistry, energy, and materials.

In line with my research interests, I am also passionate about developing new courses centered on “Surfaces and Heterogeneous Interfaces in Energy and Biosensing Systems”. This course will equip students to understand, characterize, and model heterogeneous chemical systems, such as intercalation batteries, conversion batteries, electro- and plasmonic catalysis, and biosensing. I believe such a course on fundamentals behind heterogeneous interfaces will enrich and strengthen the chemical engineering curriculum.

My teaching and mentoring philosophy centers around motivating and preparing future STEM leaders. I believe that education is for cultivating curiosity and the generation of new knowledge. My teaching seeks to create a student-centered learning environment where students not only acquire in-depth knowledge in an inclusive setting, but also develop the ability to apply knowledge in innovative ways. Additionally, with my experience promoting STEM and mentoring diverse students, I am eager to engage in DEI service, outreach, and the education of the next generation of diverse scientists and engineers.