Project Experience

I have conducted research in various fields including biosensors, organic total synthesis, electrocatalysis and interface science. My variety of research experiences have given me a rigorous intuition about combining knowledge from different subfields. This intuition helps me keep an open mind when I encounter problems.

Sept. 2020 — Dec. 2023

Graduate student at Nature Science College, UT
on Spectro-electrochemical study on Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER)*.

  • Utilized attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) to identify the hydrogen bond network at the electrode-electrolyte interface
  • Conducted precise measurements of HER kinetics and mass transport in the DMSO-water cosolvent system using ultra-microelectrodes.
  • Revealed disruption of the interfacial H-bond network by H-bond competitor has an additional non-trivial impact on the HER kinetics besides mass transport and reaction sites.

Jan. 2019 — July 2020
Graduate student at Willard Henry Dow Laboratory , UMICH
Mentored by Prof. Charles McCrory on Reductive Desorption of Mixed Self-assembled monolayer.

\img\msam.png

  • The mismatching between desorption onset potential and turning point of extent change might be caused by the bulky ferrocene-capped tail group, which makes it more likely to leave the surface than decanethiol.
  • Applying Cl-terminated thiol instead of Ferrocene-capped thiol. Cl-thiol was synthesized by hydrolysis of thiourea.
  • X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the changing extent of Cl-terminated thiol before and after reductive desorption.
  • Cl-terminated thiol shows poor solubility in ethanol, hard to form mixed SAMs with decanethiol in ethanol.
  • A phase separation occurred in mixed SAMs prepared in chloroform.
  • For SAMs prepared in DCM, it might form an evenly blended phase when the molar ratio of Cl-thiol is 0.5.

July 2017 — Jan. 2018
Research Intern at The Roger Adams Laboratory , UIUC
Mentored by Prof. Hong Yang on Oxygen Evolution Reaction and the Electrochemical Activity Descriptors.

  • Fabricated an OER catalyst with low overpotential and improved stability in acidic conditions, using lanthanide doping for lattice manipulation.
  • Proposed the relation between the OER activity and the atomic numbers of lanthanides.

Nov. 2016 — Present
Undergraduate Researcher at College of Material engineering , SJTU
Mentored by Prof. Jianbo Wu on Two-Dimensional nano-structures.
Publication: CHEN, W., MA, Y., LI, F., PAN, L. et al. Strong Electronic Interaction of Amorphous Fe2O3 Nanosheets with Single‐Atom Pt toward Enhanced Carbon Monoxide Oxidation. Advanced Functional Materials 29, 1904278 (2019). Link

\img\2d.png The TEM images of 2D metal samples obtained by solvothermal methods, (a)(b)PdFe (1:18); (c)(d) PtCo (1:9); (e) PtSn (1:9); (f)PdSn (1:9); (g) PtV (1:9); (h) PdCo (1:9)

  • Synthesized 2D nanostructures comprising platinum group and iron group metals utilizing tungsten hexacarbonyl (W(CO)6) as the reducing agent in the solvent ethylene glycol
  • Proposed the growing mechanism: Platinum catalyzes the ethylene glycol reduction to form a net-like polymer and induces the lateral growing of metal.
  • Obtained superior MOR activity compared to conventional platinum catalysts: the incorporation of iron group metals into the platinum structure increased the surface area and improved the adsorption capacity for active intermediates.

July 2015 — Oct. 2016
Undergraduate Researcher at College of Chemistry
Mentored by Prof. Shuyu Zhang on Semi-Pinacol Rearrangement.

  • Trained in the total synthesis of spiro compounds using the semi-Pinacol rearrangement reaction.

Apr. 2015 — Mar. 2016
Member of PRP Program at College of Chemistry
Collaborate on Interdisciplinary Research Project of Fluorescence Biochemical Probe.

  • Prepared a fluorescent probe for structural distinction of gluconate.
  • Proposed a new fulorescence-quenching model explaining exceptions in sodium gluconate recognition.

Other

Trainee Journalist at the Global Science magazine (The Chinese Edition of Scientific American)

  • gather information for stories, including conducting interviews, attending events, and verifying facts
  • write news articles that are concise, accurate, and engaging
  • Sample

Teaching Assistant / Research Assistant

  • As a part of my graduate life
  • prepare course materials, such as handouts, quizzes, and exams
  • lead smaller groups of students in discussions or lab sessions to reinforce concepts introduced in lectures
  • review scholarly articles and research papers to inform the direction of the research project
  • design and carry out experiments or studies in a laboratory or field setting