Research

• Developing multi-component catalyst materials with remarkable properties: Heterogenized molecular catalysts; Cooperative catalysis enabled by strong metal-oxide, metal-phosphide, metal-metal, and nanoparticle-molecule interactions.
• Improving electrochemical reactions by designing catalyst architectures beyond active sites.

• Investigating and understanding chemistry at material/electrolyte (including solid state electrolyte) interfaces
• Developing sulfur-based cathode materials with high charging-discharging cycling stability
• Developing high-efficiency and long-cycle lithium and sodium metal anodes

Chlorinated VOCs are persistent environmental contaminants requiring efficient remediation. We develop both photocatalytic and electrochemical strategies for C–Cl bond cleavage, using engineered TiO₂/CeO₂ catalysts and tailored electrode surfaces to achieve selective, energy-efficient dechlorination toward benign end products.

In situ Raman and ATR-IR spectroscopy are central to our mechanistic toolkit. During electrochemical CO₂ reduction and reductive dechlorination, we monitor the formation and consumption of key intermediates — including adsorbed CO, carboxylate species, and partially dechlorinated organics — directly at the electrode-electrolyte interface under applied potential. These real-time spectroscopic insights reveal the elementary steps governing selectivity and inform targeted catalyst optimization.

We develop catalytic processes, materials, and devices for the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy. Specifically, photoelectrochemical and photochemical reactions are designed and utilized to reduce CO₂ to liquid fuels while oxidizing H₂O to O₂.

We develop new electrochemical reactions and processes that can enable the synthesis of functional organic compounds, such as amines, carbohydrates, amino acids, and more, from simple inorganic wastes including carbon dioxide and oxidized nitrogen species.