Research Experiences
Welcome to Electrochemistry, Material Science and Organic synthesis world.
Here, you will find the delicate balance between beautiful and useful chemistry.
Electrocatalytic Oxygen Transfer Reactions
Electrocatalytic oxygen transfer represents a transformative shift in chemical synthesis, enabling the sustainable functionalization of hydrocarbons by using water as the primary oxygen source. My research focuses on replacing traditional, noble-metal-dependent processes with earth-abundant transition metal catalysts and 3D-printed membrane electrode assemblies. By leveraging electrochemical reactors and microkinetic modeling, we achieve high Faradaic efficiency and selectivity in reactions like propylene epoxidation under ambient conditions. Ultimately, this methodology bridges the gap between fundamental catalytic material design and large-scale, energy-efficient industrial relevant chemical synthesis.
Metal-free Organic Synthesis
One-pot synthetic methodologies eliminate the need for noble metals (like Pd or Pt) and hazardous reagents in the production of complex polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. By developing metal-free strategies, we have successfully accessed dozens of previously unreachable polyaromatic molecules with high yields and intrinsic porosity. This approach not only streamlines the synthesis from five steps down to one but also utilizes self-sorting crystallization to bypass traditional, waste-heavy purification methods. These "green" graphite-like architectures provide a new foundation for exploring interlayer intercalation and enhanced photoconductivity in materials science.
Crystal Engineering for Material Sciences
Research in crystal engineering focuses on rational growth of large organic single crystals and the precise modulation of their molecular packing to engineer responsive, high-performance materials. By isolating unique hexagonal structures and developing graphite-like layered architectures, we have established a direct correlation between internal crystal symmetry and external morphology, such as the formation of functional hollow tubes. These structural transformations enable exceptional mechanical shearing behavior and significant functional enhancements, including a 17-fold increase in photoconductivity and superior dye adsorption (82% uptake).
Solid-State NMR for Organic Materials
To address the longstanding challenge of characterizing amorphous and insoluble organic materials, my research utilizes advanced solid-state two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. This approach provides a high-resolution window into molecular-level structural connectivity, revealing subtle rearrangements of imine linkages that conventional techniques like FT-IR often fail to detect. By employing techniques such as solid-state CPMAS and two-dimensional hetero-nuclear correlation NMR, we bridge the gap between synthetic design and the definitive structural validation of new materials.
One-dimensional Organic Nanotubes and Thin Films
Reticular Chemistry offers rational design strategy for one-dimensional covalent organic nanotubes (CONTs) by utilizing building blocks with defined symmetries, filling a critical gap in the field of synthetic organic materials. We also developed an indirect synthetic approach inspired by "graphene-to-carbon nanotube" transformations, enabling the bulk-scale production of nanotubes with micrometer-scale dimensions under ambient conditions. Furthermore, we developed a methodology to transform these nanotubes into self-standing, membranes that exhibit unique viscoelastic properties and high mechanical strength. These studies provide a framework for organic materials with tunable dimensions for advanced structural and electronic applications.
Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs)
Finally, my research focuses on developing innovative synthetic strategies, such as in-situ protection-deprotection protocols, to construct highly crystalline and stable two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs). By incorporating methoxy-protected hydroxyl functionalities, we overcome the rapid kinetics of traditional keto-enamine tautomerization, which often compromises long-range order. This approach allows for the formation of robust, acid- and base-stable frameworks without sacrificing structural perfection. These materials serve as a versatile platform for exploring structure-property relationships and developing high-performance applications in separation and catalysis.