Graduate Research Experience

I worked within Dr. Bryan Hunter's research group where I synthesized first row transition metal (FRTM) (e.g. Ni, Fe, Co)-based catalyst materials through the synthetic technique of pulsed laser ablation (PLA). Using first-row transition metals to perform catalysis is desirable as precious metals such as platinum are expensive and scarce. In order to better understand the effect of dopant-host interactions for FRTM catalysts, I made NiFe-layered double hydroxides and Co2O3 nanoparticles and doped them with cerium and alkali metals, respectively.  I then tested their catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) by running rotating-disk electrode (RDE) experiments, collecting cyclic voltammograms.  

Very briefly I had the opportunity to work in the lab of Dr. Sossina Haile and worked on solid metal oxide materials relevant for the thermochemical looping to synthesize ammonia. 

During my first two years of my chemistry Ph.D. I was jointly advised by Professors Omar Farha (porous inorganic materials, including metal-organic frameworks) and Justin Notestein (metal oxides and materials relevant for heterogeneous catalysis). I worked on synthesizing and characterizing a new multilamellar hybrid ceria-based material, including its crystal structure, elemental composition, and optical properties. 

During these two years I learned a lot about various inorganic materials synthetic and characterization techniques, as well as heterogeneous catalysis. I gained experience in physisorption and chemisorption measurements, BET surface area and N2 isotherm analysis, various microscopy techniques including atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). I also learned crystallographic and diffraction techniques: X-ray diffraction (single-crystal and powder). Furthermore, I learned about elemental composition techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Inductively-Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Furthermore, I also learned how to run and interpret ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy in both the diffuse-reflectance (solid-based) and solution-based modes. From optical properties, I could determine bandgap energies and molecular transitions. I finally learned how to run zeta-potential and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements in a zeta-sizer instrument and served as the instrument manager for a year. I also gained lots of experience with nanomaterials, coating techniques, and thorough wafer cleaning utilizing sonication, solvent baths, Piranha solution, and nitrogen gas. I also became trained with radioactive materials. 

Aside from direct laboratory skills, I gained lots of scientific communication and writing experience. Furthermore, I served as the webmaster, social chair, and treasurer for the Notestein group.