Abstract :
Heterogeneous catalysis stands as a cornerstone of the modern chemical industry, with the pursuit of more efficient catalysts at its forefront. The inadequacy of sufficiently efficient catalytic materials emerges as the primary limiting factor, hindering the broader application of many sustainable technologies. Enhancements in catalyst activity, selectivity, and stability are crucial for advancing toward a sustainable future. Additionally, understanding the dynamic nature of catalysts under reaction conditions is essential for more efficient catalyst design.
In this talk, I will highlight our recent efforts on catalyst development for greenhouse gases (such as CH4 and NOx) removal and sustainable fuel (such as methanol) production. The examples I’ll focus on include: (1) Designing robust catalysts using a Sabatier principle of metal-support interaction; (2) Tuning Pd species in zeolite framework via second metals incorporation for CH4 oxidation and NOx adsorption; (3) Developing inverse-structured ZrO2/Cu catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation and understand their dynamic behavior under reaction conditions. Through these examples, I will provide perspectives on the critical role of catalyst design principles, synthetic strategies, the utility of specific characterization tools, and a combined experimental-theoretical approach in developing more efficient and stable catalysts for achieving a sustainable society.
Biography:
Junjie Chen is a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University in the Chemical Engineering Department and the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis working with Prof. Thomas F. Jaramillo on developing new catalysts for chemical transformation. His current research focuses on designing the interface between metal and metal oxide to produce value-added chemicals (such as methanol, CH4, and CO) from CO2 hydrogenation with renewable H2. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2022 from the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York (SUNY), advised by Prof. Eleni A. Kyriakidou. His dissertation centered on designing efficient catalysts for the control of greenhouse gas emissions, such as CH4, and NOx, and elucidating the catalytic mechanism using a combination of kinetic study and in situ techniques. He obtained his master’s degree from Zhejiang University under the guidance of Prof. Lin Zhang and Prof. Zhijun Zhou worked on membrane separation. He received the Dean’s Graduate Achievement Award, and CBE Outstanding Dissertation Award from the University at Buffalo. He also received the Outstanding Graduate Leader Award from Zhejiang University and the Outstanding Graduate Award from Zhejiang University of Technology. His achievements in catalysis and reaction engineering were further acknowledged with the AIChE Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division Travel Award.