MSE Virtual Seminar Series: Xianwen Mao, Cornell University

Description

Understanding electrochemical interfaces: insights from soft materials design and operando functional imaging 

Xianwen Mao

Postdoctoral Associate - Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Cornell University

Electrochemical interfaces have continued to play critical roles in modern technologies that promise to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges associated with climate change, renewable energy and clean water. In this talk, I will describe my research efforts in developing a deeper understanding of electrochemical interfaces for sustainability with insights gained from soft materials design and operando functional imaging. In the first part of my talk, I will discuss how nanostructuring in molecularly engineered soft materials governs their electrochemical performance, with a particular focus on the critical role of self-assembled nanostructures at electrified interfaces. In the second part of my talk, I will describe my efforts in developing operando functional imaging tools to understand materials chemistry and properties at the single-entity level (e.g., single particles, single interfaces, single cells, single polymers). I will focus on (photo)electrochemical catalytic properties of emerging materials important for energy and environmental applications. I will discuss in detail single-entity-level insights inaccessible from bulk-level, ensemble-averaged measurements. 

Xianwen Mao obtained his BS degree in Polymer Materials and Engineering from Tsinghua University, China. He then came to Massachusetts Institute of Technology to pursue his graduate study, and obtained his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering with T. Alan Hatton and Gregory C. Rutledge. His PhD work is focused on molecular engineering and solution processing of electrochemically active soft materials to introduce nanostructures at electrified interfaces for improving performance in energy storage and water treatment. He is currently a postdoctoral associate with Peng Chen in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University, working on operando functional imaging of (photo)electrochemical materials for water decontamination, water splitting, and artificial photosynthesis. 

For Webinar information please contact Kyle Page (kmp265@cornell.edu)