Chemistry Graduate Seminar by Professor Zhongfang Chen, UPR Rio Piedras, Department of Chemistry
Title:
Computational Design of Graphene-based Nanomaterials towards Carbon Neutral Energy
Abstract:
Computationally-based theoretical modeling and simulations are playing an increasingly important role in the development of modern science and technology developments, especially in the innovations of nanotechnology. In this talk, I will discuss and demonstrate the powerfulness of atomistic simulations as tools to design graphene-based nanomaterials towards carbon neutral energy. The following topics will be introduced: (1) Porous graphene for hydrogen separation memebrane; (2) Graphene-based nanocatalysts for CO oxidation, and (3) Tuning the band structures of graphene-related materials by the weak interactions such as C–H···F–C bonds.
About the speaker:
Dr. Zhongfang Chen earned his Ph. D. from Nankai University in 2000, and stayed for four years in Germany under the support of Alexander von Humboldt foundation and Max-Planck society. In late 2003, he joined University of Georgia (UGA) first as a postdoc and then as a research faculty. In 2008 he had a short stay at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before his further move to UPR in the fall as an associate professor.
His main research is to apply the modern computational tools to design new materials with novel chemical bonding and desired properties, and to investigate rules and trends in chemistry. So far, he has published over 160 papers, including three in Chem. Rev., and over 20 in J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. and Phys. Rev. Lett. Nine papers of his were highlighted by news media (Chem. & Eng. News and/or Nachrichten aus der Chemie, Nature China). He is also very active in educational activities, and has given over 120 conference/seminar talks worldwide.
