Synthesis of Inorganic Materials

  • Hydrothermal synthesis of nanostructured inorganic materials

Hydrothermal synthesis is a powerful method for the creation of nanostructured inorganic crystals. With this approach, I have created various materials possessing unique morphology, which includes: titanate nanotubes and nanowires, honeycomb-structured titantate nanowire-based film, oriented TiO2 nanoparticles, TiO2 nanorods.

Relevant publications:
RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 79479.
Adv. Energy Mater., 2013, 3, 1368.
RSC Adv., 2012, 2, 9406.
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2012, 4, 438.

  • Solvothermal materials synthesis and discovery

Solvothermal method can be used to explore vast energy landscapes benefiting from the chemical interaction of the precursor with organic liquid mediums, which makes it powerful for the creation of new and metastable materials that are inaccessible with conventional synthesis routes. Besides using commercial autoclaves, I managed to performed solvothermal reactions in enclosed glass tube, which allows for the monitoring of reactions. For this glass-vessel reactions, I have assembled and built an enclosure systems for failure containment. Using solvothermal approach, I have created materials including: metastable mixed-valence Cu4O3, KFeS2 and solid-state-inaccessible KFe2S3.

I also discovered a coordination crystal [Cu(en-N)(en-N,N’)2](NO3)2, which have a first-confirmed stereo-chemistry with three en ligands forming penta-coordination.

Relevant publications:
CrystEngComm, 2019, 21, 2718.
J. Solid State Chem., 2018, 260, 1.
Chem. Mater., 2016, 28, 3080.

  • Other liquid-based synthesis method

A multitude of other liquid-based methods were also frequently explored for the synthesis of materials. Examples include: Ion-exchange and precipitation method for the fabrication of plasmonic Ag/Ag-Halide photocatalysts, electrochemical anodization-based spark discharge spallation of TiO2, and water‐soluble sacrificial salt‐crystal‐template (SCT) route for the formation of hollow caged nanostructures.

Relevant publications:
Adv. Funct. Mater., 2013, 23, 2932.
Toxicology, 2013, 304, 132.
RSC Adv., 2012, 2, 9406.
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2012, 4, 438.

  • Solid state synthesis of inorganic materials

Solid state combustion method is a powerful and direct method for the synthesis of inorganic materials. I am a very experienced researcher in the field of solid state chemistry synthesis of air-sensitive materials, with veteran experience of glovebox usage, flame-sealing of quartz, ball-milling, and furnace usage for closed system reaction, gas-flow for conversion, oxidation, and reduction reactions. Part of my on-going work is to look into mechanisms for various types of solid state reactions so as to enhance potential of solid state method for expedited materials synthesis and discovery.

Relevant publications:
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2017, 5, 5709.

  • Flux-based materials discovery and crystal growth

Utilization of flux in the reaction system greatly enhanced the kinetics and modifies the chemistry for the growth of inorganic crystals. Utilizing different flux chemistry, I have made progress in barium sulfide-flux based discovery of various ternary Ba-Fe-S phases. In addition, I have built a customized system (shown above) for the growth of refractory MgO single crystals using self-reacting flux.

  • Deposition and film growth techniques

Although less involved in the experimental side in the past, I have solid foundation in the film growth techniques. I have finished the “Vacuum Technology and Thin Film Deposition Techniques Workshop” hosted by Kurt J. Lester Company. I also have hands-on exposures on sputtering and chemical vapor deposition of Ge-nanowires.