Gonghu Li
We utilize our expertise in surface chemistry and molecular catalysis to develop innovative catalytic materials for sustainable energy applications. A process of particular interest is solar fuel generation by CO2 reduction using molecularly structured catalysts on solid-state surfaces. Spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical techniques are employed to characterize such catalytic materials and establish structure-function relationships. In addition, we integrate research with education by organizing STEM workshops for K-12 science teachers and students. Our projects have received support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Science Foundation (NSF), including a prestigious NSF CAREER Award.
Research Interests
- Catalysis/Kinetics
- Materials Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Solar, Photochemical Conversion
- Spectroscopy
- Surface Chemistry
Courses Taught
- CHEM 683: Physical Chemistry I
- CHEM 684: Physical Chemistry II
- CHEM 685: Physical Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 686: Physical Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 696: Independent Study
- CHEM 699: Thesis
- CHEM 925: Surface Chemistry
- CHEM 991: Presentation Portfolio
- CHEM 992: Graduate Writing Portfolio
- CHEM 999: Doctoral Research
- INCO 590: Rsrch Exp/Chemistry
Selected Publications
Iyemperumal, S. K., Fenton, T. G., Gillingham, S. L., Carl, A. D., Grimm, R. L., Li, G., & Deskins, N. A. (2019). The stability and oxidation of supported atomic-size Cu catalysts in reactive environments. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 151(5), 054702. doi:10.1063/1.5110300
Louis, M. E., & Li, G. (2019). Infrared studies of surface carbonate binding to diimine-tricarbonyl Re(I) and Mn(I) complexes in mesoporous silica. Journal of Coordination Chemistry, 72(8), 1336-1345. doi:10.1080/00958972.2019.1624953
Huang, P., Huang, J., Pantovich, S. A., Carl, A. D., Fenton, T. G., Caputo, C. A., . . . Li, G. (2018). Selective CO2 Reduction Catalyzed by Single Cobalt Sites on Carbon Nitride under Visible-Light Irradiation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 140(47), 16042-16047. doi:10.1021/jacs.8b10380
Chen, J., Iyemperumal, S. K., Fenton, T., Carl, A., Grimm, R., Li, G., & Deskins, N. A. (2018). Synergy between Defects, Photoexcited Electrons, and Supported Single Atom Catalysts for CO2 Reduction. ACS Catalysis, 8(11), 10464-10478. doi:10.1021/acscatal.8b02372
Stewart, B., Huang, P., He, H., Fenton, T., & Li, G. (2018). Visible-light degradation of Orange II using an Fe(II)–terpyridine complex grafted onto TiO2 surface. Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 96(9), 890-895. doi:10.1139/cjc-2017-0509
Park, J., Jin, T., Liu, C., Li, G., & Yan, M. (2016). Three-Dimensional Graphene–TiO2 Nanocomposite Photocatalyst Synthesized by Covalent Attachment. ACS Omega, 1(3), 351-356. doi:10.1021/acsomega.6b00113
Stanton, C. J., Machan, C. W., Vandezande, J. E., Jin, T., Majetich, G. F., Schaefer, H. F., . . . Agarwal, J. (2016). Re(I) NHC Complexes for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO2. Inorganic Chemistry, 55(6), 3136-3144. doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b00079
Liu, C., Dubois, K. D., Louis, M. E., Vorushilov, A. S., & Li, G. (2013). Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction and Surface Immobilization of a Tricarbonyl Re(I) Compound Modified with Amide Groups. ACS Catalysis, 3(4), 655-662. doi:10.1021/cs300796e
He, H., Liu, C., Dubois, K. D., Jin, T., Louis, M. E., & Li, G. (2012). Enhanced Charge Separation in Nanostructured TiO2 Materials for Photocatalytic and Photovoltaic Applications. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 51(37), 11841-11849. doi:10.1021/ie300510n
Jin, T., Liu, C., & Li, G. (n.d.). Photocatalytic CO2 reduction using a molecular cobalt complex deposited on TiO2 nanoparticles. Chem. Commun., 50(47), 6221-6224. doi:10.1039/c4cc00503a
Most Cited Publications