The diffusion of particles such as electrons, photons, ions, and molecules in substances represents a basic phenomenon in the universe. By manual control of the diffusion of these particles, a directional transport can be achieved, enabling the invention of electricity, fiber-optic communication and desalination. The pursuit of more powerful control over transporting processes constitutes a foundation for technology evolution. This is exactly what this project aims to do. 

The co-transport of multiple species in a single substance is typically prohibited in nature. This because different species have their own preferable transport environments, which are markedly disparate from one another. Optimizing the transport environment for different species in one material is therefore a great challenge, and the efforts of doing so often leads to undesired outcomes, such as trade-offs or even annihilation effects. However, the co-transport of multiple species is a necessity in technologies like electrolysis. Thus, a fundamental innovation in material science is needed to address the problem of simultaneous diffusions. 

In COFActiveCO2, I will use reticular chemistry to construct macromolecular type framework materials with compartmentalized multi-channels for mixed transport. The project will realize unprecedentedly control over the simultaneous transport of electrons, ions and molecules, to achieve intercalated nano-flows at high flux. As a result, a large contact between hybrid nano-flows will greatly facilitate the chemical kinetics in electrochemical processes. The implementation of membrane reactors with such design will enable significant upgrade in the electrochemical conversion efficiency of working electrodes in CO2 electrolysis technology, thus paving the way for a sustainable future. 

The direct communication between humans and electronics is one of the major targets for the current IT technology. To achieve this, a special medium is needed to connect electronic and biological systems. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are such devices that can transduce ionic signal to electronic signal, thus building a communication pathway between life and computers. The efficiency of an OECT device is heavily dependent on the transporting materials that are responsible for ionic and electronic conductance. However, the conventional OECT transporting materials are incapable of both large ionic capacitance and high electronic mobility, limiting OECTs' performance. To solve this problem, an emerging material, covalent organic framework (COF) will be inctroduced as a new generation of porous semiconductors for OECTs.

Environment: Nanoporous Membranes for PFAS removal