GONGHU LI 
Assistant Professor
Physical Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824-3598 U.S.A.
gonghu.li@unh.edu
Education and Achievements
- B.S., 1997, Hubei Normal University, China
- M.S., 2000, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- Ph.D., 2005, University of Iowa
- Postdoctoral Fellow, 2005-2007, Northwestern University
- Postdoctoral Associate, 2007-2009, Yale University
- Assistant Professor, 2009-current, University of New Hampshire
Research Interests
Functional Composite Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications
- Surface Chemistry and Catalysis/Photocatalysis
- Solar Energy Conversion
- Nanoscience and Materials Chemistry
- Chemistry and Sustainablility
Current Research Interests
An urgent challenge faced by the world is to find viable solutions to meet our energy needs while maintaining the quality of our environment. The discovery of new materials with improved properties will play a pivotal role in achieving a sustainable future. At UNH, we are interested in utilizing the principles of catalysis and nanoscience to develop functional nanocomposite materials for energy and environmental applications.
Surface molecular catalysis deals with the post-synthetic derivatization of solid materials with well-defined molecular catalysts. Such “supramolecular chemistry” represents a unique approach that brings together the robustness of solid surfaces and the molecular understanding of catalysis. Crystalline aluminosilicates such as zeolites are excellent supports for molecular catalysts. Our current research involves the synthesis of nanozeolites with particle sizes less than 100 nm, followed by surface functionalization of nanozeolites with molecular catalysts. The functionalized materials will be characterized with a variety of techniques including X -ray diffraction, microscopy (SEM and TEM), UV-visible, FT-IR, and EPR spectroscopy.
One potential application of our functional nanocomposite materials is in the field of artificial photosynthesis (Scheme 1). Solar energy remains the largest unexploited renewable energy resource. In our research, transition metal (Ru, Re, Ni, Co, etc.) complexes will be synthesized and supported on nanozeolites. The surface molecular catalysts will be applied to solar fuel production by reducing CO2 into CH4 and CH3OH as energy-rich fuels. Other applications of our functional materials include dye-sensitized solar cells and photochromism.
Scheme 1: Schematic representation of an artificial photosynthesis cell (C: light−harvesting chromophore; Ox: water−oxidation catalyst; Red: CO2−reduction catalyst).
Publications
Gonghu Li, Christiaan P. Richter, Rebecca L. Milot, Lawrence Cai, Charles A. Schmuttenmaer, Robert H. Crabtree, Gary W. Brudvig and Victor S. Batista, “Synergistic Effect between Anatase and Rutile TiO2 Nanoparticles in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells”, Dalton Trans. 2009, in press
Gonghu Li, Eduardo M. Sproviero, Robert C. Snoeberger III, Nobuhito Iguchi, James D. Blakemore, Robert H. Crabtree, Gary W. Brudvig and Victor S. Batista, "Deposition of an Oxomanganese Water Oxidation Catalyst on TiO2 Nanoparticles: Computational Modeling, Assembly and Characterization," Energy Environ. Sci. 2009, 2, 230-238.
William R. McNamara, Robert C. Snoeberger III, Gonghu Li, James M. Schleicher, Clyde W. Cady, Macarena Poyatos, Charles A. Schmuttenmaer, Robert H. Crabtree, Gary W. Brudvig and Victor S. Batista, "Acetylacetonate Anchors for Robust Functionalization of TiO2 Nanoparticles with Mn(II)-Terpyridine Complexes," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 14329-14338.
Gonghu Li, Nada M. Dimitrijevic, Le Chen, Jamie M. Nichols, Tijana Rajh and Kimberly A. Gray, "The Important Role of Tetrahedral Ti4+ Sites in the Phase Transformation and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanocomposites," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 5402-5403.
Gonghu Li, Nada M. Dimitrijevic, Le Chen, Tijana Rajh and Kimberly A. Gray, "Role of surface/Interfacial Cu2+ Sites in the Photocatalytic Activity of Coupled CuO-TiO2 Nanocomposites," J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 19040-19044.
Yuan Yao, Gonghu Li, Kimberly A. Gray and Richard M. Lueptow, "Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Facilitated Dispersion of Particulate TiO2 on ZrO2 Ceramic Membranes," Langmuir, 2008, 24, 7072-7075.
Gonghu Li, Shannon Ciston, Zoran V. Saponjic, Le Chen, Nada M. Dimitrijevic, Tijana Rajh and Kimberly A. Gray, "Synthesizing Mixed-Phase TiO2 Nanocomposites Using a Hydrothermal Method for Photooxidation and Photoreduction Applications," J. Catal. 2008, 253, 105-110.
Gonghu Li and Kimberly A. Gray, "Preparation of Mixed-Phase TiO2 Nanocomposites via Solvothermal Processing," Chem. Mater. 2007, 19, 1143-1146.
Gonghu Li, Conrad A. Jones, Vicki H. Grassian and Sarah C. Larsen, "Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO2 with Urea in Nanocrystalline NaY Zeolite," J. Catal. 2005, 234, 401-413.
Gonghu Li, Sarah C. Larsen and Vicki H. Grassian, "An FT-IR Study of NO2 Reduction in Nanocrystalline NaY Zeolite: Effect of Zeolite Crystal Size and Adsorbed Water," Catal. Lett. 2005, 103, 23-32.
Weiguo Song, Gonghu Li, Vicki H. Grassian and Sarah C. Larsen, "Development of Improved Materials for Environmental Applications: Nanocrystalline NaY Zeolites," Environ. Sci. Technol. 2005, 39, 1214-1220.
Updated September 17, 2009