黑料视频

Jixin Chen

Jixin Chen, portrait
Professor
Chemistry 343, Athens Campus
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Nanoscale Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI)
chenj@ohio.edu
740-593-9768

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemistry,  Texas A&M University  at College Station, TX, May  2010
    • Dissertation:  .
    • Co-advisors:  , and  
  • M.S., Chemistry,  Nankai University  at Tianjin, China, June  2002
    • Dissertation: Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Application of Microporous Zeolites.
    • Advisor:  
  • B.S., Chemistry,  Nankai University  at Tianjin, China, June  1999
    • Thesis: Oxygen Temperature-Programed Deposition (O2-TPD) Characterization of ZSM-5 Zeolite.
    • Advisor:  

Professional Experience

  • Professor, 黑料视频, 2025-present
  • Associate Professor, 黑料视频, 2020-2025
  • Assistant Professor, 黑料视频, 2014-2020
  • Postdoc., Chemistry, Rice University at Houston, TX, 2012-2014
    • Supervisor: 
  • Postdoc., Chemistry, University of Wisconsin at Madison, WI, 2010-2012
    • Supervisor: 

Research

  • Biophysical Chemistry and Microscopy

Dr. Jixin Chen鈥檚 group is motivated to develop methods to measure a variety of materials such as DNA, protein, polymer, ceramic, semiconductor, and metals with specific interests in surface and interfacial chemistry.

A particular focus is on spectroscopy and microscopy characterization of these materials to understand their performance in biosensing, nanodevices, and solar cells. His group is also interested in developing computational software packages for analyzing data obtained from these measurements, especially on reaction kinetics.

Publications

Equipment

Teaching and Outreach

Dedicating to finding a pattern of facts.

Chen鈥檚 group is motivated to develop methods to measure a variety of materials such as DNA, protein, polymer, ceramic, semiconductor, and metals with specific interests in surface and interfacial chemistry. A particular focus is on spectroscopy and microscopy characterization of these materials to understand their performance in biosensing, nanodevices, and solar cells. His group is also interested in developing computational software packages for analyzing data obtained from these measurements, especially on reaction kinetics.

Examples of major contributions of the group include reaction kinetics such as the theory of single-molecule adsorption kinetics, quantum dot surface reaction mechanism, click chemistry kinetic model, mixed halide perovskite phase separation kinetics; COVID-19 kinetics; biophysics of dye-DNA interactions; and surface functionalization strategies.

For example, Chen proposed a reaction kinetic model for the adsorption of diffusion molecules from the bulk solution to target molecules that are immobilized on a surface, a standard scenario for almost any heterogeneous reaction. This has been a challenge for >200 years with significant progress made by many exceptional scientists. Chen proposes a theory of fraction reaction kinetics that is very nonintuitive but supported by the experimental results in his ) for this process, and his ) for adsorption in the bulk solution.

Our Focus: As experimental physical chemists, the overall goal of our research is to develop and apply techniques and methods to understand the complex behavior of molecules and nanoparticles at surfaces and interfaces, leading to the development of new materials and technologies that will benefit our lives.

Single Molecule Kinetics: We develop molecular probes for single-DNA imaging. We synthesize various nanoparticles and quantum dots for photoluminescence measurement and nanodevice fabrication. We use fluorescence microscopy to measure single-molecule diffusion/binding kinetics, single-molecule FRET kinetics, and single-particle fluorescence kinetics. We use statistical methods to analyze these data. The figure shows examples of using Monte Carlo simulations for the adsorption of molecules on a surface with 1D and 3D models. We are developing MATLAB codes for data analysis, fitting, and simulations on various kinetic systems, such as smFRET, reaction kinetics, and diffusion.

Materials Science: Our group is making thin-film solar cells and characterizing their interfacial chemical and electrochemical properties. The example figure shows a perovskite solar cell (PSC) made and tested in 2018 in our lab with >15% solar efficiency at AM 1.5G standard sunlight illumination. PSC is a type of promising next-generation solar cell with a world record solar efficiency >26% 2024. We also synthesize perovskite quantum dots and study their photoluminescent properties, especially under different conditions and passivations. These materials are promising to make light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, and display screens.

External Funding

NIH R15 2018-2022, Program officer: 

NIH R15 2023-2026 (continued), Program officer: 

Title: 

Sponsor: , .

NSF 2020, MRI: Acquisition of a Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometer to Enhance Research and Education.

Internal Funding (黑料视频)

2023 NQPI Research Challenge Award, internal grant

2022 OU 1804 Award, Acquisition of an FT-IR Spectrophotometer for Teaching and Research

2019 OU 1804 Award, Spectrometer for Education and Research in Forensic Chemistry

2019 NQPI Research Challenge Award, internal grant

2018 HTC Undergraduate Student Research Apprenticeship Fund

2017 PACE Undergraduate Student Research Fund

2017 NQPI Research Challenge Award

2016 NQPI Research Challenge Award

2015 OURC Fund

2015 HTC Undergraduate Student Research Fund

2014 黑料视频 Startup Fund

Software Released

  • An example calculation in Excel for YOYO-1 adsorption rate on immobilized DNA molecules on a substrate. This is a template to calculate the initial molecular adsorption rate of a typical biosensing system. (paper link:  Contact us for an Excel file.
  • (in MATLAB, previous name FitNGuess): A semi-exhaustive and general searching algorithm using the least-square non-linear regression method to find the best fit of a curve based on the random search algorithm. (paper link: ) ()
  • (in python): A semi-exhaustive and general searching algorithm using the least-square non-linear regression method to find the best fit of a curve based on the random search algorithm. (paper link: ) ()
  • postFRET (in MATLAB): a two-step smFRET data analysis method. (paper link: 7) ()
  •  (in MATLAB): A transition point state identification method for smFRET. (paper link: ) ()
  •  (in MATLAB): A modular software for single particle tracking. ()
  • (in MATLAB): Read COVID data and analyze it using SIR, SIRV, SIRVB models. (paper link: ) ()

Honors and Awards

Funded Grants

  • NIH R15: Super-Resolution Optical Mapping for DNA Analysis Using Triplex-Forming Oligonucleotides As Stochastic Molecular Probes, NIH, 2023, PI, $448,094
  • NSF MRI: Acquisition of A Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer to Enhance Research and Education. NSF, 2020, $315,000 (co-PI)
  • Spectrometer for Education and Research in Forensic Chemistry. 黑料视频 1804 internal grant, 2019, $65,989 (co-PI)
  • NIH R15: Super-Resolution Optical Mapping for DNA Analysis Using Triplex-Forming Oligonucleotides As Stochastic Molecular Probes, NIH, 2018, PI, $ 451,682
  • 黑料视频 OURC award, internal grant, 2015, $8,000

Other Awards

  • 2019 黑料视频 NQPI Research Challenge Award, internal grant $2,500
  • 2018 黑料视频 HTC Research Apprenticeship Award, internal grant $3,000
  • 2017 黑料视频 NQPI Research Challenge Award, internal grant $2,500
  • 2016 黑料视频 NQPI Research Challenge Award, internal grant $2,500
  • 2015 黑料视频 HTC Pilot Research Apprenticeship Award, internal grant $3,000
  • 2014 黑料视频 Startup Fund, $290,000

Before Joining 黑料视频

  • 2010 Dow Chemical Graduate Fellowship Award, Texas A&M University
  • 2009 E. Martell Travel Award, Texas A&M University
  • 2009 Graduate Student Research and Presentation Travel Award, Texas A&M University
  • 2007 Graduate Teaching Award, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University
  • 2006 Graduate Teaching Award: Recognizing Excellence in Education, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University

Professional Services and Activities

University and Departmental Service

  • 2020-present: 黑料视频 Baker Fund Committee
  • 2021-present: University Curriculum Council鈥檚 (UCC) Program Review Committee
  • 2015- present: Graduate research committee for ~10 students each year
  • 2015- present: Advising about 12 undergraduate students each semester
  • 2015- present: Coordinator for the Honors Program of the Chemistry&Biochemistry Department
  • 2016-2018 T&P Evaluation Committee
  • 2016-2018 Graduate Committee
  • 2015 CMSS/NQPI Poster judging
  • 2015-2016: Departmental Graduate Committee
  • 2015-2016: Curriculum/Teaching Committee
  • 2015 CMSS fellowship review committee
  • 2015 Graduate research committee for 1 student
  • 2014-2015: Committee member of Facilities Committee
  • 2014-2015: Curriculum/Teaching Committee

Membership of Academic Associations

  • The American Chemical Society (ACS) 2009-present
  • The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2014-2018
  • Sigma Xi 2010-2012

Review grants

  • ACS PRF proposals.
  • Panel and ad hoc reviewer for NSF

Reviewer of journal articles

 (Peering reviewing ~20 papers per year)

  • RSC Advances, Nano Letters, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Langmuir, Analytical Chemistry, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Powder Technology, Lab on a Chip, Materials Research Bulletin, Journal of Solid State Chemistry, CrystEngComm, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, and etc.

Publications

Working Paper

Chen, Jixin. Working Paper. 鈥淔rom Particle-in-a-Box Thought Experiment to a Complete Quantum Theory?鈥. ChemRxiv Preprint., .

2025

Ariyaratne, Pavithra, Lumbini P. Ramasinghe, Johathan S. Ayyash, Tyler M. Kelley, Terry A. Plant-Collins, Logan W. Shinkle, Aoife M. Zuercher, and Jixin Chen. 2025. 鈥溾. Scientific Reports 15: 8526.

2024

Chen, Jixin. (2024) 2024. 鈥溾. AIP Advances 14: 115218.

Mowery, Jenna L., and Jixin Chen. (2024) 2024. 鈥溾. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 128 (39): 16291-301.

Chen, Jixin. (2024) 2024. 鈥溾. Journal of Computational Mathematics and Data Science 12: 100097.

Pandey, Srijana, Dinesh Gautam, and Jixin Chen. (2024) 2024. 鈥溾. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 128 (29): 7254-62.

Athapaththu, Deepani V., Tharushi D Ambagaspitiya, Andrew Chamberlain, Darrion Demase, Emily Harasin, Robby Hicks, David McIntosh, et al. (2024) 2024. 鈥溾. Journal of Chemical Education 101 (7): 2892-98.

鈥溾. (2024) 2024. Nature Communications 15: 3626.

Athapaththu, Deepani V., Martin E. Kordesch, and Jixin Chen. (2024) 2024. 鈥溾. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 15 (4): 1105-11.

2023

Mao, Hanbin, and Jixin Chen. (2023) 2023. 鈥溾. Journal of Scientometric Research 12 (3): 570-76.

Gautam, Dinesh, Srijana Pandey, and Jixin Chen. (2023) 2023. 鈥溾. The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B 127 (11): 2450-56. .

2022

Chen, Jixin. (2022) 2022. 鈥溾. AIP Advances 12 (1): 015318. .

G枚tz, Markus, Anders Barth, S酶ren S-R Bohr, Richard B枚rner, Jixin Chen, Thorben Cordes, Dorothy A Erie, et al. (2022) 2022. 鈥溾. Nature Communications 13 (1): 5402. .

Chen, Jixin. (2022) 2022. 鈥溾. The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A 126 (51): 9719-25. .

Smith, Dylan K, Kristin Lauro, Dymond Kelly, Joel Fish, Emma Lintelman, David McEwen, Corrin Smith, Max Stecz, Tharushi D Ambagaspitiya, and Jixin Chen. (2022) 2022. 鈥溾. Journal of Chemical Education 99 (10): 3471-77. .

2021

Hart, Kelle D, Chelsea Thompson, Clay Burger, Dylan Hardwick, Amanda H Michaud, Abdul H M Al Bulushi, Cole Pridemore, Carson Ward, and Jixin Chen. (2021) 2021. 鈥溾. ACS Omega 6 (43): 29223-32. .

Vicente, Juvinch R, Martin E Kordesch, and Jixin Chen. (2021) 2021. 鈥溾. Journal of Energy Chemistry 63: 8-11. .

2020

Shrestha, Kristina, Juvinch R Vicente, Ali Rafiei Miandashti, Jixin Chen, and Hugh H Richardson. (2020) 2020. 鈥溾. The Journal of Chemical Physics 152 (3): 034706. .

Vicente, Juvinch R, and Jixin Chen. (2020) 2020. 鈥溾. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 11 (5): 1802-7. .

2019

Lum, William, Dinesh Gautam, Jixin Chen, and Laura B Sagle. (2019) 2019. 鈥溾. Nanoscale 11 (35): 16228-34. .

Lum, William, Dinesh Gautam, Jixin Chen, and Laura B Sagle. (2019) 2019. 鈥溾. Nanoscale 11 (35): 16228-34. .

Piecco, Kurt Waldo E Sy, Juvinch R Vicente, Joseph R Pyle, David C Ingram, Martin E Kordesch, and Jixin Chen. (2019) 2019. 鈥溾. ACS Applied Electronic Materials 1 (11): 2279-86. .

2018

Piecco, Kurt W E Sy, Ahmed M Aboelenen, Joseph R Pyle, Juvinch R Vicente, Dinesh Gautam, and Jixin Chen. (2018) 2018. 鈥溾. ACS Omega 3 (10): 14327-32. .

Wang, Lei, Joseph R Pyle, Katherine A Cimatu, and Jixin Chen. (2018) 2018. 鈥溾. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. A, Chemistry 367: 411-19. .

2017

Pyle, Joseph R, and Jixin Chen. (2017) 2017. 鈥溾. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology 8: 2296-2306. .

2014

Kisley, Lydia, Jixin Chen, Andrea P Mansur, Bo Shuang, Katerina Kourentzi, Mohan-Vivekanandan Poongavanam, Wen-Hsiang Chen, Sagar Dhamane, Richard C Willson, and Christy F Landes. (2014) 2014. 鈥溾. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 111 (6): 2075-80. .

Kisley, Lydia, Jixin Chen, Andrea P Mansur, Sergio Dominguez-Medina, Eliona Kulla, Marci K Kang, Bo Shuang, et al. (2014) 2014. 鈥溾. Journal of Chromatography. A 1343: 135-42. .

Shuang, Bo, Jixin Chen, Lydia Kisley, and Christy F Landes. (2014) 2014. 鈥溾. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP 16 (2): 624-34. .

Shuang, Bo, David Cooper, Nick Taylor, Lydia Kisley, Jixin Chen, Wenxiao Wang, Chun Biu Li, Tamiki Komatsuzaki, and Christy F Landes. (2014) 2014. 鈥溾. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 5 (18): 3157-61.

Tauzin, Lawrence J, Bo Shuang, Lydia Kisley, Andrea P Mansur, Jixin Chen, Al de Leon, Rigoberto C Advincula, and Christy F Landes. (2014) 2014. 鈥溾. Langmuir : The ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids 30 (28): 8391-9. .

Chen, Jixin, Nitesh K Poddar, Lawrence J Tauzin, David Cooper, Anatoly B Kolomeisky, and Christy F Landes. (2014) 2014. 鈥溾. The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B 118 (42): 12130-9. .

2013

Chen, Jixin, Alberto Bremauntz, Lydia Kisley, Bo Shuang, and Christy F Landes. (2013) 2013. 鈥溾. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 5 (19): 9338-43. .

2012

English, Caroline R, Lee M Bishop, Jixin Chen, and Robert J Hamers. (2012) 2012. 鈥溾. Langmuir : The ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids 28 (17): 6866-76. .

Cai, Yangjun, Zhi Zhao, Jixin Chen, Tinglu Yang, and Paul S Cremer. (2012) 2012. 鈥溾. ACS Nano 6 (2): 1548-56. .

Chen, Jixin, Rose E Ruther, Yizheng Tan, Lee M Bishop, and Robert J Hamers. (2012) 2012. 鈥溾. Langmuir : The ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids 28 (28): 10437-45. .

2010

Chan, Yang-Hsiang, Jixin Chen, Qingsheng Liu, Stacey E Wark, Dong Hee Son, and James D Batteas. (2010) 2010. 鈥溾. Analytical Chemistry 82 (9): 3671-8. .

2009

Chan, Yang-Hsiang, Jixin Chen, Stacey E Wark, Stephanie L Skiles, Dong Hee Son, and James D Batteas. (2009) 2009. 鈥溾. ACS Nano 3 (7): 1735-44. .

Liao, Wei-Ssu, Xin Chen, Tinglu Yang, Edward T Castellana, Jixin Chen, and Paul S Cremer. (2009) 2009. 鈥溾. Biointerphases 4 (4): 80-5. .

Chen, Jixin, Yang-Hsiang Chan, Tinglu Yang, Stacey E Wark, Dong Hee Son, and James D Batteas. (2009) 2009. 鈥溾. Journal of the American Chemical Society 131 (51): 18204-5. .

2008

Shi, Jinjun, Jixin Chen, and Paul S Cremer. (2008) 2008. 鈥溾. Journal of the American Chemical Society 130 (9): 2718-9. .

2007

Liao, Wei-Ssu, Xin Chen, Jixin Chen, and Paul S Cremer. (2007) 2007. 鈥溾. Nano Letters 7 (8): 2452-8.

2006

Guan, X., N. Li, G. Wu, J. Chen, F. Zhang, and N. Guan. 2006. 鈥溾. Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical 248 (1-2). .

2005

Landong, Li, Chen Jixin, Zhang Shujuan, Zhang Fuxiang, Guan Naijia, Wang Tianyou, and Liu Shuliang. (2025) 2005. 鈥淪elective Catalytic Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides from Exhaust of Lean Burn Engine over In-Situ Synthesized Cu-ZSM-5/Cordierite鈥. Environmental Science and Technology 39 (8): 2841-47. .

Zhang, Fuxiang, Ruicai Jin, Jixin Chen, Changzhun Shao, Wenliang Gao, Landong Li, and Naijia Guan. (2025) 2005. 鈥溾. Journal of Catalysis 232 (2): 424-31. .

Li, L.D., J.X. Chen, S.J. Zhang, and N.J. Guan. 2005. 鈥淚n-Situ Synthesis of Binderless ZSM-5 Zeolitic Coatings on Aluminum鈥. Chinese Chemical Letters 16 (2).

Li, L., B. Xue, J. Chen, N. Guan, F. Zhang, D. Liu, and H. Feng. 2005. 鈥淒irect Synthesis of Zeolite Coatings on Cordierite Supports by in Situ Hydrothermal Method鈥. Applied Catalysis A: General 292 (1-2). .

Li, L., J. Chen, S. Zhang, N. Guan, T. Wang, and S. Liu. 2005. 鈥淪elective Catalytic Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides over Cu-TS-1/Cordierite and LaCu-TS-1/Cordierite鈥. Reaction Kinetics and Catalysis Letters 84 (1). .

Guan, X., N. Li, G. Wu, F. Zhang, J. Chen, and N. Guan. 2005. 鈥淣itridation of HZSM-5 and Its Application in Ethylation of Ethylbenzene With Ethanol to Para-Diethylbenzene鈥. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 26 (8).

2004

Zhang, Fuxiang, Jixin Chen, Xiu Zhang, Wenliang Gao, Ruicai Jin, Naijia Guan, and Yuzhuo Li. (2025) 2004. 鈥溾. Langmuir 20 (21): 9329-34. .

Li, Landong, Jixin Chen, Shujuan Zhang, Naijia Guan, Manfred Richter, Reinhard Eckelt, and Rolf Fricke. (2025) 2004. 鈥溾. Journal of Catalysis 228 (1): 12-22. .

Chen, J., T. Chen, N. Guan, and J. Wang. 2004. 鈥淒ealumination Process of Zeolite Omega Monitored By27Al 3QMAS NMR Spectroscopy鈥. Catalysis Today 93-95. .

Wu, S., X. Zheng, J. Chen, H. Zeng, and N. Guan. 2004. 鈥淧reparation and Characterization of Boron-Doping Ruthenium Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis鈥. Catalysis Communications 5 (10). .

Chen, J., E. Liu, Y. Song, L. Li, S. Zhang, and N. Guan. 2004. Improving the Si/Al Ratio of Zeolite Omega by Boron Adulteration. Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis. Vol. 154 A.

Gao, W., J. Chen, X. Guan, R. Jin, F. Zhang, and N. Guan. 2004. 鈥淐atalytic Reduction of Nitrite Ions in Drinking Water over Pd-Cu/TiO2 Bimetallic Catalyst鈥. Catalysis Today 93-95. .

Gao, W., R. Jin, J. Chen, X. Guan, H. Zeng, F. Zhang, and N. Guan. 2004. 鈥淭itania-Supported Bimetallic Catalysts for Photocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate鈥. Catalysis Today 90 (3-4). .

Zhang, F., J. Chen, X. Zhang, W. Gao, R. Jin, and N. Guan. 2004. 鈥溾. Catalysis Today 93-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2004.06.023.

Jin, R., W. Gao, J. Chen, H. Zeng, F. Zhang, Z. Liu, and N. Guan. 2004. 鈥淧hotocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate Ion Drinking Water by Using Metal-Loaded MgTiO3-TiO2 Composite Semiconductor Catalyst鈥. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 162 (2-3). .

2003

Wu, Shan, Jixin Chen, Xingfang Zheng, Haisheng Zeng, Chunming Zheng, and Naijia Guan. (2025) 2003. 鈥淣ovel Preparation of Nanocrystalline Magnesia-Supported Caesium-Promoted Ruthenium Catalyst With High Activity for Ammonia Synthesis.鈥. Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England), no. 19: 2488-89.

Gao, Wenliang, Naijia Guan, Jixin Chen, Xinxin Guan, Ruicai Jin, Haisheng Zeng, Zhiguang Liu, and Fuxiang Zhang. (2025) 2003. 鈥溾. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 46 (2): 341-51. .

Zhang, F., N. Guan, Y. Li, X. Zhang, J. Chen, and H. Zeng. 2003. 鈥淐ontrol of Morphology of Silver Clusters Coated on Titanium Dioxide During Photocatalysis鈥. Langmuir 19 (20). .

Zhang, F., X. Zhang, J. Chen, Z. Liu, W. Gao, R. Jin, and N. Guan. 2003. 鈥淧reparation and Characterization of Ag/TiO2 Nanoparticle Catalyst and Its Photocatalytic Activity鈥. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 24 (11).

Gao, W., R. Jin, J. Chen, X. Guan, H. Zeng, F. Zhang, Z. Liu, and N. Guan. 2003. 鈥淭itania-Supported Pd-Cu Bimetallic Catalyst for the Reduction of Nitrite Ions in Drinking Water鈥. Catalysis Letters 91 (1-2). .

2001

Shan, X., N. Guan, X. Zeng, J. Chen, and S. Xiang. 2001. 鈥淪tudies on Cu-Containing MFI Zeolites by H2-TPR and O2-TPD鈥. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 22 (3).

Shan, X., N. Guan, X. Zeng, J. Chen, S. Xiang, U. Illgen, and M. Baerns. 2001. 鈥淣O Decomposition on Cu-ZSM-5/Cordierite Monolithic Catalyst Samples With Different Si/Al Ratios鈥. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 22 (3).

Chen, J.-X., N.-J. Guan, T.-H. Chen, J.-Z. Wang, B.-H. Li, and P.-C. Sun. 2001. 鈥淪ynthesis and Properties of a Novel Aluminophosphate NK-101鈥. Kao Teng Hsueh Hsiao Hua Heush Hsueh Pao/ Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities 22 (10 SUPPL.).

Facility and In-House Instruments

Shared Facilities

Sharing space with the physical chemistry division, occupying about a third of the 4000 ft^2 lab space and 6 faculty and student offices in new chemistry building east wing of 3rd floor.

  • Wet lab : ~800 ft^2 equipted with benchtops, cabins, and three fume hoods, a laminar flow clean hood, water, sink, and an ultrapure water system.
  • Laser lab: ~400 ft^2 equipted with hang-on power rack, storage, and light control system.
  • PI and Student Offices across the hallway.
  • Have access to chemistry machine shop, chemistry stockroom, physics machine shop, and electronic shop.
  • Have access to NQPI and 黑料视频 shared equipment and facility.

In-House Instruments

  • A super-resolution spectro-microscope is ready for this project. More specifically, the microscope (Nikon TiU) is equipped with four lasers (405, 473, 532, and 635 nm),  a 1.49 NA, 100x, oil-immersion objective (Nikon CFI Apo), a 20x Nikon objective, filter sets, eyepieces, and a -100 oC cooled EMCCD detector (Andor iXon 897U). The working mode can be switched between total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) and Epi-fluorescence wide-field mode.
  • A Raman/AFM/NSOM scanning microscope (AlphaSNOM, Witec GmbH) . This microscope incorporates confocal scanning Raman spectromicroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM),  and near-field scanning optical microscopy together in one microscope. The microscope has been further modified into a 4-蟺 setup with two objectives focusing on the same plain. Several lasers have been connected to the microscope including CW lasers at 405 nm, 532 nm, and 980 nm, and a pulse laser at 532 nm. A high-resolution spectrometer (detector -100 oC) and a fast single-photon avalanche photodiode (APD) detector have been attached. A temperature-control microscope stage is equipped with this microscope. This microscope is obtained from Dr. Richardson, a recently retired colleague of the PI. This instrument is now shared in the physical chemistry division with Dr. Cimatu for teaching and research.
  • An atomic force microscope (MFP 3D AFM, Asylum Research shared with Dr. Cimatu for both teaching and research).
  • A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC shared with Dr. Cimatu for both teaching and research).
  • A fluorometer (Horiba shared with Dr. Cimatu for teaching and research)
  • MATLAB codes for data analysis of single-molecule and single-particle photoluminescence, MATLAB codes for ultrafast TA data global fitting, and PL lifetime fitting have been developed and tested in several publications.
  • A Dynamic light scattering spectrometer (DynaPro).
  • A VASE Ellipsometer (VASE HS-190, tunable wavelengths, also shared for teaching).
  • A single-photon counting spectrofluorometer (the best time resolution is 40 ps).
  • A gold sputter (Denton Vacuum) and a metal thermal evaporator.
  • A Plasma cleaner (Harrick Plasma).
  • Two spin coaters (MTI and Ossila).
  • A solar simulator (Abet).
  • A Keithley 2460 power source meter.
  • A Keithley 6514 electrometer.
  • A regular fluorescence microscope.
  • A UV-Vis spectrometer.
  • Other basic lab equipment such as balances, centrifuges, ovens, furnaces, refrigerators, safety chemical cabinets, sonicators, a probe sonicator, and a Thermo Barnstead E-Pure water purification system.

Teaching and Outreach

Since 2021 Spring we have been practicing a kinetic analysis of COVID-19 spreading over the world as one of the several modules in our Physical Chemistry Laboratory classes CHEM 4540L. Till 2025, the undergraduate students and graduate teaching assistants have published four journal articles on this subject.

Kelle Hart, Chelsea Thompson, Clay Burger, Dylan Hardwick, Amanda Michaud, Abdul H.M. Al Bulushi, Cole Pridemore, Carson Ward, Jixin Chen. . ACS Omega 2021, 6, 43, 29223鈥29232.

Dylan K Smith, Kristin Lauro, Dymond Kelly, Joel Fish, Emma Lintelman, David McEwen, Corrin Smith, Max Stecz, Tharushi D Ambagaspitiya, Jixin Chen. . J. Chem. Educ. 2022, 99, 10, 3471鈥3477

Deepani V Athapaththu, Tharushi D Ambagaspitiya, Andrew Chamberlain, Darrion Demase, Emily Harasin, Robby Hicks, David McIntosh, Gwen Minute, Sarah Petzold, Lauren Tefft, Jixin Chen. . J. Chem. Educ. 2024, 101, 7, 2892鈥2898

Pavithra Ariyaratne, Lumbini P Ramasinghe, Johathan S Ayyash, Tyler M Kelley, Terry A Plant-Collins, Logan W Shinkle, Aoife M Zuercher, Jixin Chen. . Scientific Reports. 2025, in press.

Courses Taught

Repeating the following classes each year

CHEM 3510 Physical Chemistry

Semester: Fall
Year offered: 2023

For premedicine, B.S.Ed., B.S.I.H., and A.B. Chemistry majors. Topics include thermodynamics, thermochemistry, equilibrium, solutions, and kinetics.

CHEM 6950 Research and Thesis

Semester: Summer
Year offered: 2023

CHEM 6950 8915 8950 8980

Semester: Spring
Year offered: 2023

Graduate research.

CHEM 6950 8915 8950 8980

Semester: Spring
Year offered: 2023

Graduate research.

CHEM 4940 4941 4940H

Semester: Spring 
Year offered: 2023

Undergraduate research.

CHEM 4540 and 4540L Physical Chemistry 2

Semester: Spring 
Year offered: 2022

CHEM 5510 Physical Chemistry for online master's program

Semester: Summer
Year offered: 2021

Thermodynamics, kinetics, statistical thermodynamics, and quantum chemistry.

CHEM 4530 and 4530L Physical Chemistry 1

Semester: Spring
Year offered: 2019

CHEM 7950 Special topics in physical chemistry

Semester: Spring
Year offered: 2018

Fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy
Surface and interfacial chemistry