Advisor: Ying Diao
Future plans? Building on the expertise I gained from my dissertation on printed thin-film devices, I joined Iridescent Sensors Inc., a startup founded by Prof. Ken Suslick, to develop handheld colorimetric gas sensors for detecting toxic gases, specifically designed for first responders.
Talk about your Ph.D. research. Hierarchical chiral assembly into sophisticated structures is vital for the structural complexity and functional versatility of biological systems. Inspired by the enigma of natural homochirality, the design and construction of artificial chiral hierarchical structures have garnered significant research attention. Recent advances in incorporating chirality into artificial systems
have underscored its potential to elevate their performance to levels akin to those of natural systems. For conjugated polymers, understanding how to introduce and control chirality is critical to unlocking their full potential in future chiral electronics. My PhD dissertation focuses on elucidating the emergence of supramolecular chirality in conjugated polymers within lyotropic liquid crystals (LCs) and its dependence on molecular design and solvent selection. Furthermore, it explores the impact of this chirality on device-relevant properties, such as charge carrier mobility and conductivity upon chemical doping.
What are the applications of your research? This research advances the development of artificial chiral polymer-based systems that efficiently mimic natural ones. Recent progress in integrating chirality into artificial systems has highlighted its potential to enhance performance to levels comparable to those found in nature. Chirality is a fundamental design principle observed across all scales of the universe—from subatomic particles like neutrinos to macroscopic structures such as human appendages and spiral galaxies.
Within this continuum, living organisms exhibit dynamic architectures that facilitate the transfer of chiral information across multiple length scales, essential for efficient biological function. A well-known example is the atomic-level chiral sp³ carbon in nucleic acids and amino acids, which gives rise to the meso-level helical structures of DNA and proteins. This hierarchical organization extends to macroscopic biological structures, resulting in complex, functional, and energy-efficient organisms. Inspired by nature, scientists aim to replicate these intricate chiral assemblies to develop advanced materials, including chiral electronics.
Awards: Selected Finalist for the 2024 AIChE 8A Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium; PPG-MRL Graduate Research Assistantship Award at the Materials Research Laboratory; Robert A. and Eleanor L. Flinn Travel Award; Selected Attendee for 23rd National School on Neutron and X-ray Scattering.
How does it feel to reach this milestone? Completing my PhD with a thesis I am truly satisfied with gives me a deep sense of accomplishment. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside talented researchers at U of I, challenging existing knowledge and contributing to new discoveries.
Major highlight? Being able to generalize the fascinating phenomenon of chirality emerging from achiral conjugated polymers for this entire class of materials that have been studied for five decades is truly rewarding.
Any mentors who were especially impactful in your educational journey? I would like to express my gratitude to my Ph.D. advisor,
Dr. Ying Diao. I am thankful for her confidence in me and for offering me the opportunity to join her group to work on these fascinating molecules. Her insightful scientific discussions have greatly expanded my knowledge and were invaluable to the completion of this thesis. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Toshikazu Miyoshi for his mentorship during my time as a master's student.
Any advice for other graduate students? "Curiosity is a fountain of happiness. Since we are curious, every day is a holiday." Find a type of research that makes your days a holiday.