Meet the Group

Research Professors

Yosi Kratish

Yosi Kratish

Research Assistant Professor

Email: yosi.kratish@northwestern.edu
Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D in Philosophy, Activation of E-H bonds (E= Pt, Si, Ge, Sn) Using RnM Reagents (M= Li, Mg, Zn, Hg), Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; M.S. in Chemistry, 2013, Israel Institute of Technology; B.S in Chemistry-Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, 2010.

Project Summary: Catalytic chemical recycling of polymers using (a) Supported metal oxides catalysts, (b) Homogeneous catalysts. Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic study of carbon-supported molybdenum-based complexes and single-site supported organometallics catalysts. Study of molecular properties and reaction mechanisms using computational chemistry (DFT).

Adjunct Faculty

Antonio Facchetti

Antonio Facchetti

Adjunct Professor

Email: a-facchetti@northwestern.edu
Website:
www.chemgroups.northwestern.edu/marks/antoniofacchetti.html
Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Industrial Chemistry, 1986, A. Righi Institute (Italy): M.S. in Chemistry, 1993, State University of Milano (Italy): Ph.D. in Chemistry, 1996, State University of Milano (Italy)
Project Summary: Dr. Facchetti’s research interests include organic semiconductors and dielectrics for thin-film transistors, conducting polymers, molecular electronics, organic second- and third-order nonlinearr optical materials, and organic photovoltaics.

Postdocs

Yongjoon Cho

Yongjoon Cho

Postdoc

Email: yongjoon.cho@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. (2016) and M.S.-Ph.D. (2022) in School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, 2022, UNIST (South Korea).

Project Summary: Design and synthesis of Organic Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics: Organic Solar Cells, Perovskite Solar Cells, Organic Field-Effect Transistors, Organic Electrochemical Transistors, Photo Catalysts, and Related Fields.

Giacomo Forti

Giacomo Forti

Postdoc

Email: giacomo.forti@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, University of Siena (2015). M.S. in Organic Chemistry, University of Firenze (2015). Visiting scholar, CNRS, Rouen (2018).

Project Summary: Design and Synthesis of novel electron acceptor polymers for organic solar cells

Lin Huang

Lin Huang

Postdoc

Email: lin.huang@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S in Chemistry, 2012, in Nanjing University; Ph.D in Chemistry, 2017, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Project Summary: Heterogeneous catalysis, Supported organometallics, Polymerization/Depolymerization.

 

Qingheng Lai

Qingheng Lai

Postdoc

Email: qingheng.lai@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S in Chemistry, 2013, in Nanjing University;
Ph.D in Chemistry, 2021, Texas A&M University.

Project Summary: Depolymerization catalyzed by supported early transition metals.

 

Qing Ma

Qing Ma

Postdoc

Email: QingMa@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Polymer Material and Engineering, 2014, in Beijing Technology and Business University; Ph.D. in Material Physics and Chemistry, 2022, in University of Chinese Academy of Science.

Project Summary: Inorganic/organic electrolyte gated transistor for advanced circuits and bio-medical applications.

 

Liwei Ye

Liwei Ye

Postdoc

Email: liwei.ye@northwestern.edu

 Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2022, University of Southern California; B.S. in Chemistry, 2017, University of Oregon.

Project Summary: Chemical recycling/upcycling of polymers using organometallic catalysis.

Yao Yao

Yao Yao

Postdoc

Email: yao.yao@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, 2016, Southwest Petroleum University​; Ph.D. in Biosystem Engineering, 2021, Zhejiang University.

Project Summary: Organic electrochemical transistors for biological applications.

 

Qi Zhao

Qi Zhao

Postdoc

Email: qi.zhao1@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2023, City University of Hong Kong.

Project Summary: Chemical recycling of polymers to build a better world.

 

Visiting Scholars

Deniz  Çakal

Deniz Çakal

Visiting Scholar

E-mail: denizcakal@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S in Chemistry, Middle East Technical University (2011), M.S in Chemistry, Middle East Technical University (2014), Ph.D in Chemistry, Middle East Technical University (2021). 

Project Summary: Design and Synthesis of Organic Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics: Organic Field-Effect Transistors, Organic Electrochemical Transitors and Organic Solar Cells.

Lin Gao

Lin Gao

Visiting Scholar

E-mail: lin.gao@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Applied physics, 2019, Hebei University of Technology.

Project Summary: Organic electrochemical transistors for bioelectronic applications.

Yifan Wang

Yifan Wang

Visiting Scholar

E-mail: yifan.wang2@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Polymer Science and Engineering,2011,Qingdao University of Science and Engineering. Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry and Physics School, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2016 

Project Summary: Device engineering in organic solar cells, flexible and stretchable organic semiconductors.

Dayong Zhang

Dayong Zhang

Visiting Scholar

E-mail: dayong.zhang@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Optical Engineering, 2016, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC).

Project Summary: Organic semiconductors, organic and perovskite solar cells, organic and perovskite photodetectors.

Graduate Students

Amol Agarwal

Amol Agarwal

Graduate Student

Email: l4e6a5@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees and Institutions: B.S. in Chemical Engineering and B.S. in Chemistry, 2020, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Project Summary: Novel catalytic materials for polymer deconstruction and hydrocarbon activation

Kristen Beckett

Kristen Beckett

Graduate Student

Email:  kristenbeckett2026@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.A. in Chemistry, 2021, Franklin & Marshall College 

Project Summary: Homogeneous organometallic catalysis for C-H activation using f-block elements.

Anushka Dasgupta

Anushka Dasgupta

Graduate Student

Email: dasgupta@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S.E. in Chemical and Biological Engineering, 2019, Princeton University.

Project Summary:Optoelectronic properties of chemically modified two-dimensional materials.

Isaiah Duplessis

Isaiah Duplessis

Graduate Student

Email: isaiahduplessis2026@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, B.S. in Physics, 2020, University of Richmond

Project Summary: Investigation of electronic and optical properties in heteroanionic films

Carter Edenfield

Carter Edenfield

Graduate Student

Email: WilsonEdenfield2024@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, B.S. in Mathematics, 2019, Univ. of South Carolina

Project Summary: Single-site supported organometallics for hydrogenation, polymerization, and depolymerization of olefinic materials.

Zhiyu "Clifford" Feng

Zhiyu "Clifford" Feng

Graduate Student

Email: zhiyufeng2027@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Physics, 2022, Wake Forest University

Project Summary: Organometallic catalysts for polymer recycling.

Brendan Kerwin

Brendan Kerwin

Graduate Student

Email: brendankerwin2023@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2018, Georgetown University

Project Summary:Chemical modification of 2D materials for optoelectronic applications.

Zach Liu

Zach Liu

Graduate Student

Email: zql@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2019, New York University; M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering, 2022, Stanford University

Project Summary: Novel electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Seongjin Park

Seongjin Park

Graduate Student

Email: seongjinpark2028@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: M.S in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, 2020, Yonsei University

Project Summary: Solid state organic electrochemical transistors for biological applications.

Yuang Wang

Yuang Wang

Graduate Student

Email: yuangwang2028@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.A. in Chemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, 2023, Johns Hopkins University

Project Summary: Synthesis of organometallic catalyst.

Yuyang Wang

Yuyang Wang

Graduate Student

Email: yuyangwang2026@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2021, Pennsylvania State University

Project Summary: Focusing on side-chain engineering on organic electrochemical transistors and possible applications.

 

 

Xinrui Zhang

Xinrui Zhang

Graduate Student

Email: xinruizhang2025@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2018, Wuhan University; M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering, 2020, Stanford University

Project Summary: heterogeneous catalysts for selective soft oxidative methane coupling

Summer Interns

Hannah Boler

Hannah Boler

Graduate Student

Email: hannah.boler@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: M.Ed Curriculum and Instruction, Boston College, 2023, B.S. Chemistry, Loyola University Chicago 2021

Project Summary: Synthesis of ionic electrolytes and polymers for organic electrochemical transistors. Connect synthesis and research of polymers in the laboratory to high school general chemistry curriculum. 

Graeme Pugsley

Graeme Pugsley

Summer Intern

Email: graemepug@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemical Engineering, 2025, Florida State University

Project Summary: Characterization of polyurethane decomposition products via molybdenum catalyst

Alumni

Sol Ahn

Sol Ahn

Post-Doc

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. (2008) and M.S. (2010) in Chemical Engineering, Yonsei University (South Korea); Ph.D in Chemical Engineering, 2019, Northwestern University
Project Summary: Catalyst design and modification by atomic layer deposition (ALD) for the dry reforming of methane.

Joaquin Alzola

Joaquin Alzola

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.A in Chemistry, Cornell University
Project Summary: Development of new small molecule acceptors for organic photovoltaic and electronic applications.

Sam Amsterdam

Sam Amsterdam

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2014 Carnegie Mellon University
Project Summary: Applications of two-dimensional nanomaterials in solar energy production.

Allison Arinaga

Allison Arinaga

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2017, Ursinus College
Project Summary: Heterogeneous oxidative coupling methane using sulfur as an oxidant.

 

Chris Barger

Chris Barger

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2013, University of Georgia
Project Summary: Organolanthanide-catalyzed hydroelementation of carbon-heteroatom multiple bonds

Cole Carter

Cole Carter

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: BS in chemistry, 2016, University of Caifornia San Diego
Project Summary: Investigation of electronically communicating metal centers in multinuclear complexes bearing redox active ligands and their reactivity in homogeneous catalysis.

Hongming Chen

Hongming Chen

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: M.S. in Material Engineering, 2014, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; B.S. in Material Science and Engineering, 2011, Xiamen University.
Project Summary: Organic thin film transistors, organic light emitting transistors and organic light emitting diodes.

Jianhua Chen

Jianhua Chen

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S.(2011) and Ph.D. (2016), Xiangtan University, China.
Project Summary: Synthesis of novel organic semiconductors for organic photovoltaics and field-effect transistors.

Yao Chen

Yao Chen

Post-Doc

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D in Chemistry, 2018, Sichuan University.  B.S. in Chemistry, 2013, Hubei University of Arts and Science (China).
Project Summary: Development of Inorganic/organic functional materials and their applications in optoelectronics.​

Christian Contreras

Christian Contreras

Postdoc

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. (2011) in Chemical Engineering University of California, Riverside, M.S. (2013) in Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University and Ph.D (2022) in Chemistry, Northwestern University.
Project Summary: Catalytic study of carbon-supported molybdenum-based  catalysts for polymer deconstruction.

Rachel Dicken

Rachel Dicken

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: BS in Chemistry, Ohio State University
Project Summary: Design and synthesis of novel chiral ligands for organolanthanide catalyzed asymmetric hydroelementations.

Brian Eckstein

Brian Eckstein

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.A. in Economics, 2010, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Project Summary: My current research focuses on synthesis of novel molecules for organic photovoltaics and organic transistors.

Liang-Wen Feng

Liang-Wen Feng

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2012, Sichuan University: Ph.D in Chemistry, 2017, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, under supervision of Prof. Yong Tang (SIOC, CAS)
Project Summary: Organic photovoltaic and semiconducting materials’ synthesis.

Yanshan Gao

Yanshan Gao

Research Assistant Professor

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D in Chemistry, 2012, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, under co-supervision of Prof. Yong Tang (SIOC, CAS) and Zuowei Xie (CUHK); B.S. in Chemistry, 2007, Shandong University.
Project Summary: Olefin polymerization, lubricant and lubricant additives synthesis and applications, organometallic chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis, supported organometallics, atomic layer deposition (ALD) precursor design and synthesis, new Lewis acids, and hydroelementation with organolanthanide catalysts.

Chunling Gu

Chunling Gu

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2003, Sichuan University: Ph.D in organic Chemistry, 2008, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, under co-supervision of Prof. Yongjun Chen, and Li Liu
Project Summary: Organic photovoltaic and semiconducting materials’ synthesis

Minglu Huang

Minglu Huang

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D in Materials Science and Technology, 2017, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, under supervision of Prof. Bingyong Han; B.S. in Polymer Science and Technology, 2012, Jinan University.
Project Summary: Functionalized polyolefin via group 4 metal-catalyzed direct copolymerization.

Wei Huang

Wei Huang

Research Assistant Professor

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D in​ Optical Engineering, 2016, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC); B.S. in Physics, 2010, Nankai University (China)
Project Summary: Flexible, stretchable electronics; Advanced Li-ion batteries; Thin-film transistors based on organic and metal oxide materials and their functionalities; Organic light-emitting diodes, organic and Perovskite solar cells.

Jaehyun Kim

Jaehyun Kim

Postdoc

Email: jaehyun@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. (2013), M.S. (2015) and Ph.D in​ Electrical and Electronics Engineering, 2020, Chung-Ang University (South Korea).

Project Summary: Optoelectronic devices based on nanomaterials including thin-film transistors, sensors, and photodetectors; Flexible/wearable electronics and photo/image sensor arrays based on quantum dots, organic, and metal-oxide for biomedical and imaging applications.

Guoping Li

Guoping Li

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2017, Sichuan University
Project Summary: Synthesis and Characterization of Organic Semiconducting Materials for Polymer Photovoltaics and Electronics.

Jiaqi Li

Jiaqi Li

Postdoc

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2015, Peking University (China)
Project Summary: Supported metal oxides for biomass conversion.

Patrick Littlewood

Patrick Littlewood

Post-Doc

Previous Degrees & Institutions: MEng (2011) University of Manchester, UK
PhD (2015) Technische Universität Berlin, Germany.
Project Summary: Synthesis and modification of Ni heterogeneous catalysts by atomic layer deposition for the dry reforming of methane.

Shanfu Liu

Shanfu Liu

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S in Chemistry, 2014, Nankai University (China)
Project Summary: Oxidative coupling of methane using sulfur as a “softer” and more selective oxidant.

Yiqi Liu

Yiqi Liu

Graduate Student

Email: Yiqiliu2023@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Biochemistry, 2018, University of Richmond

Project Summary: Catalytic study of carbon-supported molybdenum-based catalysts.

Alexander Mason

Alexander Mason

Graduate Student

Email: alexandermason2022@u.northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B. S. Chemistry Kennesaw State University (2018)

Project Summary: Single-site supported organometallics for hydrogenation, polymerization and depolymerization of olefinic materials.

Robert Pankow

Robert Pankow

Postdoc

Email: robert.pankow@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2020, University of Southern California; M.S. in Chemistry, 2015, California State University, Northridge; B.A. in Chemistry, 2012, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Project Summary: Design and synthesis of conjugated polymers for organic photovoltaics.

Fei Qin

Fei Qin

Postdoc

Email: fei.qin@northwestern.edu

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2015, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST); Ph.D. in Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, 2020, HUST.

Project Summary: Organic semiconductors, transparent electrodes, flexible organic solar cells.

 

 

Jake Rothbaum

Jake Rothbaum

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, 2016, University of Georgia
Project Summary: Organometallic-catalyzed C-H activation of heterocyclic molecules using f-block elements.

Aritra Sil

Aritra Sil

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions:  B.S. in Chemistry, 2014 Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Project Summary: Anion Doping in Metal Oxides Semiconductors.

Daniele Malpicci

Daniele Malpicci

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, University of Milan (2017). M.S. in Chemistry Science, University of Milan (2019)
Project Summary: Design and synthesis of new polymer for organic solar cells

Katie Stallings

Katie Stallings

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Biochemistry, 2011, Georgia Institute of Technology
Project Summary: Materials synthesis and fabrication of field-effect transistors.

Ning Su

Ning Su

Post-Doc

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D in Chemistry, 2019, Nanjing University. M.S. in Chemical Engineering, 2016, Xiangtan University. B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Technology, 2012, Zhoukou Normal University.
Project Summary: Organic photovoltaic and organic light-emitting diodes.

Steven Swick

Steven Swick

Graduate Student

Previous Degrees & Institutions:B.S. in Chemistry, 2014, Western Washington University; M.S. in Chemistry, 2017, Yale University.
Project Summary: Synthesis of Organic Semiconducting Materials for Soft Matter Photovoltaics and Electronics

Elisa Trippodo

Elisa Trippodo

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, University of Palermo (2013). M.S. in Chemistry of Molecular Systems, University of Palermo (2015). Visiting scholar, University of Vienna (2017).
Project Summary: Organic Solar Cells: Additives for the improvement of the performance of organic and hybrid photovoltaic devices.

Gang Wang

Gang Wang

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in  Electronic Science and Technology, 2016, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
Project Summary: Thin-film transistors based on organic and metal oxide materials.

Yang Wang

Yang Wang

Post-Doc

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D in Organic Chemistry, 2017, University of Illinois at Chicago, with Prof. Vladimir Gevorgyan; M.S. in Organometallic Chemistry, 2011, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, under supervision of Prof. Zuowei Xie; B.S. in Chemistry, 2008, Wuhan University, under supervision of Prof. Qinghua Fan (ICCAS, China)
Project Summary: Group 4 bimetallic and hetero-bimetallic chemistry and polymerization catalysis.

Zhi Wang

Zhi Wang

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: Ph.D in Materials Science with Prof. Yi Gu, 2013, Sichuan University (China); Associate research scientist in SABIC, 2014; Currently, Associate professor at North University of China (China).
Project Summary: Development organic materials and applications of metal oxides to field-effect transistor.

Jianglin Wu

Jianglin Wu

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Applied Chemistry, 2015, School of Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, M.S. in Organic Chemistry, 2018, Sichuan University
Project Summary: Synthesis of novel organic semiconductors for organic photovoltaics.

Chi Zhang

Chi Zhang

Intern

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Chemistry, Expected 2023, University of Science and Technology of China
Project Summary: Heterogeneous and homogeneous organometallic catalysis for polymer recycling/upcycling.

Xiaohua Zhang

Xiaohua Zhang

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Optical Information Science and Technology, 2015, Qufu Normal University.
Project Summary: Organic semiconductors, organic and perovskite photodetectors, morphology control in thick-film organic solar.

Dan Zhao

Dan Zhao

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Material science and engineering, 2013, Taiyuan University of Technology.
Project Summary: Organic semiconductors, organic light-emitting diodes, organic and perovskite photodetectors.

Ding Zheng

Ding Zheng

Research Assistant Professor

Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Electronic Science and Technology​, 2013, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
Project Summary: Organic semiconductors, metal oxides, carbon nano-materials and their application in organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells.

Xinming Zhuang

Xinming Zhuang

Visiting Scholar

Previous Degrees & Institutions:B.S. in Electronic Science and Technology​, 2014, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
Project Summary: Thin-film transistors based on organic and metal oxide materials and their sensors.