Rongchao Jin

Professor, Chemistry

Area of Expertise

Chemical Processes, Energy Storage

Education

1999–2003     Ph.D. Chemistry, Northwestern University

Research

Research includes the chemical synthesis, X-ray crystallographic structure determination, and catalytic application of atomically precise metal nanoclusters. This unique class of materials provides opportunities for tailoring the catalytically active sites at the single-atom and single-electron level. Also in areas involving nanoscience, nanoparticles, synthesis, catalysis, and optics.

Projects

NANOPARTICLES: SMALL WONDERS, ENDLESS FRONTIERS

Our research focuses on fundamental science and engineering questions motivated by the creation of materials on the nanometer scale (1 nm=10^-9 m). Our research themes include the synthesis, characterization, and applications of nanoparticles (typically 1-100 nm in size). We are developing chemical methods for synthesizing well defined nanoparticles, including atomically precise nanoclusters, shape- and size-controlled nanocrystals, hybrid nano-architectures, and inorganic/polymer nanocomposites. In-depth characterizations of the physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles and self-assembled nanomaterials are carried out with microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, such as electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray crystallography, steady-state and ultrafast spectroscopies, etc. We also develop applications of nanoparticles in areas of catalysis, optics, chemo- and bio-sensing, and photovoltaics, etc.

Publications

Molecular “surgery” on a 23-gold-atom nanoparticle
Qi Li, Tian-Yi Luo, Michael G. Taylor, Shuxin Wang, Xiaofan Zhu, Yongbo Song, Giannis Mpourmpakis, Nathaniel L. Rosi, Rongchao Jin, Science Advances, 2017, 3 (5) DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1603193

Shuttling single metal atom into and out of a metal nanoparticle
Wang, S., Abroshan, H., Liu, C., Luo, T.-Y., Zhu, M., Kim, H.J., Rosi, N.L., Jin, R. Nature Communications, 2017, 8 (1), art. no. 848,

Emergence of hierarchical structural complexities in nanoparticles and their assembly
Zeng, C.; Chen, Y.; Kirschbaum, K.; Lambright, K. J.; Jin, R. Science 2016, 354, 1580–1584.

Highly Efficient Three-Component Coupling Reaction Catalysed by Atomically Precise Ligand-Protected Au₃₈(SC₂H₄Ph)₂₄ Nanoclusters
Li, Q.; Das, A.; Wang, S.; Chen, Y.; Jin, R. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 14298–14301.

(Invited review) Atomically Precise Colloidal Metal Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles: Fundamentals and Opportunities
Jin, R.; Zeng, C.; Zhou, M.; Chen, Y. Chem. Rev. 2016, 116, 10346–10413.

Evolution from the Plasmon to Exciton State in Ligand-Protected Atomically Precise Gold Nanoparticles
Zhou, M.; Zeng, C.; Chen, Y.; Zhao, S.; Sfeir, M. Y.; Zhu, M; Jin, R. Nature Communications 2016, 7, 13240.

Atomic Structure of Self-Assembled Monolayer of Thiolates on a Tetragonal Au₉₂ Nanocrystal
Zeng, C.; Liu, C.; Chen, Y.; Rosi, N. L.; Jin, R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 8710–8713. (Featured in JACS Spotlights)

Ultrasmall Palladium Nanoclusters as Effective Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Zhao, S.; Zhang, H.; House, S. D.; Jin, R.; Yang, J.; Jin, R. ChemElectroChem 2016, 3, 1225–1229.

Controlling the Atomic Structure of Au₃₀ Nanoclusters by a Ligand-Based Strategy
Higaki, T.; Liu, C.; Zeng, C.; Jin, R.; Chen, Y.; Rosi, N. L.; Jin, R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 6694–6697.

Heavily doped Au_25–xAg_x(SC₆H₁₁)₁₈^– nanoclusters: silver goes from the core to the surface
Li, Q.; Wang, S.; Kirschbaum, K.; Lambright, K.; Das, A.; Jin, R. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 5194–5197.

Effects of single atom doping on the ultrafast electron dynamics of M₁Au₂₄(SR)₁₈ (M = Pd, Pt) nanoclusters
Zhou, M.; Qian, H.; Sfeir, M. Y.; Nobusada, K.; Jin, R. Nanoscale 2016, 8, 7163– 7171.

Gold Quantum Boxes: On the Periodicities and the Quantum Confinement in the Au₂₈, Au₃₆, Au₄₄ and Au₅₂ Magic Series
Zeng, C.; Chen, Y.; Iida, K.; Nobusada, K.; Kirschbaum, K.; Lambright, K.; Jin, R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 3950–3953. (Featured in JACS Spotlights)