WKU Research Spotlight
The Advanced Materials Institute houses a variety of instrumentation that is used
in faculty, staff, and student research across Ogden College of Science & Engineering.
Click on the below links to learn more.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, this project looks to characterize and recover
rare earth elements and elements of interest in coal combustion residual wastewater
and solid wastes associated with coal power generation.
According to an American Coal Ash Association (ACAA) 2021 survey report, 77.3 million
short tons of coal combustion resides (CCRs) were produced in the U.S. from utility
companies from which 30.8 million short tons of CCRs were stored or disposed of in
landfills or surface impoundments. The physical and chemical properties of CCRs make
them uniquely suitable as replacements for materials used in many products, including
concrete, cement, wallboard, and agriculture. CCRs also contain various metals and
minerals, including rare earth elements (REEs) and elements of interest (EOIs), which
are key components of modern electronics, batteries, vehicles, and clean-energy technologies.
AMI is working on the characterization of the REEs and EOIs as a function of coal
type, combustion type, and CCR storage type for partnered coal fired power plants
by ICP-MS. This information will be used by Lehigh University to develop an extraction
method for REEs and EOIs in wastewater, solid wastes, and leachate.
My research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and exploration of new inorganic materials and their applications. One project investigates the design, synthesis, and structure-property relationships of metal-amino acid/oligopeptide frameworks, which serve as biomimetic heterogeneous catalysts for carbon dioxide hydration under diverse reaction conditions. Efficient CO₂ capture is essential for mitigating climate change, stabilizing atmospheric carbon levels, and enhancing carbon sinks.
Another project examines photocatalytic systems composed of metal-complex sensitizers linked to active centers with open metal sites. The photocatalytic efficiency of these materials can be significantly improved by facilitating electron separation between the sensitizer complexes and the reactive centers, thereby enhancing their overall performance.
Dr. Rui Zhang's research focuses on developing novel oxidative transformation methods inspired by the ubiquitous cytochrome P450 enzymes. The ultimate goal is to gain deeper insight into key biological oxidation reactions involving high-valent metal-oxo intermediates and to discover highly efficient, enzyme-like oxidation strategies. Our current efforts in bio-inspired catalysis are directed toward developing photochemical methods that harness abundant solar energy within a catalytic cycle—advancing the field of photocatalysis.
Research in Dr. Li's group focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of fluorescent sensing and stimuli-responsive behaviors and exploring their potential applications in our life. Students in Dr. Li's group can gain knowledge and skills in organic chemistry and material chemistry, including both small molecules and polymer synthesis, functional materials preparation, as well as property characterization techniques like NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis/fluorescent spectroscopy, polymer chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry.
Mechanical Engineer student Matthew Muse investigating the properties of several commercially available disc golf discs for a Facutly Undergraduate Student Engagement (FUSE) project, blending his interest engineering and his passion for disc golf. His research involved tensile testing in accordance with ASTM D638 standards, with samples prepared by both laser cutting and die cutting. To investigate how plastic composition influences mechanical performance, with the help of AMI staff Matt conducted chemical analyses of the discs using FTIR, CHN, ICP-OES, and TGA techniques. Matt’s work culminated in a peer-reviewed manuscript and conference poster presentation at the 2024 ASME IMECE conference in Portland, Oregon. WKU’s Advanced Materials Institute was instrumental in this work; the project would not have been as successful without the Institutes support and the expertise if the staff.
