Biography
Chong earned his B.S. in chemistry from Fudan University, China, in 2008, and a Ph. D in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2013 under the supervision of Peidong Yang. His thesis focused on artificial photosynthesis that uses solar energy to synthesize selective chemicals. He continued his career at Harvard University, working with Daniel Nocera as a Lee Kuan Yew postdoctoral fellow. At Harvard, he developed inorganic/bio hybrid systems of solar-driven CO2 and N2 fixation with the efficiencies higher than natural counterparts.
Since 2017, the Liu group at UCLA is an inorganic chemistry lab with specific interests in electrochemical systems for energy, biology, and environments. Combining our expertise in inorganic chemistry, nanomaterials, and electrochemistry, we aim to address some of the challenging questions in catalysis, energy conversion, CO2/N2 fixation, and microbiota. The research focus includes advanced bioelectrochemical systems of CO2/N2 fixation as well as electrochemical nanodevices enabling the study of biological, medical, environmental applications.
In his free time, Chong plays bridge and computer games (4X and rogue-like). He also enjoys hiking and camping with friends and family.
Publications
1. “Efficacy analysis of compartmentalization for ambient CH4 activation mediated by RhII metalloradical in nanowire array electrode”, Natinsky, B. S.; Jolly, B. J.; Dumas, D. M.; Liu, C.; Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 1818−1825.
2. “Ambient methane functionalization initiated by electrochemical oxidation of a vanadium (V)-oxo dimer”, Deng, J.; Lin, S.-C.; Fuller, J.; Iñiguez, J. A.; Xiang, D.; Yang, D.; Chan, G.; Chen, H. M.; Alexandrova, A. N.; Liu, C., Nature Commun., 2020, 11, 3686
3. “Machine-Learning Enabled Exploration of Morphology Influence on Wire-Array Electrodes for Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation”, Hoar, B. B.; Lu, S.; Liu, C., J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2020, 11, 4625−4630.
4. “A solution catalytic cycle of incompatible steps for ambient air oxidation of methane to methanol”, Natinsky, B.; Lu, S.; Copeland, E.; Quintana, J.; Liu, C., ACS Cent. Sci., 2019, 5, 1584−1590.