Miao Yu
Assistant Research Professor
JSCBB D1B16
(303) 492-2863
miao.yu@colorado.edu
Curriculum Vitae
Education:
Ph.D., (Chemical Engineering) University of Colorado at Boulder, 2007
BS, (Chemical Engineering) Tianjin University, 1998
Awards:
• Colorado Center of Biorefining and Biofuels (C2B2) Postdoctoral Fellowship (2009)
• American Institute of Chemists Postdoctoral Award, University of Colorado (2008)
• American Institute of Chemists Graduate Award, University of Colorado (2007)
• North American Membrane Society Annual Meeting Student Travel Award (2007)
• Graduate Assistantship in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship (2004~2007)
• University fellowship, Graduate school, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2004)
Selected Publications:
• M. Yu, R.D. Noble, and J.L. Falconer, “Zeolite Membranes: Microstructure Characterization and Permeation Mechanisms”, Accounts of Chemical Research, in press (2011)
• M. Yu, H.H. Funke, J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “H2 Separation using Defect-free, Inorganic Composite Membranes”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133, 1748-1750 (2011)
• M. Yu, H.H. Funke, J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “Gated Ion Transport through Dense Carbon Nanotube Membranes”, Journal of the American Chemical Society 132, 8285-8290 (2010)
• M. Yu, H.H. Funke, J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “High-Density, Vertically-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Membranes”, Nano Letters 9, 225-229 (2009)
• X.H. Liang, M. Yu, J.H. Li, Y.B. Jiang, and A.W. Weimer, , “Ultra-Thin Microporous/ Mesorporous Metal Oxide Films Prepared by Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD)”, Chemical Communications, 7140-7142 (2009)
• M. Yu, J.C. Wyss, R.D. Noble, and J.L. Falconer, “2,2-Dimethylbutane Adsorption and Diffusion in MFI Zeolite”, Microporous & Mesoporous Materials 111, 24-31 (2008)
• M. Yu, S.G. Li, J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “Reversible Hydrogen Storage Using A SAPO-34 Zeolite Layer”, Microporous & Mesoporous Materials 110, 579-582 (2008)
• M. Yu, T.J. Amundsen, M. Hong, J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “A Controllable Nanometer-sized Valve”, Advanced Materials 19, 3032-3036 (2007)
• M. Yu, J.L. Falconer, T.J. Amundsen, M. Hong, and R.D. Noble, “Flexible Nanostructure of MFI Zeolite Membranes”, Journal of Membrane Science, 298, 182-189 (2007)
• M. Yu, J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “Adsorption of Liquid Mixtures on Silicalite-1 Zeolite: a Density-Bottle Method”, Langmuir 21, 7390-7397 (2005)
Research Interests:
Solar cells, Photocatalytic CO2 conversion by sunlight, advanced nanostructures for separations, and aligned carbon nanotube synthesis and novel applications
Dye-sensitized solar cells with novel structures
Electron collection and light harvesting represent two major factors affecting the solar conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We propose to fabricate novel nanostructures of DSSCs, such as multilayered structure and core-shell structure, to dramatically shorten electron transport distance and improve light harvesting, especially at long wavelengths. The study proposed here will lead to better understanding on the structure-property relationship in such DSSCs and can open new possibilities for developing novel structure motifs for high-efficiency DSSCs. This research work is in collaboration with Professor John L. Falconer and Professor Richard D. Noble in Chemical Engineering department and Professor Wei Zhang in Chemistry Department.
Advanced nanostructures for separations
Nanoporous membranes have shown great potential on separating mixtures in an energy-efficient way. Both energy-related mixture separations, such as natural gas purification and alcohol/water separation, and environment-related separations, such as CO2 capture and water treatment, have been widely investigated using membrane based separation processes. My research work in this direction concentrates on developing inorganic composite membranes with engineered nanostructures for various industrially important separations, such as H2 separation in water-gas shift reactor and O2/N2 separation, and for water treatment, such as desalination.
Photocatalytic CO2 conversion by sunlight
Carbon dioxide, as the by-product of many industry processes, has been identified as the main reason for the global warming. Geologic sequestration has been proposed for storing separated CO2. However, another more preferable way is to convert it into fuel using abundant energy source, such as solar energy. The major obstacle preventing efficient photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to fuel is the lack of catalysts that can readily couple solar energy with inexpensive reducing agents, such as water, to achieve rapid and selective cleavage of C-O in CO2 and the formation of C-H bonds in the products. My research interest is focused on synthesis and characterization of novel photocatalysts that can absorb visible light & understanding fundamental reaction mechanisms of photocatalytic CO2 conversion process. Currently, we are investigating photocatalytic activity of a novel, low cost photocatalyst, based on TiO2, for highly efficient CO2 conversion to fuel. In contrast with white TiO2 that absorbs only UV light, band gap of this novel photocatalyst is narrowed by disordering surface structure of TiO2 so they can absorbs significant amount of visible light. By optimizing surface structure of TiO2, introducing appropriate cocatalysts and adjusting reaction conditions, electron-hole pairs generated from visible light can be efficiently utilized in surface reactions for fuel forming from CO2.
Aligned carbon nanotube synthesis and novel applications
We are using CVD to controllably grow aligned carbon nanotubes in order to take advantage of their various superior properties along axial direction, such as fast molecular transport and high thermal conductivity. Specifically, we are interested in fabricating high flux water filter and thermal interfacial materials for electronics cooling.
