Grace Cheng
Conference Travel Grant
Please provide the tile and a brief summary of your research/conference presentation.
Title: SPOTs — High Throughput Synthesis and Screening for Transition Metal Nitride Catalysts Summary: SPOTs (surface patterned omniphobic tiles) is a technique that allows the discovery of efficient mixed transition metal nitride catalysts that could be applied to important chemical processes such as ammonia production. Compared to the current industrial ammonia production process, nitrogen reduction reactions catalyzed by mixed transition metal nitrides could be significantly more efficient and environmentally friendly. In addition, the challenge in synthesizing and screening these materials with numerous combinations (up to the thousands and beyond!) lends well to a high-throughput technique. In this project, SPOTs was developed to create and test a library of mixed transition metal nitride catalysts synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in mild nitrogen environments. The products have the potential to not only boost the efficiency but also mitigate the environmental impact of industrial chemical processes.
What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
Ammonia production and many other chemical processes create critical products for our everyday lives; however, they contribute to a significant percentage of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. As a chemical engineering student, I have always been passionate about seeking more environmentally friendly alternatives for current industrial chemical processes. When I learned about the SPOTs technique and how it could be used to discover efficient catalysts for heterogeneous reactions such as nitrogen reduction to ammonia, I was excited to optimize and standardize this novel procedure.
What conference(s) did you present at and how did you find out about them?
I presented at the National Undergraduate Research Conference (NCUR) held in Long Beach. It appeared to be one of the most inclusive and high-level research conferences for undergraduate students when I was looking for opportunities to share my research project.
What was it like presenting at a conference? Anything that you didn’t expect?
It was a fascinating experience telling the story of my research work, engaging with the audience, and learning from the other presenters from across the country. One thing I wasn’t expecting was how diverse people’s research areas could be, which manifests the importance of establishing a solid knowledge background of my work and minimizing jargons during my presentation. I also learned to stay open-minded to allow inspiration to take place at these wonderful opportunities.
Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in presenting at a conference one day?
Don’t be afraid to apply for presenting at a conference! All great research projects deserve to be heard and seen.