Assistant Part Time
Resume:
Zhenjuan Ni
**** *. **** **** **** Apt *** ( Chicago, IL 60615 312-***-**** (
**********@*****.***
SKILLS
Catalyst Chemistry and Engineering: nano-scale heterogeneous catalyst
synthesis; characterization and surface engineering; Schlenk line
apparatus; glove box operations; high-pressure batch reactor; scale up;
micro-kinetic modeling of reaction process; Aspen plus
Analytical Techniques: UV-Vis, GC-MS/GC-FID, fluorescence spectroscopy,
XRD, TEM, SEM, AFM, NMR, APS
Data Analysis and programming: proficient in Fortran programming for
linear/non-linear problems; graduate-level knowledge of probability and
statistics; familiar with statistic software R and SAS; MS word, Excel,
PowerPoint, OriginLab, ChemDraw, Material Studio Modeling, AutoCAD
Collaborative & Managerial: maintenance and trouble-shooting on the PSSC-
Lab super computers in lab; collaboration with external research groups on
multi-disciplinary projects; supervised undergraduate and high-school
students on scientific projects
Language: English (fluent), Mandarin (fluent)
EDUCATION
University of Illinois at Chicago - Chicago, IL
Expected in Oct. 2013
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, emphasis in catalysis Advisor:
Randall Meyer
Nankai University - Tianjin,China
2004-2008
B.S. in Chemistry
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Guest Researcher, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
. Hydrodenitrogenation of 2-methylaniline by Ta heterogeneous catalysts
Sep. 2012-present
. Synthesize Ta catalyst with various supports (alumina, silica,
titania, ceria) as a milder and more selective removal of atomic N
than traditional hydrodenitrogenation catalysts, by adding
Ta(acac)(OEt)4 toluene solution to the supports, stirring for 24 h at
room temperature in glove box followed by calcined at 500 C in
thermal furnace.
. Characterize the catalyst surface structure by solid DRUV-vis, XRD,
TEM to demonstrateprove Ta attached the supports as single site to
successfully cleave the C-N bond.
. Purify reaction solvents (tetradecane) by distilling under reduced
pressure at temperature ~80 C to remove residual water by using
Schlenk line apparatus.
. Investigate the reaction mechanism during hydrodenitrogenation of
quinoline by varying H2 pressure and reagents in high temperature (275
C) high pressure (20 bar) batch reactor; identify the prod ucts by HP
6890 GC-MS and quantify by HP 6890 GC-FID to confirm a high
containment of aromatic products. (in progress)
. Investigate structures of single-site Ta on alumina surfaces to
predict the reaction intermediates by performing quantum chemical
calculations based on density functional theory using the Vienna Ab-
initio Simulation Package (VASP) to better interpret experiment
results.
Advanced Photon Source (APS) User, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
. Selective hydrogenation of acrolein over supported silver and silver
alloy catalysts 2010-2012
. Characterized Ag/Ag-In catalysts for selective hydrogenation of
acrolein using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS) in APS
(advanced photon source facility)
Research Assistant, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
. Fundamental study of the role of surface oxide in NOx storage reduction
catalysts Jun. 2011-present
. Designed and constructed the UHV (10-9 Pa) chamber with mass
spectrometer from Extrel Corporation for temperature programmed
desorption (TPD) experiment for NO chemical behavior on palladium
crystal surface.
. Applied ab initio thermodynamic approach to predict most stable
surface structure under specific thermodynamic (P,T) conditions to
construct a phase-diagram of palladium surfaces for a wide range of H2
and O2 partial pressures.
. Predicted reaction barriers and paths to understand the mechanism of
palladium surface oxide decomposition with hydrogen pressure
increasing by DFT modeling.
. Developing a unique kinetic Monte Carlo code (Fortran/python) for
micro-kinetic modeling of NO oxidation and H2O formation on palladium
surface to explore surface oxide formation and decomposition. (in
progress)
. Manganese Triazacyclononane Oxidation Catalysts Grafted Under Reaction
Conditions on Solid Co-Catalytic Supports
Jan.2010-Dec. 2010
. Successfully predicted structures of grafted organometallics attached
to silica surfaces and the reaction intermediates by DFT modeling to
further understand the role of Manganese Triazacyclononane in
oxidation catalysis process.
Research Assistant, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
. Synthesis of anthraquinone modified cyclodextrin and its interaction
with DNA Sep. 2006 - Jun. 2008
. Synthesized anthraquinone modified cyclodextrin and its
polypseudorotaxane followed by a series of characterization such as
NMR and MS; explored the unique interaction of polyseudorotaxane of
anthraquinone with DNA by UV-vis, AFM.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Aug. 2009 - May 2011
. General Chemistry (weekly lab in the classroom, lecture and discussion)
2009 Fall, 2010 Spring
. Thermodynamics II (weekly discussion and part time lecture)
2010 Fall
. Reaction Engineering (weekly discussion and part time lecture)
2011 Spring
. Chemical Process (weekly discussion and part time lecture)
2011 Spring
PUBLICATIONS
. Z. Ni, J. Jelic, P. Aich, M. Hoffmann, K. Reuter, R. J. Meyer. "NO
oxidation on Pd(100) vs. PdO(?5 ?5)R27 : First-Principles Kinetic Monte
Carlo Study." manuscript in preparation
. Z. Ni, R. J. Meyer. "Water formation on (?5 ?5)R27 PdO(101)-Pd(100)
surface." manuscript in preparation
. Z. Ni, R. J. Meyer. "H2 oxidation at Pd(100): A first-principles
constrained thermodynamics study." manuscript in preparation
. A. J. Schoenfelt, Z. Ni, A. W. Korinda, R. J. Meyer, J. M. Notestein.
"Manganese Triazacyclononane Oxidation Catalysts Grafted Under Reaction
Conditions on Solid Co-Catalytic Supports." J. Am. Chem. Soc, 133 (2011)
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
. Z. Ni, P. Aich, M. Hoffmann, K. Reuter, R. Meyer, "The Role of Surface
Oxides in NOx Storage Reduction Catalysts: A DFT and kMC study" Oral
presentation, 23rd NAM (23rd North American Catalysis Society Meeting),
Louisville, KY, USA, June 2nd - 7th, 2013
. Z. Ni, P. Aich, M. Hoffmann, K. Reuter, R. Meyer, "The Role of Surface
Oxides in NOx Storage Reduction Catalysts: A DFT and kMC study" Poster
presentation, Chicago Catalysis Club 2013 Spring Symposium, Naperville,
IL, USA, May 7th, 2013
. Z. Ni, R. Meyer, "H2 oxidation at Pd(100): A first-principles constrained
thermodynamics study" Poster presentation, AIChE 5th Annual Midwest
Regional Conference, Chicago, IL, USA, Jan. 31th - Feb. 1st, 2013
AWARDS
. Kokes Presenter Award of 23rd North American Catalysis Society Meeting
2013
. The Outstanding Student Awards of Nankai University
2008
. The First-Class Scholarship of Nankai University
2007
. The First-Class Scholarship of Nankai University
2006
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