Research Bio

Neil Razdan is an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. His lab's research centers on the development of thermochemical and electrochemical catalytic energy technologies. Realizing atom- and energy-efficient strategies for the industrial-scale production of fuels and chemicals requires an improved understanding of catalysis in new reaction media (e.g., molten salts) and with recalcitrant sources of carbon (e.g., CH4 and plastic waste). To this end, they leverage fundamental concepts in chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry to elicit precise mechanistic information in complex catalytic systems geared towards enabling carbon circularity. Molecular-level clarification of catalytic reactivity is accomplished through operando measurement and control of chemical potentials of elusive catalytic participants (e.g. surface intermediates) using electrochemical, spectroscopic, and chemical transient methods. These experimental studies are complemented with the application and development of rigorous analytical formalisms of reaction kinetics and mass transport.

Their current research projects include the following:

1. Molten salt mediated conversion of methane and plastic waste into high-value fuels and chemicals
2. Electrochemical management of H and O atom intermediates at catalytic solid-liquid and solid-gas interfaces

Research Expertise and Interest

catalysis, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics