Molecular Catalysis Lab

Research Interests

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My general research interests are in the synthesis and characterization of heterogeneous catalysts. The synthesis side my work is focused on the development of novel synthesis methods that allow for the precise control of the chemical and physical properties of heterogeneous catalytic materials, including morphology and corresponding catalytic properties. In my work, I utilize a wide array of chemical and spectroscopic characterization techniques of the thus prepared catalytic catalyst materials. To this end, I have been developing a set of test reactions to monitor the activities of certain catalytic sites (with acid-base properties, oxidation-reduction activities, etc.), and apply various spectroscopic methods and other physicochemical methods during reaction tests in order to understand the correlation between catalyst structure and reactivity. My main expertise is in ultrahigh field solid state NMR spectroscopy, and have also been using synchrotron-based spectroscopic tools (XANES, EXAFS, XRD), as well as TEM, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Combining catalyst synthesis with both physical and chemical characterization can bring us closer to designing new, highly active and selective catalytic materials.

 

Education

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Ph. D. (1993.3-1996.2)      Department of Chemistry, KAIST, Taejon, Korea

              Thesis: “Synthesis and Characterization of Titanium Aluminosilicate Zeolites”

              Adviser: Professor Ryong Ryoo

 

M.S. (1991.3-1993.2)         Department of Chemistry, KAIST, Taejon, Korea

              Thesis: “Solid State NMR Study of Cu2+ Exchanged Faujasite-type Zeolites”

              Adviser: Professor Ryong Ryoo

 

B.S. (1983.3-1987.2)          Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

 

Experience

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2013.2 – present Associate Professor, UNIST, Korea

2007.1-2013.1 Senior Research Scientist I and II, PNNL, Richland WA USA

2005.1-2006.12 Research Scientist, PNNL, Richland WA USA

2002.3-2004.12 Postdoctoral fellow, PNNL, Richland WA USA

1996-2002 Senior Research Scientist, LG Chem. Ltd., Taejon, Korea

1987-1991 Research Scientist, KOLON Ltd., Kumi, Korea.

 

Relevant Publications

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[1] Ja Hun Kwak, Jian Zhi Hu, Do Heui Kim, Janos Szanyi, Charles H.F. Peden “Penta-coordinated Al3+ ions as preferential nucleation sites for BaO on γ‑Al2O3:  an Ultra-high Magnetic Field 27Al MAS NMR study” Journal of Catalysis 251 189(2007).

[2] Ja Hun Kwak, Jianzhi Hu, Donghai Mei, Cheol-Woo Yi, Doheui Kim, Charles H.F. Peden, Lawrence F. Allard and Janos Szanyi, “Coordinatively unsaturated Al3+ centers as binding sites for active catalyst phases of platinum on γ-Al2O3” Science 325 1670 (2009).

[3] Ja Hun Kwak, Russell Tonkyn, Do Heui Kim, Janos Szanyi and Charles H.F. Peden, “Excellent activity and selectivity for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 on Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst” Journal of Catalysis 275 187(2010).

[4] Ja Hun Kwak, Donghai Mei, Janos Szanyi, Chuck H.F. Peden and Roger Rousseau, “(100) facets of γ-Al2O3: the active surfaces for alcohol dehydration reactions” Catalysis Letters 141 649 (2011).

[5] Ja Hun Kwak, Jian Zhi Hu, Romulus V. Turcu, Kevin M. Rosso, Eugene S. Ilton, Chongming Wang, Jesse. A. Sears, Mark H. Engelhard, Andrew R. Felmy, and David W. Hoyt, “The Role of H2O in the Carbonation of Forsterite in Supercritical CO2” International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 5 1081 (2011).

[6] Ja Hun Kwak, Haiyang Zhu, John H. Lee, Charles H.F. Peden, János Szanyi, “Two different cation positions in Cu-SSZ-13?” Chemical Communications 48 4758 (2012).

[7] Ja Hun Kwak, Jong H. Lee, Sarah D. Burton, Andrew S. Lipton, Charles H.F. Peden, János Szanyi,”A common intermediate in N2 formation in enzymes and zeolites: Side-on Cu-nitrosyl complex” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 52 9985 (2013).