Overview
Dr. Liu’s research interests are focusing on the chemistry and material science of nanoscale materials. Specific topics in his current research program include: Self-assembly of nanostructures; Preparation and chemical functionalization of single
walled carbon nanotubes; Developing carbon nanotube based chemical and biological sensors; SPM based fabrication and modification of functional nanostructures.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
·
2012 - Present
Chemistry,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Chemistry
·
2008 - Present
Chemistry,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
·
2024 - Present
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science,
Pratt School of Engineering
Bass Fellow
·
2012 - Present
Chemistry,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Recent Publications
Monolithic photonic architecture for volumetric illumination in plasmonic photocatalysis.
Journal Article Nanoscale · March 2026 Recent research in high-temperature photocatalysis is rapidly revealing the unique advantages of using light to augment or replace pure thermal energy in chemical synthesis. However, poor penetration of light into a typical powder catalyst creates a major ... Full text CiteLight-powered ambient-pressure ammonia synthesis using a plasmonic semiconducting catalyst
Journal Article Nano Research · January 1, 2026 Ammonia plays a critical role in our society, not only as the source for fertilizers and other essential chemicals, but also as a promising hydrogen carrier due to its high energy density and ease of storage and transportation. However, the conventional Ha ... Full text CiteA reflection on ‘Size-tunable rhodium nanostructures for wavelength-tunable ultraviolet plasmonics’
Journal Article Nanoscale Horizons · August 21, 2025 Plasmonic photocatalysis presents a novel approach for controlling heat and light, enabling reactions to take place under milder conditions. In 2016, Zhang and co-workers reported a novel approach in synthesizing rhodium nanocubes with desired sizes and su ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
MRI: Track 2 Acquisition of the Thermo Fischer Cryogenic Helios 5 CX DualBeam for Materials Science
EquipmentCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2023 - 2026NRT-HDR: Harnessing AI for Autonomous Material Design
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipants · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2020 - 2026REU SITE: Collaborative Research: Nanoscale Detectives -- Elucidating the Structure and Dynamics of Hybrid Perovskite Systems
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2025View All Grants
Education
Harvard University ·
1996
Ph.D.
Shandong University (China) ·
1990
M.S.
Shandong University (China) ·
1987
B.S.