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By:听Qinghe (Angela) Zheng, Senior Scientist, Johnson Matthey

Qinghe听(Angela) Zheng is a Senior Scientist in Global Gasoline Development group, Clean Air Division at Johnson Matthey, Wayne PA. She received her PhD in Environmental Engineering from Columbia University in 2016, where she worked with Prof. Robert Farrauto with a focus on environmental catalysis. Upon graduation, she joined RTI International as a postdoc scientist, followed by a promotion to research chemical engineer, when she worked on materials development for various energy and environmental applications.听

In early 2020, she joined Johnson Matthey as a staff scientist, followed by her recent promotion to senior scientist. Currently at JM, she is working on catalyst research and development for automotive emissions abatement. She has published 14 first- and co-authored articles on peer-reviewed journals, filed various patent applications, and delivered more than a dozen presentations at major research conferences and meetings in her field.

She is currently serving as program chair for Catalysis Club of Philadelphia (CCP), and she is an active member of American Chemical 中国365bet中文官网 (ACS) and听the听American Institute of Chemical Engineers听(AIChE). She has also been constantly invited to serve as peer reviewer for journals, proposals, competitions; technical session chair and abstract reviewer for major research conferences; and journal editorial board member.听

What experience first led to your interest in chemistry?

I have听developed interest in exploring听science and nature since I was a little kid, and I听was听lucky to be raised听by听a family that always encourages creative thinking. I remember my parents听used to take听me to a听lake听full of beautiful lotus flowers in the summer. I was especially impressed by the phenomenon that听the听water droplets听did not wet the surface of the lotus leaves. Later I learned that what I observed was听previously discovered as the 鈥渓otus effect鈥�, which refers to the ultra-hydrophobicity of the micro-nanostructured surface of听the听leaves, and high contact angle between a water drop and听the surface, leading a 鈥渟elf-cleaning鈥澨齟ffect听of the surface.听Scientists have developed听polymer听coating materials partially inspired by this unique听natural听property.听My next thought then was: can I听also become a scientist who is able to create听materials听with听unique properties听for potential听useful听applications?听Over decades-long study, I have become certain about my true听research and career interests听in materials听chemistry, and I鈥檓 proud听for听eventually becoming a scientist working on catalyst听and material听development.

Tell听us听a little bit听on听how you entered your current research area. What is your current role at Johnson Matthey?听

During my PhD at Columbia University, I was beyond grateful to work with Prof. Robert Farrauto, who has not only led me to the amazing world of catalysis, but also taught me how to become a real scholar and researcher. My main PhD research project was industrial sponsored, on mechanisms of deactivation and regeneration of automotive three-way catalysts. In the project, various catalyst compositions at different aging/regeneration conditions were investigated, while a matrix of characterization methods were designed to examine the correlations between reaction conditions and catalyst physiochemistry properties.

Meanwhile, I also worked on another couple of projects, including one on methane emission abatement from natural gas vehicles, in which we invented an effective approach for sustained catalyst performance by onboard catalyst regeneration via reforming reaction. My PhD experience has laid a solid foundation for my methodology development for doing catalysis research.

During my first job as a researcher at RTI International, I got a chance to work with a group of talented scientists on multiple material projects (catalysts, sorbents, functional materials, etc.) for various energy and environmental applications. One project was on novel mixed oxide material development, in which we discovered some specific perovskite compositions with outstanding redox properties, and potential application as oxygen storage materials for automotive and air-separation applications.

Another interesting project was on biomimetic oxygen sorbent development for room-temperature air-separation, in which I tried synthesizing more than a hundred organometallic materials for oxygen-selective sorption. The unique research experience has expanded my horizon for materials development.听

Currently at Johnson Matthey, I鈥檓 working on catalyst product development for automotive emissions control. JM is a leading supplier for automotive catalyst in the world, with 1 in 3 cars on road equipped with JM鈥檚 catalytic converter and 20 million tons of pollutants stopped by JM鈥檚 emission control catalyst each year. I鈥檓 very excited that I can now turn my catalysis and materials knowledge and expertise into practice, for making the world a cleaner place.

The best piece of professional advice you have to offer to early career听professionals?听

1. Look forward, be ready to take the next challenge, and be brave to get out of your comfort zone

The way I stay productive in my work and research is always looking for the next听challenging project/material idea/experimental task/collaboration opportunity, while I鈥檓 working on my current ones. Sometimes it鈥檚 a听total听new research area/experimental method that you鈥檝e never tried, but you can always learn from literature and other people鈥檚听work and听try your own experiments to prove concept. By听collaborating听with other people, not only听can you听accelerate your project progress and expand your project scope, but you can also improve your project management skills for your career development.听

2. Plan ahead, either long-term or short-term

Planning ahead听is extremely important for me, throughout every aspect of my life.听The very first step of planning is setting a goal, for your education/career/research听project/experiments, etc. The next step is to think about how to achieve this goal with a听proposed听method and听at least one听back-up听one听if it does not work. Then听lay out detailed tasks and give time estimates听on individual tasks听and overall picture. Finally,听execute听your plan and modify听it听only if you can improve it.

What do you like to do away from work?

I love hiking, biking,听reading,听and traveling. I enjoy good music and I听also sing and听play听piano/keyboard myself. I began learning ballet a couple years ago, and I do oil painting sometimes on the weekend.

This article has been edited for length and clarity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the view of their employer or the American Chemical 中国365bet中文官网.

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