Yushan Yan
Associate Professor,
Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Professor Yan received his B. S. in Chemical Physics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1988, and his M. S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1995 and 1996, respectively. He came to the University of California, Riverside in 1998 after two years as a Senior Staff Engineer at Allied Signal Inc.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Design, synthesis, and novel applications of zeolite thin films and coatings,patterned films by self-assembly of zeolite nanocrystals, and synthesis of nanostructured materials.
Novel applications of zeolite thin films and coatings: Zeolites are a class of microporous crystalline materials with uniform molecular-sized pores, and have been widely used in powder form as catalysts and separation media. Recently zeolite thin film has been synthesized for membrane and membrane reactor applications. We are interested in extending zeolite thin film and coating technology to some entirely new application areas. For example, we are currently developing: (1) zeolite low-k dielectrics for the next generation computer chips; (2) environmentally friendly corrosion-resistant zeolite coatings for aerospace alloys; and (3) zeolite adsorption heat pumps for waste heat recovery in fuel cell vehicles.
Self-assembly of zeolite nanocrystals: Construction of zeolite structures with specific geometries such as fibers and thin films with designed microstructures and zeolite materials with ordered macropore and mesopore systems promises to improve the separation and catalysis efficiency of zeolites and open doors for zeolites to new applications such as in microelectronic devices. These ordered structures, however, are difficult to obtain by using the standard hydrothermal synthesis approach. We have recently succeeded in demonstrating that complex porous architectures can be fabricated by using zeolite nanocrystals as “building units” through evaporation-driven self-assembly. We are also working on application of zeolite nanocrystals to proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cells for zero-emission automobiles and for gas separation applications.
Synthesis of nanostructured materials: Structures with nanometer dimensions (e.g., nanoparticles and nanowires) are an important class of materials because of their unique optical, electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties and have numerous potential applications. We are currently developing new, simple, and versatile methods to synthesize metal and semiconductor nanoparticles and nanowires. In one project, we have developed a new approach — reverse-liquid-crystal templated electroplating — to prepare metal and semiconductor nanowires.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Yan, Y., Xin, Q., Jiang, S., Guo, X., 1991. “Infrared studies of CO and/or NO adsorption on reduced W/Al 2 O 3 catalysts.” J. Catalysis 131: 234-242.
Yan, Y., Davis, M. E., Gavalas, G. R., 1995. “Preparation of zeolite ZSM-5 membranes by in-situ crystallization on porous a- A l 2 O 3 . Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 34: 1652-1661.
Yan, Y., Davis, M. E., Gavalas, G. R., 1997. Use of diffusion barriers in the preparation of supported zeolite ZSM-5 membranes. J. Membrane Science 126: 53-65.
Yan, Y., Davis, M. E., Gavalas, G. R., 1997. “Preparation of highly selective zeolite ZSM-5 membranes by a post-synthetic coking treatment.” J. Membrane Science 123: 95-103.
Lai, R., Yan, Y., Gavalas, G. R., 2000. “Growth of ZSM-5 films on alumina and other surfaces.” M i c ro p o rous and Mesoporous Materials 37: 9-19.
Huang, L., Wang, Z., Sun, J., Miao, L., Li, Q., Yan, Y., Zhao, D., 2000. “Fabrication of ord e red porous stru c t u res by self-assembly of zeolite nanocrystals.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122: 3530-3531.
Cheng, X., Wang, Z., Yan, Y., 2000. “Corrosion-resistant zeolite coatings.” Submitted.
Associate Professor,
Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Professor Yan received his B. S. in Chemical Physics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1988, and his M. S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1995 and 1996, respectively. He came to the University of California, Riverside in 1998 after two years as a Senior Staff Engineer at Allied Signal Inc.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Design, synthesis, and novel applications of zeolite thin films and coatings,patterned films by self-assembly of zeolite nanocrystals, and synthesis of nanostructured materials.
Novel applications of zeolite thin films and coatings: Zeolites are a class of microporous crystalline materials with uniform molecular-sized pores, and have been widely used in powder form as catalysts and separation media. Recently zeolite thin film has been synthesized for membrane and membrane reactor applications. We are interested in extending zeolite thin film and coating technology to some entirely new application areas. For example, we are currently developing: (1) zeolite low-k dielectrics for the next generation computer chips; (2) environmentally friendly corrosion-resistant zeolite coatings for aerospace alloys; and (3) zeolite adsorption heat pumps for waste heat recovery in fuel cell vehicles.
Self-assembly of zeolite nanocrystals: Construction of zeolite structures with specific geometries such as fibers and thin films with designed microstructures and zeolite materials with ordered macropore and mesopore systems promises to improve the separation and catalysis efficiency of zeolites and open doors for zeolites to new applications such as in microelectronic devices. These ordered structures, however, are difficult to obtain by using the standard hydrothermal synthesis approach. We have recently succeeded in demonstrating that complex porous architectures can be fabricated by using zeolite nanocrystals as “building units” through evaporation-driven self-assembly. We are also working on application of zeolite nanocrystals to proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cells for zero-emission automobiles and for gas separation applications.
Synthesis of nanostructured materials: Structures with nanometer dimensions (e.g., nanoparticles and nanowires) are an important class of materials because of their unique optical, electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties and have numerous potential applications. We are currently developing new, simple, and versatile methods to synthesize metal and semiconductor nanoparticles and nanowires. In one project, we have developed a new approach — reverse-liquid-crystal templated electroplating — to prepare metal and semiconductor nanowires.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Yan, Y., Xin, Q., Jiang, S., Guo, X., 1991. “Infrared studies of CO and/or NO adsorption on reduced W/Al 2 O 3 catalysts.” J. Catalysis 131: 234-242.
Yan, Y., Davis, M. E., Gavalas, G. R., 1995. “Preparation of zeolite ZSM-5 membranes by in-situ crystallization on porous a- A l 2 O 3 . Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 34: 1652-1661.
Yan, Y., Davis, M. E., Gavalas, G. R., 1997. Use of diffusion barriers in the preparation of supported zeolite ZSM-5 membranes. J. Membrane Science 126: 53-65.
Yan, Y., Davis, M. E., Gavalas, G. R., 1997. “Preparation of highly selective zeolite ZSM-5 membranes by a post-synthetic coking treatment.” J. Membrane Science 123: 95-103.
Lai, R., Yan, Y., Gavalas, G. R., 2000. “Growth of ZSM-5 films on alumina and other surfaces.” M i c ro p o rous and Mesoporous Materials 37: 9-19.
Huang, L., Wang, Z., Sun, J., Miao, L., Li, Q., Yan, Y., Zhao, D., 2000. “Fabrication of ord e red porous stru c t u res by self-assembly of zeolite nanocrystals.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122: 3530-3531.
Cheng, X., Wang, Z., Yan, Y., 2000. “Corrosion-resistant zeolite coatings.” Submitted.