Zhan Chen

The Chen lab conducts interdisciplinary research in analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, applied physics, nanotechnology, and macromolecular science and engineering using advanced spectroscopic and imaging tools.

Understanding molecular surface/interface structures of polymers and proteins is important in many applications and processes, such as biomaterial design, anti-biofouling control, adhesion in packaging materials and biological systems, modern micro- and nano-electronic devices, nano-imprinting, and biosensing. We are investigating molecular level interfacial structures of polymers and proteins used in such application by using state-of-the-art techniques including sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle goniometry, Raman spectroscopy and imaging, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. We are also utilizing the open-lab facilities around campus to supplement these methods. Particularly, we are currently working on the following projects related to polymer and biological interfaces:

• Surface immobilized peptides and proteins for antimicrobial coating, biosensing, and biofuel production.
• Molecular interfacial behavior of antibody drug molecules and their impact on drug activity
• Interfacial structure – function relationships of start-of-the-art marine anti-fouling coating materials
• Molecular interfacial structure of polymer adhesives and adhesion mechanisms
• Interfacial behavior of reversible polymer adhesives
• Oil-water separation and interfacial protein and surfactant behavior at water/oil interfaces
• Molecular structures of semiconducting polymers at interfaces in solar cells and other microelectronics
• Interfacial structures of polymers used in battery applications
• Interactions between 2D materials and biological molecules as well as semiconducting polymers

In addition to the above research projects on surfaces/interfaces, we are also investigating degradation mechanisms of micro-plastics for environmental protection. This is an environmental chemistry project involves the use of a variety of analytical tools including ATR-FTIR, Raman imaging, Mass-spectrometry, nano-indentation, thermal analysis, SEM etc. and is in collaboration with other groups in biological sciences and engineering departments.

Beside fundamental research, we have extensive collaborations with industry including Dow Chemical, BASF, PPG, P&G, Intel, IBM, Texas Instruments, Sanofi, BMS, and others. These collaborations provide students with key networking opportunities to further their careers.

Representative Publications

1. T. Lu, W. Guo, P. M. Datar, Y. Xin, E. N. G. Marsh, Z. Chen, “Probing protein aggregation at buried interfaces: distinguishing between adsorbed protein monomers, dimers, and a monomer–dimer mixture in situ”, Chem. Sci. 13, 975–984 (2022)
2. H. Huang, C. Zhang, R. Crisci, T. Lu, H. –C. Hung, M. S. J. Sajib, P. Sarker, J. Ma, T. Wei, S. Jiang, Z. Chen, “Strong Surface Hydration and Salt Resistant Mechanism of a New Nonfouling Zwitterionic Polymer Based on Protein Stabilizer TMAO”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143 (40), 16786–16795 (2021)
3. J. Andre, D. Rossi, Z. Chen, “Elucidating Molecular Mechanisms of Two-Dimensional Chemical Reactions”, Chem 7 (10), 2548-2550 (2021)
4. B. Li, J. S. Andre, X. Chen, B. Walther, R. Paradkar, C. Feng, C. Tucker, C. Mohler, Z. Chen, “Observing a Chemical Reaction at a Buried Solid/Solid Interface in-Situ”, Anal. Chem. 92, 14145–14152 (2020)
5. C. A. D. Grosso, C. Leng, K. Zhang, H. –C. Hung, S. Jiang, Z. Chen, J. J. Wilker, “Surface Hydration for Antifouling and Bio-adhesion”, Chem. Sci. 11, 10367-10377 (2020)
6. S. Wei, X. Zou, J. Tian, H. Huang, W. Guo, Z. Chen, “Control of Protein Conformation and Orientation on Graphene”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 141, 20335-20343 (2019)
7. M. Xiao, T. Lu, T. Lin, J. S. Andre, Z. Chen, “Understanding Molecular Structures of Buried Interfaces in Halide Perovskite Photovoltaic Devices Nondestructively with Sub-monolayer Sensitivity Using Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy”, Adv. Energy Mater. 10, 1903053 (2019)
8. M. Xiao, S. Wei, J. Chen, J. Tian, C. L. Brooks III, E. N. G. Marsh, Z. Chen, “Molecular Mechanisms of Interactions between Mono-layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenides and Biological Molecules”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 141, 9980-9988 (2019)
9. X. Zou, S. Wei, S. Badieyan, M. Schroeder, J. Jasensky, C. Brooks, E. N. Marsh, Z. Chen, “Investigating the Effect of Two-point Surface Attachment on Enzyme Stability and Activity”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 140, 16560–16569 (2018)
10. S. Badieyan, Q. Wang, X. Zou, Y. Li, M. Herron, N. Abbott, Z. Chen, E. N. Marsh, “An Engineered Surface-immobilized Enzyme that Retains High Levels of Catalytic Activity in Air", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 139, 2872-2875 (2017)
11. M. Xiao, S. Joglekar, X. Zhang, J. Jasensky, J. Ma, Q. Cui, L. J. Guo, Z. Chen, “Effect of Interfacial Molecular Orientation on Power Conversion Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 139, 3378–3386 (2017)
12. X. Zou, S. Wei, J. Jasensky, M. Xiao, Q. Wang, C. L. Brooks III, Z. Chen, “Molecular Interactions between Graphene and Biological Molecules”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 139, 1928–1936 (2017)

Research Areas(s)

Analytical Chemistry

Physical Chemistry

Materials Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry
Bioanalytical Chemistry
Biophysical Chemistry
Nano Chemistry
Optics and Imaging
Sensor Science
Surface Chemistry
Sustainable Chemistry

Award(s)

• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2018
• Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2018
• Senior Editor, Langmuir, 2018-
• Top Ten Most Highly Prolific Authors for Langmuir, 2017
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2004
• Beckman Young Investigator Award, 2003
• Dow Corning Assistant Professorship, 2003

Additional Research Area

• Biomaterial and Polymer Surfaces, Biocompatibility, Vibrational Spectroscopy, Lasers