Contact Info
Research
The research conducted in the Zhong group relies on interdisciplinary applications of polymer science and engineering, synthetic and physical chemistry, catalysis, and materials characterization to address challenges in global health and sustainability. In particular, (macro)molecular design, site-specific modification, and precision characterization are used as tools to solve challenging limitations in these fields, yield basic knowledge of structure-property relationships for materials in specific applications, and generate next-generation materials. Current research interests are centered in: (1) developing scalable methods for the preparation of functional organic and hybrid materials; (2) applying polymeric and polymer-derived carbon materials for energy and environmental applications; (3) combining sophisticated molecular design and analysis techniques to understand complex soft matter behaviors.
Education
B.S. Peking University, 2008
Ph.D. Carnegie Mellon University, 2013
Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013–2016
Honors
- Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, 2022
- 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award, 2020
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2019
- ACS PMSE Young Investigator, 2019
- ACS Petroleum Research Fund Doctoral New Investigator, 2017
- Guy C. Berry Graduate Research Award, Carnegie Mellon University, 2013
- Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad, 2013
- ACS POLY Award for Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research, ACS Polymer Division, 2013
- Astrid and Bruce McWilliams Fellowship, Carnegie Mellon University, 2012
Recent Publications
Xue, Y.; Song, Q.; Liu, Y.; Smith, D.; Li, W.; Zhong, M., Hierarchically Structured Nanocomposites via Mixed-Graft Block Copolymer Templating: Achieving Controlled Nanostructure and Functionality. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 567–577.
Kaneda, M.; Dong, D.; Chen, Y.; Zhang, X.; Xue, Y.; Bryantsev, V.; Elimelech, M.; Zhong, M., Molecular Design of Functional Polymers for Silica Scale Inhibition. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2024, 58, 871–882.
Zhang, X.; Lin, F.; Cao, M.; Zhong, M. Rare Earth–Cobalt Bimetallic Catalysis Mediates Stereocontrolled Living Radical Polymerization of Acrylamides. Nat. Synth.2023, 2, 855–863.
Liang, R.; Song, Q.; Li, R.; Le, A. N.; Fu, X.; Xue, Y.; Ji, X.; Li, W.; Zhong, M., Rapid Access to Diverse Multicomponent Hierarchical Nanostructures from Mixed-Graft Block Copolymers. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202210067.
Liang, R.; Xue, Y.; Fu, X.; Le, A. N.; Osuji, C. O.; Johnson, J. A.; Li, W.; Zhong, M., Hierarchically Engineered Nanostructures from Compositionally Anisotropic Molecular Building Blocks. Nat. Mater. 2022, 21, 1434–1440.
Cao, M.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, X.; Li, F.; Zhong, M., Expanding the Toolbox of Controlled/Living Branching Radical Polymerization through Simulation-Informed Reaction Design. Chem 2022, 8, 1460–1475.
Li, F.; Cao, M.; Feng, Y.; Liang, R.; Fu, X.; Zhong, M., Site-Specifically Initiated Controlled/Living Branching Radical Polymerization: A Synthetic Route Toward Hierarchically Branched Architectures. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 794–799.