Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Michal Marszewski, Ph.D.

Professional Background:

Military University of Technology, Poland, M.Sc., 2010
Kent State University, Ph.D., 2016
University of California, Los Angeles, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2016-2020

Research Interests: 

Research interests in our group focus on nanomaterials for energy and environmental applications that address societal problems of the impending climate change, depletion of current fuel sources, and increasing need for on-the-go energy supply. 

Research Synopsis: 

Students in Marszewski Research Group develop novel synthesis paradigms to unlock new and exciting opportunities in the field of nanomaterials. Currently, we focus on nanoporous materials made of metal oxides, metals, semiconductors, and other interesting inorganics. Nanopores are pores with sizes of less than 100 nm (10,000x smaller than the width of a human hair) that provide extremely large internal surface area and pore volume. Just one teaspoon of nanoporous material can pack a surface area of the same size as a whole football field. As a result, nanopores greatly enhance performance of materials in applications involving material’s surface. Applications that pique our interest include: (i) production of green fuels by catalytic or photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ and CO, (ii) production of H₂ by photocatalytic splitting of H₂O, (iii) capture and storage of CO₂ and H₂ in porous adsorbents, and (iv) energy storage in batteries and supercapacitors. We constantly improve or invent new nanomaterials to address the growing needs of these applications and progress society toward better future.

Students enthusiastic about design, synthesis, and characterization of nanomaterials are encouraged to apply to our group.