University of South Dakota

Dr. Wang received his B.S. degree in 2000 from Peking University (China). He then went on to pursue his graduate study at the University of South Florida (Tampa) and received his PhD degree in Inorganic Chemistry in 2006. He did his postdoctoral work at U.C. San Diego before joining the chemistry department at the U in July, 2010.

Inorganic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Supramolecular Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry

The general theme of our research is to discover molecules with unique structure and function. We are especially interested in applying a molecular building block approach to design supramolecular materials such as coordination polymers, metal-organic frameworks, and organic or metal-organic polyhedra. These supramolecular assemblies display a range of hierarchical structural features that mimic biological systems such as proteins and DNA and they are expected to exhibit functional properties that are not matched by their molecular precursors. We aim to explore these materials for a number of applications, particularly in the areas of alternative energy and environment, two of the greatest challenges facing the society today. Currently we are actively pursuing: 1) porous materials capable of selective gas adsorption (e.g., hydrogen storage and carbon dioxide capture); 2) supramolecular catalysts that activate small molecules (e.g., carbon dioxide reduction); 3) smart materials that respond to external stimuli (e.g., sensing and drug delivery).

• Ph D, Inorganic Chemistry, University of South Florida, 2006
• BA, Chemistry, Peking University, 2000

• Wang, Z., Tanabe, K. K., Cohen, S. M., Tuning Hydrogen Sorption Properties of Metal-Organic Frameworks by Postsynthetic Covalent Modification, Chemistry--A European Journal, vol. 16, iss. 1, pp. 212-217.
• Garibay, S. J., Wang, Z., Cohen, S. M., valuation of Heterogeneous Metal-Organic Framework Organocatalysts Prepared by Postsynthetic Modification, Inorganic Chemistry , vol. 49, iss. 17, pp. 8086-8091.
• Wu, C., Rathi, M., Ahrenkiel, S. P., Koodali, R., Wang, Z., (2012), Facile synthesis of MOF-5 confined in SBA-15 hybrid material with enhanced hydrostability, Chemical Communications, vol. 49, pp. 1223-1225.
• Dai, F., Wang, Z., (2012), Modular Assembly of Metal-Organic Super-Containers Incorporating Sulfonylcalixarenes, Journal of The American Chemical Society, vol. 134, pp. 8002-8005.

• Wang, Z. (2012, November). From Metal-Organic Frameworks to Metal-Organic Super-Containers: Nanoporous Materials for Clean Energy Applications. Presented at the NSF EPSCoR Planning Workshop, USD Campus.
• Wang, Z. (2012, October). From Metal-Organic Frameworks to Metal-Organic Super-Containers: Nanoporous Materials for Clean Energy Applications. Presented at the CUBED Mini-Workshop, USD Campus.
• Wang, Z. (2012, August). Metal-Organic Super-Containers (MOSCs): A New Family of Microporous Materials. Presented at the ACS Symposium on Metal Organic Frameworks for Energy Applications, 244th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
• Wang, Z. (2012, March). Azo-Containing, Stimuli-Responsive Porous Coordination Solids for Selective Gas Adsorption. Presented at the ACS Symposium on CO2 Capture, Conversion and Utilization, 243rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, CA.
• Wang, Z. (2011, November). Hydrogen Storage in Metal-Organic Frameworks. Presented at the PANS Catalysis Group Seminars, USD.
• Wang, Z. (2010, September). Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Beyond: A Bottom-Up Approach to Functional Materials.
• Wang, Z. (2010, June). Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Materials: Small Pores Solving Big Challenges.
• Wang, Z. (2010, February). Performing Organic Reactions on Crystalline Solids: A Post-Synthetic Modification Approach to Functionalization of MOFs.