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Abstract:
　　Heterogeneous catalysis is critical for the prosperity of human civilization. It provides access to the range of chemicals, materials, and fuels we use. Understanding and controlling catalytic processes are essential for developing improved energy storage and conversion technologies. Towards the long-term vision of precisely controlling active sites, our group has developed methods to coat nanoparticle catalysts with crystalline nanoporous materials, metal-organic-framework (MOF) and inorganic zeolite-based shells. The precise molecularly-defined pores intrinsic to the MOFs and zeolites provide a new mechanism to control the interaction between reactants undergoing catalytic transformations on the surface of the nanoparticles. We combine composition and facet controlled nanoparticles with precisely tuned pore structures to manipulate the diffusion, sorption, orientation, and conformation of the reactant molecules during the reaction. Our initial catalysis data demonstrate the new core-shell catalysts exhibit molecule-size-selective reactivity.

Biosketch:
　　Chia-Kuang Tsung is an assistant professor of Chemistry at Boston college. His research focuses on three topics: (1) fundamental understanding of heterogeneous catalysis; (2) Hierarchical microporous materials for heterogeneous catalysis; (3) Lattice strain controlled electrochemistry catalysis. He has authored and co-authored more than 51 publications, including Nat. Chem., Nat. Mater., JACS, Accounts Chem. Res., Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit., with the H-index of 31.