Biosketch

Dai has made fundamental contributions to nanosciences especially to novel carbon-based nanomaterials. Dai developed widely adopted chemical vapor deposition for carbon nanotubes; invented the first electrical nanosensors using nanotube transistors; pushed nanotube transistors to the ballistic limit; pioneered nano-carbon biological applications for novel imaging and therapy; and invented new electrocatalysts and the aluminum-ion battery. Dai was born May 2, 1966, in Shaoyang City, Hunan Province of China and is a naturalized US citizen. He received a BS degree in Physics from Tsinghua University in 1989, a MS degree in Applied Sciences from Columbia University in 1991, and a PhD in Applied Physics/Physical Chemistry from Harvard University in 1994. Dai is the J. G. Jackson and C. J. Wood Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University. He is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Among other awards, Dai has received the APS James McGroddy Prize for New Materials, the ACS Pure Chemistry Award and the MRS Mid-Career Researcher Award.

Research Interests

Hongjie Dai's laboratory is interested in bridging the disciplines of chemistry, physics, materials sciences, electrical engineering and medicine through nanosciences and novel materials. Examples of his group's work include the synthesis and application of novel carbon nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoribbons. The high quality of these materials has broadly facilitated studies of the intrinsic physical properties of carbon nanotubes. Dai has an interest and track record on demonstrating important functions of nanomaterials, including the development of nanotube electronic nanosensors, ballistic nanotube transistors and biological and medical tool sets for drug delivery and novel imaging modalities. Dai is interested in chemical functionalization of nano-carbon materials including Pi stacking chemistry on carbon nanotubes and graphene. Dai is currently at the frontier of biological imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) to suppress photon scattering, thus achieving deep tissue fluorescence imaging. Dai is also exploring original directions and contributing to solving energy problems. His laboratory invented the aluminum ion battery and is continuing to make new breakthroughs in energy related science and technology.

Membership Type

Member

Election Year

2016

Primary Section

Section 14: Chemistry