Xiaofei Zhang
337 Merkert, 2609 Beacon St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467; email: xiaofei.zhang@bc.edu Tel: 662-816-5775
Education Background
The University of Mississippi
Organometallic Chemistry
Ph.D
2013
GPA=4.0/4.0
Advisor: Prof. T. Keith Hollis
―Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Pt Complexes with Pincer
CCC-bis(NHC) Ligands‖
Wuhan University
Physical/Electrochemistry
M.S.
2007
GPA=3.7/4.0
Advisor: Prof. Hanxi Yang
―Synthesis and Characterization of Tin-based anodes for Li-ion battery‖
Wuhan University
Applied Chemistry
B.S.
2005
GPA=3.5/4.0
Advisor: Prof. Yuliang Cao
―Research of Sn series anode materials for lithium battery‖
Appointments
10/2013—present
Postdoctoral Researcher, Chemistry Department
Boston College
Design and conduct research projects independently, assist laboratory management and leadership, prepare
and publish scientific manuscripts, broaden the scope and methodology of current research with new expertise.
Research interests: synthesis of organometallic compounds, catalysis, N-heterocyclic carbene chemistry,
redox active ligands, non-noble metal catalysis, characterization of paramagnetic complexes.
01/2010—08/2013
Research Assistant,
Chemistry Department
University of Mississippi
Carry out research project, publish research articles, provide intellectual contribution, maintain laboratory
operation, and assist junior group members.
01/2008—12/2009
Teaching Assistant,
Chemistry Department
University of Mississippi
Lecture, advise, and supervise undergraduate students performing general chemistry and organic chemistry
laboratory experiments.
Supervisor: Dr. John, F. Wiginton.
08/2007—12/2007
Laboratory Assistant,
Chemistry Department
Mississippi College
Organize, maintain, and troubleshoot instruments and laboratory for teaching and research purpose.
Supervisor: Dr. Edward J. Valente.
10/2003—06/2007
Instrumental maintenance manager/Research Assistant, Wuhan Univeristy
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot instruments (PXRD, SEM, TEM, electrochemical station) for research
purpose.
Supervisor: Dr. Yuliang Cao
Honor, Prize and Experience
2012
2010
2010
2009
ACS Graduate Student Research Award 1st place
Graduate Achievement Award in University of Mississippi (limited up to 18 nominees annually)
―The Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis (CENTC)‖ at Seattle, Washington.
Invited to ―Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society‖ every year ever since.
Publication
Patent:
 Air-Stable Blue Light Emitting Chemical Compounds, T. Keith Hollis and Xiaofei Zhang. US patent filed on
10/19/2010 as SN PCT/US10/53273.
Journal articles:
 Investigation of Electron Donating/Accepting Properties of Phenyl Bridged Bis-N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)
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pincer ligand. Xiaofei Zhang, Bei Cao, Edward J. Valente, T. Keith Hollis, in preparation.
Synthesis, Characterization and Simulations of a Mixed-Metal Cluster Containing Pt-Ag2 Cyclometalpropane,
Xiaofei Zhang, Bei Cao, Edward J. Valente, T. Keith Hollis. Organometallics, 2013, 32 (3), 752–761. (editor
highlighted on the journal‘s homepage; ―most read‖ article since ASAP)
Synthesis, Air-stability, Photo-bleaching, and DFT Modeling of Blue Light-Emitting Platinum
CCC-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Pincer Complexes, Xiaofei Zhang, Ashley M. Wright, Nathan J. DeYonker, T.
Keith Hollis, Nathan I. Hammer, Charles Edwin Webster, Edward J. Valente, Organometallics, 2012, 31,
1664-1672. (―most read‖ article since ASAP)
Synthesizing LiFePO4 cathode material by a route of polyacrylates-pyrolysis-reduction, Yu Li hong, Cao Yuliang,
Zhang Xiaofei, Yang Hanxi, Ai Xinping. Electrochemistry 2006, 4(11): 442-444.
Research background
Research Skills:
 Establishing and carrying out research projects independently based on available resources.
 Modifying synthetic and analytic procedures to achieve better cost efficiency.
 Validation of method and establishing standard operation procedures (SOP).
 Synthesis and characterization of designed chemicals; carry out air/water sensitive reactions.
 Optimization of reaction conditions and work-up procedures to achieve better purity and yield.
 Synthesis of nanostructures: chromium trioxide, titanium dioxide, ferric oxide, LixMn2O4, doped LiNixCo(1-x)O2,
LiFePO4, MoS3, sulfur composite, Sn-P-Ti and Sn-Co electrode materials.
 Polymerization process, reverse micelle and sol-gel preparation.
 Computational simulation; Handling radioactive materials; Generating publishable research reports.
Conferences and Posters
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MS EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) 2011.
SERMACS (ACS Southeast Regional Meeting) 2010. ‗Air-Stable, Blue Light-Emitting Group 10
CCC-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Pincer Complexes‘
CENTC (Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis) 2010 summer workshop.
MS EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) 2010. ‗Potential Substrates for
Nanotube Fabrication and Computational Simulation—CCC-NHC Pincer Supported Group 10 Metal Complexes‘
SERMACS (ACS Southeast Regional Meeting) 2009. ‗Synthesis and Characterization of a CCC-NHC Pincer
M(II) Complex‘
Services
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Judge for the Regional Science Fair (Lower Fair), Wednesday, March 24 2010
Global Ambassador 2010 at Ole Miss
International Student Representative on Student Affairs Committee 2010
Computer
Familiar with both current hardware and software; webmaster of ―The Hollis‘ Research Group‖ and ―The Byers‘
Research Group‖ page.
http://server.chem.olemiss.edu/hollis-group/index.html ; http://capricorn.bc.edu/ByersGroup/