Dr Linxiao Chen

UNT Faculty Profile Link

Research Group Website: https://www.linxiao-chen.com/ 

 

Dr. Chen earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University in China and then his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Indiana University in 2019. After graduation he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory before becoming an Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Akron in 2023. Dr. Linxiao Chen joined the UNT faculty in 2025.

Research Area:

• Catalysis

Research:

The Chen group studies heterogeneous catalysis to build a sustainable future. We couple chemical and engineering approaches to decipher the science behind catalytic reactions that tackle rising challenges related to energy and environment, such as plastic recycling, hydrogen storage/release, biomass conversion, and small-molecule activation.
We use and develop state-of-the-art spectroscopic, kinetic, and synthetic tools to understand how catalyst surfaces look like during the reaction at the atomic level, and how molecules react on them. We attempt to address questions in regard to WHY catalysts work, WHAT structures are responsible for the reactivity, and HOW to steer the behaviors of molecules. Based on these fundamental scientific principles, we rationally design next-generation catalytic materials and processes.

Dr. Chen's CV