FACULTY HIGHLIGHT - NUS Chemistry · This annual publication introduces you to our faculty ......

2017 / 2018

FACULTY HIGHLIGHT

Printed in Singapore.

Copyright©2017. All rights reserved by NUS Department of Chemistry.

FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS2017 / 2018

by

Department of Chemistry

Faculty of Science

National University of Singapore

Singapore

2017

Table of Contents

03Head’s Foreword

Management Team

Faculty Members

Faculty Research Areas

16 Research Highlights

2017/2018

75 Teaching Staff

(Instructors and Teaching Assistant)

77 Chemical, Molecular & Materials Analysis Centre

Student Associations

Chemistry is becoming ever more diverse and multidisciplinary in effort, spanning into a

broad range of research fields in engineering, science, materials and medicine. Today, it

constitutes an important pillar of Singapore’s economy and fuels our nation’s industry

and R&D efforts.

The NUS Department of Chemistry has grown in tandem, with our emphases shifting

from the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, to new

niche areas such as materials chemistry, chemical biology and green energy sources.

Today our department employs more than 50 research-oriented faculty members,

supported by 50 administrative and technical staff. We also operate a centralized

instrumentation facility CMMAC that provide access to state-of-the-art equipment and

technologies for materials characterization and analyses.

This annual publication introduces you to our faculty members and provides you a

glimpse into their expertise and achievements. I hope this publication will pique your

interest into their research work and will catalyse collaborations and intellectual

exchanges with other like-minded researchers like yourself.

Happy reading!

Richard Wong Ming Wah

Professor and Head of Chemistry, NUS

20 October 2017

3

Head’s Foreword

MANAGEMENT TEAM

4

Department Management Team

Professor Wong Ming Wah, Richard

Head of Department

Associate Professor Chen Wei

Deputy Head

Research and Enterprise

Associate Professor Fan Wai Yip

Deputy Head

Education

Associate Professor Ang Wee Han

Deputy Head

Administration and Student Life

Associate Professor Zhao Yu

Assistant Head

Research

Associate Professor Chua Lay Lay

Assistant Head

Postgraduate Programme

Professor Zhou WeibiaoDirector

Food Science and TechnologyProgramme

Management Council

Professor Wong Ming Wah, Richard (Chair)

Professor Loh Kian Ping

Professor Lu Yixin

Professor Jagadese J. Vittal

Professor Xu Guo Qin

Associate Professor Ang Siau Gek

Associate Professor Lam Yulin

Associate Professor Lai Yee Hing

MANAGEMENT TEAM

5

Emeritus Professor

Ang How Ghee

Goh Suat Hong

Huang Hsing Hua

Kiang Ai Kim

Professor

Steven Lynn Bernasek

Lee Hian Kee

Li Fong Yau, Sam

Liu Xiaogang

Loh Kian Ping

Lu Yixin

Jagadese J. Vittal

Thorsten Wohland

Wong Ming Wah, Richard

Wu Jishan

Xu Guo Qin

Yao Shao Qin

Zhou Weibiao

Associate Professor

Ang Siau Gek

Ang Wee Han

Ryan Phillip Anthony Bettens

Chan Yin Thai

Chen Wei

Chi Chunyan

Chin Wee Shong

FACULTY MEMBERS

6

FACULTY MEMBERS

7

Associate Professor

Chua Lay Lay

Chuah Gaik Khuan

Fan Wai Yip

Gao Zhiqiang

Huang Dejian

Huynh Han Vinh

Stephan Jaenicke

Kang Hway Chuan

Lai Yee Hing

Lam Yulin

Liu Shao Quan

Christian Albertus Nijhuis

Suresh Valiyaveettil

Thomas Walcyzk

Simon Watts

Xu Qing-Hua

Yip Hon Kay, John

Zhang Chun

Zhao Yu

Assistant Professor

Chng Shu Sin

Goki Eda

Ge Shaozhong

Kim Jung Eun

Lu Jiong

Tan Zhi Kuang

Wu Jie

FACULTY MEMBERS

8

Assistant Professor

Yang Hongshun

Yeo Boon Siang, Jason

Rowan Drury Young

Senior Lecturers and Lecturers

Chan Sau Han Edith

Chui Sin Yin, Stephen

Foo Maw Lin

Hoang Truong Giang

Adrian Michael Lee

Liu Mei Hui

Linda Sellou

Tan Sue Qing, Emelyn

Xu Hairuo

Zhang Sheng

Teaching Staff

Chen Litai, Jeremiah

Chong Yuan Yi

Fung Fun Man

Michael Yudistira Patuwo

Tan Wee Boon

Thyagarajan Saradha

Ong Yue Ying

FACULTY MEMBERS

9

Adjunct Faculty Members

Professor Chua Sin Bin (Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority)

Professor Jackie Ying (Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology)

Associate Professor Li Xu (Institute of Materials Research and Engineering)

Associate Professor Ong Kheng Chuan, Peter (KH Roberts)

Associate Professor Anders Poulsen (Experimental Therapeutic Centre)

Associate Professor Su Xiaodi (Institute of Materials Research and Engineering)

Associate Professor Nikodem Tomczak (Institute of Materials Research and Engineering)

Associate Professor Mahesh Uttamchandani (DSO National Laboratories)

Associate Professor Zong Yun (Institute of Materials Research and Engineering)

Assistant Professor Joanne Chan Sheot Harn (Health Sciences Authority)

Assistant Professor Hung Wei Alvin (Experimental Therapeutic Centre)

Assistant Professor Lim Lic-Kiam, Lincoln (Abbot Nutrition)

Assistant Professor Ng Man Fai (Institute of High Performance Computing)

Assistant Professor Michael Sullivan (Institute of High Performance Computing)

Assistant Professor Takuya Sato (Kikkoman Singapore R&D Laboratory)

Assistant Professor Tan Yen Nee (Institute of Materials Research and Engineering)

Assistant Professor Wang Fuke (Institute of Materials Research and Engineering)

Assistant Professor Xu Jianwei (Institute of Materials Research and Engineering)

Lecturer Klement Foo Jihao (Experimental Therapeutics Centre)

Lecturer Tan Song Wei, Benjamin (Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences)

10

Professor Lee Hian Kee

Professor Li Fong Yau, Sam

Professor Thorsten Wohland

Associate Professor Gao Zhiqiang

Associate Professor Simon Watts

Associate Professor Thomas Walczyk

Associate Professor Xu Qing-Hua

Assistant Professor Yeo Boon Siang, Jason

Inorganic Chemistry


Professor Liu Xiaogang



Associate Professor Huang Dejian

Associate Professor Huynh Han Vinh

Associate Professor Yip Hon Kay, John

Assistant Professor Ge Shaozhong

Assistant Professor Rowan D. Young

Organic Chemistry

Analytical Chemistry

FACULTY RESEARCH AREAS


Professor Lu Yixin


Professor Wu Jishan

Professor Yao Shao Qin

Associate Professor Chi Chunyan



Associate Professor Lai Yee Hing


Associate Professor Suresh Valiyaveettil

Physical Chemistry



Professor Steven L. Bernasek



Professor Xu Guo Qin

Associate Professor Ryan P. A. Bettens

Associate Professor Chan Yin Thai


Associate Professor Chin Wee Shong


Associate Professor Chuah Gaik Khuan

Associate Professor Christian Albertus Nijhuis


Associate Professor Stephan Jaenicke

Associate Professor Kang Hway Chuan


Associate Professor Zhang Chun

Assistant Professor Goki Eda

Assistant Professor Lu Jiong

Assistant Professor Tan Zhi Kuang


Theoretical Chemistry



Associate Professor Kang Hway Chuan


11

Organic Chemistry



Assistant Professor Wu Jie

Materials Chemistry




Professor Steven L. Bernasek

Professor Wu Jishan



Associate Professor Chan Yin Thai



Associate Professor Chin Wee Shong




Associate Professor Christian Albertus Nijhuis




Assistant Professor Goki Eda

Assistant Professor Lu Jiong



12

Energy and Environment


Professor Lee Hian Kee






Associate Professor Gao Zhiqiang

Associate Professor Simon Watts

Energy and Environment




Assistant Professor Yeo Boon Siang, Jason


Catalysis


Professor Lu Yixin









Assistant Professor Rowan D. Young


Chemical Biology and Biochemistry





Associate Professor Thomas Walczyk

Assistant Professor Chng Shu Sin

Dr Liu Mei Hui

Medicinal Chemistry

Professor Lu Yixin




13

Medicinal Chemistry




Assistant Professor Chng Shu Sin


Food Science and Technology

Professor Zhou Weibiao

Associate Professor Huang Dejian

Associate Professor Liu Shaoquan

Assistant Professor Kim Jung Eun

Assistant Professor Yang Hongshun

Dr Leong Lai Peng

Dr Liu Mei Hui


14

This page is intentionally left blank.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS 2017/2018

Professor Steven Lynn BERNASEK

Post-doc., the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, 1975; Ph.D., University ofCalifornia at Berkeley, 1975; B.Sc., Kansas State University, 1971

https://www.yale-nus.edu.sg/about/faculty/steven-lynn-bernasek/

Email: [email protected]

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Director of the Yale-NUS College Science Divisional, 2015 - present

• Arthur W. Adamson ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Surface Chemistry

sponsored by Occidental Petroleum, 2006

• Distinguished visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore, 1991

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research in our group focuses on several distinct problems including the self-assembly of monolayers

at the solid/liquid interface, organometallic surface chemistry, corrosion inhibition chemistry, the role of

surface-molecule interactions in efficiency of CO2 reduction, the reaction dynamics of gas-surface

interactions of nanotube supported platinum catalysts, nanoplasmonic sensing of nanoparticle

nanocatalysts and surface chemistry of topological insulators. These studies vary widely in scope and

aim but all share the use of surface science instruments and techniques such as electron spectroscopy,

scanning probe microscopy, laser excitation sources, optical spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and X-

ray photoelectron spectroscopy for building a detailed understanding of significant surface related

chemical processes. The following paragraphs describe these studies:

• Mechanisms of Self-Assembled Monolayer Formation

• Organometallic Surface Chemistry

• Corrosion Inhibition Chemistry

• Heterogenous Reduction of CO2

• Dynamics of Gas-Surface Interactions

• Nanoplasmonic Sensing on Model Nanocatalysts

• Topological Insulators

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Klankowski, S.A.; Pandey, G.P.; Malek, G.; Thomas, C.R.; Bernasek, S.L.; Wu, J.; Li, J., Higher-Power

Supercapacitor Electrodes Based on Mesoporous Manganese Oxide Coating on Vertically Aligned

Carbon Nanofibers. Nanoscale 2015, 7, 8485-8494.

PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS

• Xiao, S.; Ye-Fei, L.; Bernasek, S.L.; Selloni, A. Structure of the NiFe2O4(001) Surface in Contact with

Gaseous O2 and Water Vapour. Surf. Sci. 2015, 640, 73-79.

• Frith, M.G.; Wnuk, J.D.; Chang, M.C.; Ramanarayanan, T.A.; Bernasek, S.L. The Kinetics and

Mechanism of the Selective Oxidation of 20Fe–40Ni–10Mn–30Cr Alloy. Oxid. Met. 2015, 83, 71-88.

• Detweiler, Z.M.; White, J.; Bernasek, S.L.; Bocarsly, A.B. Anodized Indium Metal Electrodes for

Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Reduction in Aqueous Electrolyte. Langmuir 2014, 30, 7593–7600.

16

https://www.yale-nus.edu.sg/about/faculty/steven-lynn-bernasek/

mailto:[email protected]


Professor LEE Hian Kee

Ph.D., University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1982; B.Sc. (Hons), University of Canterbury, 1978

NUS Provost’s Term Chair Professor (2011-2014)

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/leehk.htm

Email: [email protected] ; [email protected]

MAJOR RECOGNITION

RESEARCH INTERESTS


RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Our main interest lies in the development and applications of miniaturized, solvent-minimized sample

preparation procedures, in combination with chromatographic techniques. A primary objective is to apply

these methods to environmental analysis of contaminants of emerging, etc. We also have an interest to

develop completely integrative, automated analytical platforms for water quality monitoring applications

Ref.: Majedi, S. M.; Lee, H. K. Microextraction and Solventless Techniques, in The Application of Green

Solvents in Separation Processes (Pena-Pereira, F.; Tobiszewski, M., editors) , Elsevier, 2017, pp. 415-450

(invited). This is an invited book chapter that covers solvent minimized and solventless extraction

procedures, and reviews their principles, advantages, limitations, and recent applications and trends.

• Liew, C. S. M.; Li, X.; Lee, H. K. Miniscale Liquid-liquid Extraction Coupled with Full Evaporation Dynamic

Headspace Extraction for the Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic

Hydrocarbons with 4000- to 14000-Fold Enrichment. Anal. Chem. 2016, 88 (18), 9095-9102.

• Guo, L.; binte Nawi, N.; Lee, H. K. Fully Automated Headspace Bubble-In-Drop Microextraction. Anal. Chem.

2016, 88 (17), 8409-8414.

• Tang, S.; Zhang, H.; Lee, H. K. Advances in Sample Extraction. Anal. Chem. 2016, 88 (1), 228-249 (invited).

• Guo, L.; Chia, S.H.; Lee, H. K., Automated Agitation-Assisted Demulsification Dispersive Liquid-Liquid

Microextraction. Anal. Chem. 2016, 88 (5), 2548-2552.

• Tang, S.; Lee, H. K. Application of Dissolvable Layered Double Hydroxides as Sorbent in Dispersive Solid-

Phase Extraction and Extraction by Co-Precipitation for the Determination of Aromatic Acid Anions. Anal.

Chem. 2013, 85 (15), 7426-7433.

• Lee, J.; Lee, H. K. Fully Automated Dynamic In-Syringe Liquid-Phase Microextraction and On-Column

Derivatization of Carbamate Pesticides with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometric Analysis. Anal. Chem.

2011, 83 (17), 6856-6861.

• Shen, G.; Lee, H. K. Hollow Fiber-Protected Liquid-Phase Microextraction of Triazine Herbicides. Anal. Chem.

2002, 74 (3), 648-654.

• He, Y.; Lee, H. K. Liquid-Phase Microextraction in a Single Drop of Organic Solvent by Using a Conventional

Microsyringe. Anal. Chem. 1997, 69 (22), 4634-4640.

• Editor, Journal of Chromatography A, 2010 - current; Editorial Board, Journal of Chromatography A, 2004 -

2010

• Member, Editorial Boards, Chemical Data Collections, 2015 - current; Talanta, 2017 - 2019

• Editor, Analytica Chimica Acta, 2005 - 2011; Editorial Advisor, Analytica Chimica Acta, 2003 - 2005

• Member, Advisory Board, Analytical Sciences, 2004 - current

• Member, Editorial Advisory Boards, LC·GC Asia Pacific, 2006 - current; LC·GC Europe, 2008 - current

• Member, International Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 2011 - 2015

• Member, International Advisory Board, Analyst, 1997 - 2008

• NUS Outstanding Researcher Award, 2006

• NUS Faculty of Science Outstanding Scientist Award, 2009

• Federation of Asian Chemical Societies Foundation Award, 2009

• Hyflux-Singapore National Institute of Chemistry Award in Environmental Chemistry, 2013

• The Analytical Scientist Power List: “100 Most Influential People in the Analytical Sciences,” 2013, 2015

• Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry

• Fellow, Singapore National Academy of Science

• Fellow, Academy of Sciences Malaysia

17

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/leehk.htm



Professor LI Fong Yau Sam

D.Sc., Ph. D, B. Sc. Imperial College, London, UK

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/lifys.htm


RECENT HIGHLIGHTRef. : Feng, H. T.; Li, P. J.; Rui, G.; Stray, J.; Khan, S.; Chen, S. M.;

Li, S. F. Y., Multiplexing N-glycan analysis by DNA analyzer.

Electrophoresis 2017, 38 (13-14), 1788-1799.

In this paper, a 16-capillary DNA analyzer was coupled with a

magnetic bead glycan purification method to accelerate the

sample preparation procedure and therefore increase N-

glycan assay throughput. Routinely, the labeling dye used for

CE-LIF is 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (APTS), while

the typical identification method involves matching migration

times with database entries. Two new fluorescent dyes were

used to either cross-validate and increase the glycan

identification precision or simplify sample preparation steps.

Exoglycosidase studies were carried out using neuramididase,

galactosidase and fucosidase to confirm the results of three

dye cross-validation. The optimized method combines the

parallel separation capacity of multiple-capillary separation

with three labeling dye, magnetic bead assisted preparation,

and exoglycosidase treatment to allow rapid and accurate

analysis of N-glycans. These new methods provided enough

useful structural information to permit N-glycan structure

elucidation with only one sample injection.


• Feng, H. T.; Su, M.; Rifai, F. N.; Li, P. J.; Li, S. F. Y. Parallel Analysis and Orthogonal Identification of N-Glycans

with Different Capillary Electrophoresis Mechanisms. Anal. Chim. Acta. 2017, 953, 79-86.

• Fung, F. M.; Su, M.; Feng, H. T.; Li, S. F. Y. Extraction, Separation and Characterization of Endotoxins in

Water Samples Using Solid Phase Extraction and Capillary Electrophoresis-Laser Induced Fluorescence. Sci.Rep. 2017, 7, 10774.

• Ji, Y.; Tay, Z. Y.; Li, S. F. Y. Highly Selective Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Ketone)/Titanium Oxide Composite

Membranes for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries. J. Membr. Sci. 2017, 539, 197-205.

• Lai, L. K.; Zhang, L. J.; Li, S. F. Y. Evaluation of the Performance of Zero-Electrolyte-Discharge Microbial Fuel

Cell Based on the Type of Substrate. RSC Adv. 2017, 7 (7), 4070-4077.

• Li, P. J.; Ang, A. N.; Feng, H. T.; Li, S. F. Y. Rapid Detection of an Anthrax Biomarker Based on the Recovered

Fluorescence of Carbon Dot-Cu(ii) Systems. J. Mater. Chem. C. 2017, 5 (28), 6962-6972.

• Li, P. J.; Hong, Y. Y.; Feng, H. T.; Li, S. F. Y. An Efficient "Off-On'' Carbon Nanoparticle-Based Fluorescent

Sensor for Recognition of Chromium(VI) and Ascorbic Acid Based on the Inner Filter Effect. J. Mater. Chem.B. 2017, 5 (16), 2979-2988.

• Lin, X. H.; Yin, X. J.; Liu, J. Y.; Li, S. F. Y. Elucidation of Structures of Surface Sulfate Species on Sulfated

Titania and Mechanism of Improved Activity. Appl. Catal. B. 2017, 203, 731-739.

• Yin, X. J.; de Carvalho, L. P.; Chan, M. Y.; Li, S. F. Y. Integrated Metabolomics and Metallomics Analyses in

Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients. Metallomics 2017, 9 (6), 734-743.

RESEARCH INTERESTSAreas of research interest include environmental analysis and sensing, water treatment technologies, waste to

energy, microbial fuel cells, metabolomics, capillary electrophoresis, bioimaging, nanomaterials analysis,

chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

MAJOR RECOGNITION• Outstanding Researcher Award, National University of Singapore/IMRE, 1999

• Dupont Accomplishment Award, DuPont Company, 1993


18

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/lifys.htm


Professor LIU Xiaogang

Postdoc, Massachusetts Inst of Tech, 2006; Ph.D., Northwestern Univ, 2004; M.Sc., East Carolina Univ, 1999; B.Sc., Beijing Tech and Business Univ, 1996

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/liuxg.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

My general interests are supramolecular chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology:

• Developing nanoparticle-based ultrasensitive sensor systems for metal ions and biological molecules

Designing novel nanomaterials with high catalytic activity and recyclability

• Synthesizing low-dimensional nanomaterials

• Developing lanthanide-doped fluorescent nanoparticle probes


• An, Z. F.; Zheng, C.; Tao, Y.; Chen, R. F.; Shi, H. F.; Chen, T.; Wang, Z. X.; Li, H. H.; Deng, R. R.; Liu, X. G.;

Huang, W. Stabilizing Triplet Excited States for Ultralong Organic Phosphorescence. Nat. Mater.2015, 14 (7), 685-690.

• Tian, J.; Zeng, X.; Xie, X. J.; Han, S. Y.; Liew, O. W.; Chen, Y. T.; Wang, L. H.; Liu, X. G. Intracellular

Adenosine Triphosphate Deprivation through Lanthanide-Doped Nanoparticles. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2015, 137 (20), 6550-6558.

• Deng, R. R.; Qin, F.; Chen, R. F.; Huang, W.; Hong, M. H.; Liu, X. G. Temporal Full-Colour Tuning

through Non-Steady-State Upconversion. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2015, 10 (3), 237-242.

• Wang, F.; Liu, X. G. Multicolor Tuning of Lanthanide-Doped Nanoparticles by Single Wavelength

Excitation. Acc. Chem. Res. 2014, 47 (4), 1378-1385.

• Xu, H.; Chen, R. F.; Sun, Q.; Lai, W. Y.; Su, Q. Q.; Huang, W.; Liu, X. G. Recent Progress in Metal-Organic

Complexes for Optoelectronic Applications. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2014, 43 (10), 3259-3302.

• Deng, R. R.; Liu, X. G. Optical Multiplexing Tunable Lifetime Nanocrystals. Nature Photonics 2014, 8(1), 10-12.

• Wang, J.; Deng, R.; MacDonald, M. A.; Chen, B.; Yuan, J.; Wang, F.; Chi, D.; Andy Hor, T. S.; Zhang, P.;

Liu, G.; Han, Y.; Liu, X. Enhancing Multiphoton Upconversion through Energy Clustering at Sublattice

Level. Nat Mater. 2014, 13 (2), 157-162.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• NUS Young Investigator Award, 2006

• BASF-SNIC Award in Materials Chemistry 2011

• Chemical Society Reviews Emerging Investigator Lectureship Award 2012

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

The metal-organic complex offers unique optical and

electronic properties arising from the interplay

between the inorganic metal and the organic ligand.

The ability to modify chemical structure through

control over metal-ligand interaction on a molecular

level could directly impact the properties of the

complex. When deposited in thin film form, this class

of materials enables the fabrication of a wide variety

of low-cost electronic and optoelectronic devices.

These include light emitting diodes, solar cells,

photodetectors, field-effect transistors as well as

chemical and biological sensors.

Ref. : Xu, H.; Chen, R. F.; Sun, Q.; Lai, W. Y.; Su, Q. Q.; Huang, W.; Liu, X. G., Recent progress in metal-

organic complexes for optoelectronic applications. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2014, 43 (10), 3259-3302.


19

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/liuxg.htm



Professor LOH Kian Ping (Provost's Chair)

Postdoc., National Inst. for Material Science, Tsukuba, Japan, 1998; Ph.D.,Oxford Univ., 1996; B.Sc., National Univ. of Singapore, 1994

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/lohkp.htm


PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Gao, L. B.; Ni, G. X.; Liu, Y. P.; Liu, B.; Neto, A. H. C.; Loh, K. P. Face-To-face Transfer of Wafer-Scale

Graphene Films. Nature 2014, 505 (7482), 190-194.

• Peng, CX.; Loh, K. P., et. al. Reversible Multi-Electron Redox Chemistry of π-Conjugated N-

Containing Heteroaromatic Molecule-Based Organic Cathodes. Nat. Energy 2017, 2, 17074.

• Liu, W.; Loh, K. P. A Two-Dimensional Conjugated Aromatic Polymer via C–C Coupling Reaction.

Nat. Chem. 2017, 9, 563-570.

• Chhowalla, M.; Shin, H. S.; Eda, G.; Li, L. J.; Loh, K. P.; Zhang, H. The Chemistry of Two-Dimensional

Layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheets. Nat. Chem. 2013, 5 (4), 263-275.

• Lu, J.; Yeo, P. S. E.; Gan, C. K.; Wu, P.; Loh, K. P. Transforming C-60 Molecules into Graphene

Quantum Dots. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2011, 6 (4), 247-252.

• Bao, Q. L.; Zhang, H.; Wang, B.; Ni, Z. H.; Lim, C.; Wang, Y.; Tang, D. Y.; Loh, K. P. Broadband

Graphene Polarizer. Nat. Photonics 2011, 5 (7), 411-415.

• Loh, K. P.; Bao, Q. L.; Eda, G.; Chhowalla, M. Graphene Oxide as a Chemically Tunable Platform for

Optical Applications. Nat. Chem. 2010, 2 (12), 1015-1024.

Ref.: Wei Liu and Kian Ping Loh et. al. A two-dimensional

conjugated aromatic polymer via C–C coupling reaction,.

Nat. Chem. 2017, 9, 563-570

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

MAJOR RECOGNITION• Provost's Chair Professor , 2015-2018

• President’s Science Award 2014

• American Chemical Society Nano Lectureship Award 2013

• University Outstanding Researcher Award 2012

• Dean’s Chair professor 2010

• Faculty Young Scientist Award, NUS, 2009, Outstanding Chemist Award, 2009

• University Young Scientist Award, NUS, 2008

• NRF-CRP award, NRF, 2007

RESEARCH INTERESTS: 2D MATERIALS

General interests include

• 2-D Covalent Organic Framework, Graphene and 2-D Materials, Surface Science

• Hybrid organic-inorganic materials, eg. 2-D Perovskites

• Energy Storage, photocatalysis, porous membrane for separation

20

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/lohkp.htm


Professor LU Yixin

Postdoc., Nagoya Univ., 2001; Clinical Research Inst. of Montreal, 2000; Ph.D.,McGill Univ., 2000; M.Sc., Dalian Univ. of Tech., 1991, B.Sc., Fudan Univ., 1991

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/luyx.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Main areas of study are asymmetric organocatalysis//medicinal chemistry. Specific foci include

organocatalytic asymmetric reactions & development of analgesics and anti-cancer agents.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Wang, T.; Yu, Z.; Hoon, D. L.; Phee C. Y.; Lan, Y.;

Lu, Y. Regiodivergent Enantioselective -Additions of

Oxazolones to 2,3-Butadienoates Catalyzed by

Phosphines: Synthesis of ,-Disubstituted -Amino

Acids and N,O-Acetal Derivatives. J. Am. Chem. Soc.

2016, 138, 265-271.

Phosphine-catalyzed regiodivergent enantioselective

C-2- and C-4-selective -additions of oxazolones to

2,3-butadienoates have been developed. The C-4-

selective -addition of oxazolones occurred in a highly

enantioselective manner when 2-aryl-4-alkyl oxazol-5-

(4H)-ones were employed as pronucleophiles. With the

employment of 2-alkyl-4-aryl oxazol-5-(4H)-ones as

the donor, C-2-selective -addition of oxazolones took

place in a highly enantioselective manner.


• Yao, W.; Dou, X.; Wen, S.; Wu, J.; Lu, Y. Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Cyclohexadienones via

an Intramolecular Rauhut–Currier Reaction of Allenoates. Nat. Commun. 2016, 7, 13024.

• Wang, T.; Han, X.; Zhong, F.; Yao, W.; Lu, Y. Amino Acid-derived Bifunctional Phosphines for

Enantioselective Transformations. Acc. Chem. Res. 2016, 49, 1369.

• Han, X.; Chan, W.-L.; Yao, W., Wang, Y.; Lu, Y. Phosphine-Mediated Highly Enantioselective

Spirocyclization with Ketimines as Substrates. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 6492.

• Dou, X.; Lu, Y.; Hayashi, T. Base Free Conditions for Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Arylation to

Produce Stereochemically Labile α-Aryl Ketones. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 6739.

• Yao, W.; Dou, X.; Lu, Y. Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,4-Dihydropyrans through a Phosphine-

Catalyzed [4+2] Annulation of Allenones and ,-Unsaturated -Keto Esters. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015,

137, 54.

• Wang, T. L.; Yao, W. J.; Zhong, F. R.; Pang, G. H.; Lu, Y. X. Phosphine-Catalyzed Enantioselective

gamma-Addition of 3-Substituted Oxindoles to 2,3-Butadienoates and 2-Butynoates: Use of

Prochiral Nucleophiles. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 2964-2968.

• Han, X. Y.; Yao, W. J.; Wang, T. L.; Tan, Y. R.; Yan, Z. Y.; Kwiatkowski, J.; Lu, Y. X. Asymmetric Synthesis

of Spiropyrazolones through Phosphine-Catalyzed [4+1] Annulation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014,

53, 5643-5647.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Dean’s Chair Professorship, 2013

• GSK-SNIC Award in Organic Chemistry, 2013

• Outstanding Scientist Award & Young Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, NUS, 2013 & 2009

• Outstanding Chemist Award & Young Chemist Award, Department of Chemistry, NUS, 2011, 2010

• Asian Core Program Lectureship Award from Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan, 2009, 2011 & 2012


21

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/luyx.htm



Professor Jagadese J. VITTAL

Postdoc., Univ. of Western Ontario, 1987; Ph.D., Indian Inst. of Science, 1982; M.Sc.,Madurai Univ., 1977; B.Sc., Univ. of Madras, 1975

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/jjvittal.htm


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Outstanding Researcher Award, NUS, 2011

• World Class University Chair Professor, Gyeongsang National University, S. Korea (2009-2013)

• Editorial Board Member, Crystal Growth & Design, from 2012

• Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports, from 2016

• Erudite Scholar-in-Residence, Kerala State Higher Education Council, India, 2011

RESEARCH INTERESTSSolid state reactivity, inorganic nanomaterials and metal-organic framework (MOF) materials. Current

interests include solid-state reactivity, photochemistry and structural transformations, gels and fibers &

energy storage materials. Currently we are interested in designing multifunctional materials showing

multi-photon absorption, second harmonic generation (SHG) and third harmonic generation (THG)

properties, and creating non-centrosymmetry via defects in CPs and MOFs.

PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Vittal, J. J.; Quah, H. S. Engineering Solid State Structural Transformations of Metal Complexes.

Coord. Chem. Rev. 2017, 342, 1-18 (Invited).

• Vittal, J.J.; Quah, H.S. Photochemical Reactions of Metal Complexes in the Solid State. Dalton Trans.

2017, 46, 7120-7140 (invited Perspective).

• Mulijanto, C. E.; Quah, H. S.; Tan, G. K.; Donnadieu, B.; Vittal, J. J. Curved Crystal Morphology,

Photoreactivity and Photosalient Behaviour of Mononuclear Zn(II) Complexes. IUCrJ 2017, 4, 65-71.

• Medishetty, R.; Park, I. H.; Lee, S. S.; Vittal, J. J. Solid-state Polymerization via [2+2] Cycloaddition

Reaction Involving Coordination Polymers. Chem. Commun. 2016, 51, 3989-4001 (Feature article).

• Hameed, A. S.; Reddy, M. V.; Nagarathinam, M.; Runcevski, T.; Dinnebier, R. E.; Adams, S. Chowdari,

B. V. R.; Vittal, J. J. Room Temperature Large-Scale Synthesis of Layered Frameworks as Low-Cost 4V

Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries. Sci. Reports 2015, 5, 16290 (1-11).

• Quah, H. S.; Chen, W.; Schroder, M. K.; Yang, Y.; Wong, M. W.; Vittal, J. J. Multiphoton Harvesting

Metal Organic Frameworks. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6, 7954.

• Park, I. H.; Medishetty, R.; Lee, H. H.; Mulijanto, C. E.; Quah, H. S.; Lee, S. S.; Vittal, J. J. Formation of a

Syndiotactic Organic Polymer Inside a MOF by a 2+2 Photo-Polymerization Reaction. Angew. Chem.Int. Ed. 2015, 54 , 7313-7317.

• Medishetty, R., Bai, Z., Yang, H., Wong, M. W., Vittal, J. J. Influence of Fluorine Substitution on the

Unusual Solid-State [2+2] Photo Cycloaddition Reaction between an Olefin and an Aromatic Ring.

Cryst. Growth Des. 2015, 15, 4055-4061.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT(Right) This figure depicts a

centrosymmetric 1-D coordination polymer

showing SHG, THG and multo-photon-

excited photo-luminescence depending on

the excitation wavelength used. Ref.: J.Mater. Chem. C, 2017, 5, 2936.

(2nd right) By changing the position of the fluoro substitution in the ligand and modifying the

crystallization conditions, Zn(II) complexes have been shown to exhibit [2+2] photocycloaddition

reactions, mechanical motion under UV light and curved single crystals have been obtained. Ref.: IUCrJ,2017, 4, 65-71.

22

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/jjvittal.htm



Professor Thorsten WOHLAND

Postdoc., Stanford Univ.; Ph.D., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology at Lausanne;Dipl. Phys., Univ. of Heidelberg

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/tw.htmhttp://www.dbs.nus.edu.sg/lab/BFL/index.html


RESEARCH INTERESTSMy group works on the development of new fluorescence spectroscopy techniques for the

measurement of biomolecular interactions in cells, tissues, and organisms. Specific foci are:

• Techniques: Single wavelength excitation fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (SW-FCCS)

and imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (ITIR-FCS, SPIM-FCS)

• Biological systems: Transmembrane protein receptors and peptides and their interaction with

membranes, measurement of biomolecular actions and interactions in living cells and organisms

PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Huang, S.; Lim S. Y.; Gupta A.; Bag N.; Wohland T. Plasma Membrane Organization and Dynamics is

Probe and Cell Line Dependent. Biochim. Biophys Acta. 2017, 1859 (9 Pt A), 1483-1492

• Sezgin, E.; Azbazdar, Y.; Ng, X. W.; The, C.; Simons, K.; Weidinger, G.; Wohland, T.; Eggeling, C.;

Ozhan, G. Binding of Canonical Wnt Ligands to Their Receptor Complexes Occurs in Ordered Plasma

Membrane Environments. FEBS J. 2017, 284 (15), 2513-2526.

• Karampatzakis, A.; Sankaran, J.; Kandaswamy, K.; Rice, S. A.; Cohen, Y.; Wohland, T. Measurement of

Oxygen Concentrations in Bacterial Biofilms using Transient State Monitoring by Single Plane

Illumination Microscopy. Biomed. Phys. Eng. Express. 2017, 3 (3), 035020.

• Lim, X. X.; Chandramohan, A.; Lim, X. Y.; Bag, N.; Sharma, K. K.; Wirawan, M.; Wohland, T.; Lok, S. M.;

Anand, G. S. Conformational Changes in Intact Dengue Virus Reveal Serotype-Specific Expansion.

Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 14339.

• Yavas, S.; Macháň, R.; Wohland, T. The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Forms Location-

Dependent Complexes in Resting Cells. Biophys J. 2016, 111 (10), 2241-2254.

• Ng, X. W.; Teh, C.; Korzh, V.; Wohland, T. The Secreted Signaling Protein Wnt3 is Associated with

Membrane Domains In Vivo: a SPIM-FCS Study. Biophys J. 2016, 111(2), 418-429.

• Macháň, R.; Foo, Y. H.; Wohland, T. On the Equivalence of FCS and FRAP: Simultaneous Lipid

Membrane Measurements. Biophys J. 2016, 111(1), 152-161.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTRef. : Ng XW, Teh C, Korzh V, Wohland T. The secreted signaling protein wnt3 is associated with

membrane domains in vivo: a SPIM-FCS study. Biophys J. 2016, 111(2), 418-429.

In recent years our group focused on developing image based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

(FCS), in which the signal at each pixel of a camera is evaluated to determine the movement of

biomolecules with single molecule sensitivity. For that purpose we need to record on the order of 1000

images per second. To achieve this we have use the recently developed single plane illumination

microscopy (SPIM) and fast sensitive cameras. In this paper, we demonstrate that SPIM-FCS, a

quantitative imaging tool, can be used in live zebrafish. By measuring the molecular movement of

Wnt3-EGFP on cell membranes of the zebrafish cerebellum we were able to determine how Wnt3 – a

morhphogen that activates the Wnt signaling pathway and regulates a multitude of biological

processes ranging from cell proliferation, cell fate specification, differentiation over embryonic

induction to neural patterning – binds specifically to lipid domains. This is the first time to our

knowledge that sub-diffraction limited localization of a morphogen was performed in a live zebrasfish

by measuring morphogen mobilities.

23

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/tw.htm

http://www.dbs.nus.edu.sg/lab/BFL/index.html



Professor WONG Ming Wah Richard

Postdoc., Yale Univ., 1991; Postdoc., IBM Kingston, USA, 1990; Ph.D., AustralianNational Univ., 1989; B.Sc. & B.Math, Univ. of Newcastle, 1985

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/wongmw.htmhttp://www.nuscqc.weebly.com


RESEARCH INTERESTS• Computational quantum chemistry, organocatalysis, hydrogen storage materials, molecular sensors

• Weak intermolecular interactions, molecular recognition, reactive intermediates, computer-aided

drug design

PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Kee, C. W.; Wong, M. W. In Silico Design of Halogen-Bonding-Based Organocatalyst for Diels-Alder

Reaction, Claisen Rearrangement and Cope-Type Hydroamination. J. Org. Chem. 2016, 81 (17), 7459-7470.

• Quah, H. S.; Chen, W.; Schreyer, M. K.; Yang, H.; Wong, M. W.; Ji, W.; Vittal, J. J. Multiphoton Harvesting

Metal Organic Framework. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6, 7954-7960.

• Yang, H.; Wong, M. W. Oxyanion Hole Stabilization by C-H▪▪▪O Interaction in Transition State - A Three-

Point Interaction Model for Cinchona Alkaloid-Catalyzed Asymmetric Methanolysis of Meso-Cyclic

Anhydrides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135 (15), 5808-5818.

• Jiang, Z.; Pan, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Ma, T.; Lee, R.; Yang, Y.; Huang, K. W.; Wong, M. W.; Tan, C. H. Synthesis of a

Chiral Quaternary Carbon Center Bearing a Fluorine Atom: Enantioselective & Diastereoselective

Guanidine-Catalyzed Addition of Fluorocarbon Nucleophiles. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48 (20), 3627-

3631.

• Steudel, R.; Wong, M. W. Dark-Red O8 molecules in Solid Oxygen: Rhomboid Clusters, not S8-like Rings.

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46 (11), 1768-1771.

• Ghosh, T.; Maiya, B. G.; Wong, M. W. Fluoride Ion Receptors Based on Dipyrrolyl Derivatives Bearing

Electron-Withdrawing Groups: Synthesis, Optical and Electrochemical Sensing and Computational Studies. J.Phys. Chem. A. 2004, 108 (51), 11249-11259.

• Wong, M. W. Prediction of a Metastable Helium Compound: HHeF. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122 (26), 6289-

6290.

• Wong, M. W.; Frisch, M. J.; Wiberg, K. B. Solvent Effects. 1. The Mediation of Electrostatic Effects by Solvents.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113 (13), 4776-4782. [Received more 1000 citations].

designed halogen bonding (XB) based catalyst was applied to several important types of organic

reaction, namely Diels-Alder reaction, Claisen rearrangement and cope-type hydroamination. The

calculated catalytic mechanisms and activation barriers of these reactions readily demonstrate that the

designed system is a promising Lewis acid catalyst via halogen bond mode of activation.

MAJOR RECOGNITION• Associate Editor, Australian Journal of Chemistry, 2014 – current

• President, Singapore Catalysis Society, 2011 - 2014

• Advisory Board member, Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2011 - current

• Chairman, 4th Asian Pacific Conference on Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, 2009

• Board Member, Asian Pacific Association on Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, present

• Outstanding Researcher Award, National University of Singapore, 2002

RECENT HIGHLIGHTRef. : Kee, C. W.; Wong, M. W., In Silico Design

of Halogen-bonding-based Organocatalyst for

Diels-Alder, Claisen Reactions & Cope-Type

Hydroamination. J. Org. Chem. 2016, 81 (17),

7459-7470. Using density functional

calculations, we have shown the use of

halogen-bond donors as non-covalent

activators in Lewis acid catalysis. proposed a

new type of triaryl benzene organocatalysts

via multiple halogen bond donors (e.g.

perfluoro-iodophenyl group). This “in silico”

24

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/wongmw.htm

http://www.nuscqc.weebly.com/



Professor WU Jishan (Dean’s Chair)

Postdoc., Univ. of California at Los Angeles, 2005-2007; Ph.D., Max-Planck Inst.for Polymer Research, 2004; M. Sc., Chinese Acad. of Sciences, 2000; B.Sc.,Wuhan Univ., 1997.

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/wujs.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Ref. : W. Zeng, H. Phan, T. S. Herng, T. Y. Gopalakrishna, N. Aratani,

Z. Zeng, H. Yamada, J. Ding, and J. Wu*, “Rylene Ribbons with

Unusual Diradical Character”. Chem 2017, 2, 81-92 (selected as

Cover).

Long rylene ribbons up to dodecarylene were synthesized,

demonstrating very unusual open-shell diradical character! The

research also predicted that the infinite polyrylene ribbon would

show semi-metallic property with a very small band gap (0.21 eV).

• Zeng, W. et al. Rylene Ribbons with Unusual Diradical Character. Chem. 2017, 2, 81-92.

• Lu, X. et al. Fluorenyl Based Macrocyclic Polyradicaloids. J. Am. Chem. Soc. [Online] 2017. DOI:

10.1021/jacs.7b07335.

• Zhang, H. et al. Conformationally Flexible Bis(9-fluorenylidene)porphyrin Diradicaloids. Angew.Chem. Int. Ed. [Online] 2017. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201707480.

• Wang, J. et al. Stable Oxindolyl-based Chichibabin’s Hydrocarbon and Müller’s Hydrocarbon

Analogues. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. [Online] 2017. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201708612.

• Li, G. et al. Toward Stable Superbenzoquinone Diradicaloids. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 5012-

5016.

• Datta, S. et al. Tuning Magnetoresistance in Molybdenum Disulphide and Graphene Using a

Molecular Spin Transition. Nat. Commun. [Online] 2017. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00727-w.

• Lu, X. et al. Stable 3,6-Linked Fluorenyl Radical Oligomers with Intramolecular Anti-Ferromagnetic

Coupling and Polyradical Characters. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 13049-13058.

• Huang, R. et al. Higher Order π-Conjugated Polycyclic Hydrocarbons with Open-Shell Singlet

Ground State: Nonazethrene versus Nonacene. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 10323-10330.

• Das, S. et al. Fully Fused Quinoidal/Aromatic Carbazole Macrocycles with Polyradical Characters. J.Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 7782-7790.

• Zeng, W. et al. Super-Heptazethrene. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 8816-8819.

• Hu, P. et al. Towards Tetraradicaloid: The Effect of Fusion Mode on Radical Character and Chemical

Reactivity. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 1065-1077.

• Ni, Y. et al. Diradical Approach towards BODIPY Based Near-Infrared Dyes with Intense Absorption

around 1100 nm. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 2815-2819.

• Zeng, Z. et al. Pro-aromatic and Anti-aromatic π-Conjugated Molecules: An Irresistible Wish to be

Diradicals. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2015, 44 , 6578-6596.

• Sun, Z. et al. Zethrenes, Extended p-Quinodimethanes, and Periacenes with a Singlet Biradical

Ground State. Acc. Chem. Res. 2014, 47, 2582-2591.

MAJOR RECOGNITION• NUS Young Investigator Award, NUS, 2007

• Singapore Young Scientist Award, 2010

• NUS Young Researcher Award, 2012

• BASF-SNIC Award on Materials Chemistry, 2012

• Dean’s Chair Professor, 2014

Novel aromatic systems and materials & Supramolecular Chemistry


25

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/wujs.htm



Professor XU Guo Qin

Postdoc., Univ. of Toronto, 1991; Postdoc., Brookhaven National Lab, 1989;Ph.D., Princeton Univ., 1987; B.Sc., Fudan Univ., 1982

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/xugq.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Surface chemistry

• Nanostructures and photocatalysis

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Mao, W.; He, J.H.; Gu, J.Q.; Chen, W.; Wu,

K.; Tok, E.S.; Xu, G.Q., Preservation of epoxy

groups on surfaces in the covalent attachment

of butadiene monoxide on Si(111)-(7 x 7): the

effect of a vinyl substituent. Chem. Commun.2015, 51, 14195-14198.

Adsorption of butadiene monoxide on Si(111)-

(7 x 7) has been scrutinized by high-resolution

electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS),

scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and

density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

The experimental results indicate that surface

reaction occurs through a [2+2]-like

cycloaddition, which is further supported by

the DFT studies.


• Wang, F. G.; Xu, L .L.; Zhang, J.; Zhao, Y.; Li, H.; Li, H. X.; Wu, K.; Xu, G. Q.; Chen, W.,Tuning the Metal-

Support Interaction in Catalysts for Highly Efficient Methane Dry Reforming Reaction. Appl. Cat. B:

Env. 2016, 180, 511–520.

• Mao, W.; He, J.H.; Gu, J.Q.; Chen, W.; Wu, K.; Tok, E.S.; Xu, G.Q. Preservation of Epoxy Groups on

Surfaces in the Covalent Attachment of Butadiene Monoxide on Si(111)-(7 X 7): the Effect of a Vinyl

Substituent. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 14195-14198.

• He, J.H.; Mao, W.; Xu, G.Q.; Tok, E.S. Orbital Resolution of Molecules Covalently Attached to a Clean

Semiconductor Surface. Nat. Commun. 2014, 5, 5.

• Mao, W.; He, J.H.; Chen, W.; Wu, K.; Cheng, H.S.; Xu, G.Q. Resolving Molecular Orbitals Self-

Decoupled from Semiconductor Surfaces. Chem. Sci. 2014, 5, 4447-4452.

• Mao, W.; He, J.H.; Gu, J.Q.; Xu, G.Q.; Tok, E.S. Reaction Mechanism and Regioselectivity of Methyl

Oxirane on Si(111)-(7 X 7). J. Phys. Chem. C. 2014, 118 (37), 21509-21516.

• He, J.H.; Mao, W.; Gu, J.Q.; Xu, G.Q.; Tok, E.S. Self-Assembled Molecular Wires and Highly Ordered

Monolayer: Thiazole on Ge(100). J. Phys. Chem. C. 2013, 117 (37), 19115-19118.

• He, J.H.; Mao, W.; Gao, J.K.; Xu, G.Q. Theoretical Investigation of Ge(100) Nitridation by Nitric Oxide:

Monomeric or Dimeric Dissociation?. J. Phys. Chem. C. 2013, 117 (33), 17111-17118.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• National Youth Award for Excellence in Science and Technology, Singapore National Youth Council,

1997

Schematic representation of possible binding

configurations of butadiene monoxide on Si(111)-

(7x7)

26

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/xugq.htm



Professor YAO Shao Qin

Postdoc. 1998-2001, Scripps Research Institute & Univ. of California Berkeley;Ph.D., Purdue Univ., 1998; B.Sc., Ohio State Univ., 1993

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/yaosq.htm


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Member of the International Scientific Advisory Board, Angewandte Chemie,

• Dean’s Chair Professor, National University of Singapore (2009-2012)

• ASAIHL-Scopus Young Scientist Award (2008), international

• Outstanding Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapaore, 2007

• Mr & Mrs Sun Chan Memorial Award, International, 2006

• Young Research Award, National University of Singapore, 2005

• Young Investigator Award, A*STAR Singapore, 2002

RESEARCH INTERESTS

“Catalomics” - We are interested in developing powerful strategies in Chemical Biology and Chemical

Proteomics that enable organism-wide, high-throughput studies of enzymes. Specific foci are:

• Chemical Biology

• Medicinal Chemistry

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Ge, J.; Zhang, C.-W.; Ng, X.W.; Peng, B.; Pan, S.; Du, S. Wang, D.; Li, L.; Lim, K.-L.; Wohland, T.; Yao,

S.Q.*, “A Suite of Puromycin Analogs Capable of Multiplexed Imaging and Profiling of Protein Synthesis

and Dynamics in Live Cells and Neurons”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2016, 55, 4933-4937.

PREMIUM PUBLICATION

• Yu, C.; Qian, L.; Ge, J.; Fu, J.; Yuan, P.; Yao, S. Q. Cell-Penetrating Poly(disulfide)-Assisted Intracellular

Delivery of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Inhibition of miR-21 Functions and Detection of

Subsequent Therapeutic Effects. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 9272-9276.

• Li, Z.; Qian, L.; Li, L.; Bernhammer, J. C.; Huynh, H. V.; Lee, J.-S.; Yao, S. Q. Tetrazole Photoclick Chemistry:

Reinvestigating Its Suitability as a Bioorthogonal Reaction and Potential Applications. Angew. Chem. Int.Ed., 2016, 55, 2002-2006.

• Fu, J.; Yu, C.; Li, L.; Yao, S.Q. Intracellular Delivery of Functional Proteins and Native Drugs by Cell-

Penetrating Poly(disulfide)s. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137 (37), 12153-12160.

• Yu, C. M.; Qian, L. H.; Uttamchandani, M.; Li, L.; Yao, S. Q. Single-Vehicular Delivery of Antagomir and Small

Molecules to Inhibit miR-122 Function in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by using "Smart" Mesoporous

Silica Nanoparticles. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54 (36), 10574-10578.

• Li, L.; Zhang, C. W.; Ge, J. Y.; Qian, L. H.; Chai, B. H.; Zhu, Q.; Lee, J. S.; Lim, K. L.; Yao, S. Q. A Small-Molecule

Probe for Selective Profiling and Imaging of Monoamine Oxidase B Activities in Models of Parkinson's

Disease. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54 (37), 10821-10825.

• Na, Z. K.; Peng, B.; Ng, S. K.; Pan, S. J.; Lee, J. S.; Shen, H. M.; Yao, S. Q. A Small-Molecule Protein-Protein

Interaction Inhibitor of PARP1 that Targets Its BRCT Domain. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54 (8), 2515-

2519.

• Li, L.; Zhang, C. W.; Chen, G. Y. J.; Zhu, B. W.; Chai, C.; Xu, Q. H.; Tan, E. K.; Zhu, Q.; Lim, K. L.; Yao, S. Q. A

Sensitive Two-Photon Probe to Selectively Detect Monoamine Oxidase B Activity in Parkinson's Disease

Models. Nat. Commun. 2014, 5, 10.

“Tag” and “See”: We have developed a suite of

cell-permeable puromycin analogs capable of

multiplexed imaging of newly synthesized

proteins in live cells and neurons. For the first

time, diffusion dynamics of newly synthesized

proteins inside live neuron-like dendritic cells

were quantitatively measured, revealing a

heterogeneous behavior.

27

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/yaosq.htm


Professor ZHOU Weibiao

Postdoc., Univ. of Waterloo, 1991; Ph.D., Univ. of Queensland, 1991; M.Eng.,Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1985; B.Sc., Beijing Univ. of ChemicalTechnology, 1982

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/zhouwb.htmhttp://www.fst.nus.edu.sg/OurPeople/ZhouW.html


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Editor, Food Control, Elsevier, 2015-present; Int. Journal of Food Properties, Taylor & Francis, 2007-2015.

• Member, Editorial Boards of the following SCI-indexed journals: International Journal of Food Engineering,

De Gruyter, 2004-present; Food and Bioprocess Technology, Springer, 2007-present; Food EngineeringReviews, Springer, 2008-present; Czech Journal of Food Sciences, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences,

2012-present; Trends in Food Science & Technology, Elsevier, 2014-present; Scientific Reports, Nature

Publishing Group, 2014-present; Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, American Chemical Society

(ACS), 2015-present.

• Fellow, Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST), elected in 2007

• Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK, elected in 2013

• Fellow, International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST), elected in 2016

• Fellow, Singapore Institute of Food Science and Technology (SIFST), elected in 2017.

• MND Medallion, Ministry of National Development (MND), Singapore, November 2015.

• Board Member, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), 2008-2015

• Member-at-large, Executive Committee, International Society of Food Engineering (ISFE), 2006-present

PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Gao, J.; Tay, S. L.; Koh, A. H. S.; Zhou, W. Dough and Bread Made from High- and Low- Protein Flours by

Vacuum Mixing: Part 2. Yeast Activity, Dough Proofing and Bread Quality. J. Cereal Sci. 2017, 77, 275-283.

• Huang, J.-Y.; Limqueco, J.; Chieng, Y. Y.; Li, X. and Zhou, W. Performance Evaluation of a Novel Food

Packaging Material Based on Clay/Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanocomposite. Innov. Food Sci. Emerging Technol.

2017, 43, 216-222

• Gao, J.; Koh, A. H. S.; Tay, S.L.; Zhou, W. Dough and Bread Made from High- and Low- Protein Flours by

Vacuum Mixing: Part 1: Gluten Network Formation. J. Cereal Sci. 2017, 74, 288-295.

• Kondakci, T.; Zhou, W. Recent Applications of Advanced Control Techniques in Food Industry. Food

Bioprocess Technol. 2017, 10(3), 522-542.

• Tham, T. W .Y.; Yeoh, A. T. H.; and Zhou, W. Characterisation of Aged Infant Formulas and Physicochemical

Changes. Food Chem. 2017, 219, 117-125.

• Tham, T. W. Y.; Xu, X.; Yeoh, A. T. H.; and Zhou, W. Investigation of Caking by Fat Bridging in Aged Infant

Formula. Food Chemi. 2017, 218, 30-39.

• Yu, H.; Seow, Y.-X.; Ong, P. K. C.; Zhou, W. Effects of High-intensity Ultrasound on Maillard Reaction in a

Model System of D-Xylose and L-Lysine. Ultrason. Sonochem. 2017, 34, 154-163.

Temporal dominance of sensation (TDS) curves

RECENT HIGHLIGHTRef. : Gao, J.; Ong, J.J.X.; Henry, J. Zhou, W. Physical breakdown of

bread and its impact on texture perception: a dynamic perspective.

Food Quality and Preference 2017, 60, 96-104.

Bolus hydrated sensation was largely used by the panellist to gauge

the swallowing point while bolus texture was used in a feedback

control to regulate the mastication behaviour.

RESEARCH INTERESTSMy interests are in food processing and food engineering; particularly baking processes, dairy processes,

drying processes, functional foods, food process modelling and optimisation, advanced process control, and

the effect of food processing on functional components such as antioxidants, isoflavones and probiotics.

Specific foci are:

• Innovative processing technologies for next-generation functional foods

• Modeling, optimisation, and advanced control of food processes


28

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/zhouwb.htm

http://www.fst.nus.edu.sg/OurPeople/ZhouW.html


Associate Professor ANG Siau Gek

Ph.D., Cambridge Univ., 1987; M.Sc., National Univ. of Singapore, 1984; B.Sc.,National Univ. of Singapore, 1981

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/angsg.htm


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Chevalier in the Order of the Palmes Academiques, French Ministry of Youth, Education and

Research, 2004

• Public Administration Medal (Bronze), National Day Awards, Singapore, 2010.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

We study structures of organometallic compounds using a variety of spectroscopic and other physical

techniques including X-ray diffraction and surface analytical methods. Our current main interest is in the

fabrication and study of organometallic nanostructures.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Gu, F.; Xu, G.Q.; Ang, S.G., Fabrication of CuTAPc polymer nanowires and nanotubes by

electropolymerization. Nanotechnology 2008, 19, 145606.


• Yap, C.M.; Xu, G.Q.; Ang, S.G. Amperometric Nitric Oxide Sensor Based on Nanoporous Platinum

Phthalocyanine Modified Electrodes. Anal. Chem. 2013, 85, 107-113.

• Wu, J.; Xu, T.; Ang, S.G.; Xu, Q.-H.; Xu, G.Q. Radially-Oriented Anthracene Nanowire Arrays:

Preparation, Growth Mechanism, and Optical Fluorescence. Nanoscale 2011, 3, 1855-1860.

• Wu, J.; Binni, V.; Zhou, X.; Teo, S.Y.; Sow, C.H.; Ang, S.G.; Xu, G.Q. Interconnected Networks of

Zn(NO3)(2)center dot 6(H2O) Nanotubes and Its Solid-Phase Transformation into Porous Zinc

Oxide Architectures. Chem. Mater. 2010, 22 (4) , 1533-1539.

• Gu, F.; Sow, C.H.; Xu, G.Q.; Ang, S.G. Fabrication and Field Emission Properties of Poly-CuTAPc

Nanowires and Nanotubes. Aust. J. Chem. 2009, 62, 1-7.

• Gu, F.; Xu, G.Q.; Ang, S.G. Studies on CuTAPc-Nanotube-Modified Electrodes as Chemical Sensors

for NO. Nanotechnology 2009, 20, 305501.

• Gu, F.; Xu, G.Q.; Ang, S.G. Fabrication of CuTAPc Polymer Nanowires and Nanotubes by

Electropolymerization. Nanotechnology 2008, 19, 145606.

• Sun, B. W.; Zhang, M. S.; Yang, G. Y.; Ang, S. G.; Ang, H. G. Decacarbonyl-1K3C,2K3C,3K4C-(m-

Pentafluorophenyl – Hydrazine – 1KN : 2KN ) - Triangulo-Triosmium: a Hydrazino-Edge-Bridged

Triangular Triosmium Cluster. Acta Crystallogr. E. 2005, 61, M2419-M2420.

We are studying the fabrication of amine derivatives of

metal phthalocyanines (MTAPc) as organometallic

nanowires via electropolymerization using porous alumina

filters as templates. The characterization of these

nanowires is carried out using field-emission scanning

electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and the interaction of these

polymeric nanowires with oxidising gases is being

investigated for possible applications as chemical sensors.


29

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/angsg.htm


Associate Professor ANG Wee Han

Postdoc., Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, 2009; Ph.D., Ecole PolytechniqueFédérale de Lausanne, 2007; B.Sc. (Hons), Imperial College of Science,Technology and Medicine, 1995

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/angwh.htmhttp://weehan.sgresearcher.net


RESEARCH INTERESTS

We are interested in the development of therapeutic metallopharmaceuticals and techniques to

investigate the interactions of transition metal-based drugs with their biological targets.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Chow, M. J.; Alfiean, M.; Pastorin, G.; Gaiddon, C.; Ang, W. H., Apoptosis-independent

organoruthenium anticancer complexes that overcome multidrug resistance: self-assembly and

phenotypic screening strategies. Chem. Sci. 2017, 8, 3641-3649.


• Chow, M. J.; Alfiean, M.; Pastorin, G.; Gaiddon, C.; Ang, W. H. Apoptosis-Independent

Organoruthenium Anticancer Complexes that Overcome Multidrug Resistance: Self-assembly and

Phenotypic Screening Strategies. Chem. Sci. 2017, 8, 3641-3649.

• Chow, M. J.; Licona, C.; Pastorin, G.; Mellitzer, G.; Ang, W. H.; Gaiddon, C. Structural Tuning of

Organoruthenium Compounds Allows Oxidative Switch to Control ER Stress Pathways and Bypass

Multidrug Resistance. Chem. Sci. 2016, 7, 4117-4124.

• Wong, D. Y. Q.; Ong, W. W. F.; Ang, W. H. Induction of Immunogenic Cell Death by

Chemotherapeutic Platinum Complexes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54 (22), 6483-6487.

• Wong, D. Y. Q.; Lim, J. H.; Ang, W. H. Induction of Targeted Necrosis with HER2-Targeted

Platinum(IV) Anticancer Prodrugs. Chem. Sci. 2015, 6 (5), 3051-3056.

• Chow, M. J.; Licona, C.; Wong, D. Y. Q.; Pastorin, G.; Gaiddon, C.; Ang, W. H. Discovery and

Investigation of Anticancer Ruthenium-Arene Schiff-Base Complexes via Water-Promoted

Combinatorial Three-Component Assembly. J. Med. Chem. 2014, 57 (14), 6043-6059.

• Wong, D. Y. Q.; Yeo, C. H. F.; Ang, W. H. Immuno-Chemotherapeutic Platinum(IV) Prodrugs of

Cisplatin as Multimodal Anticancer Agents. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53 (26), 6752-6756.

• Chin, C. F.; Yap, S. Q.; Li, J.; Pastorin, G.; Ang, W. H. Ratiometric Delivery of Cisplatin and Doxorubicin

Using Tumour-Targeting Carbon-Nanotubes Entrapping Platinum(IV) Prodrugs. Chem. Sci. 2014, 5(6), 2265-2270.

• Montagner, D.; Yap, S. Q.; Ang, W. H. A Fluorescent Probe for Investigating the Activation of

Anticancer Platinum(IV) Prodrugs Based on the Cisplatin Scaffold. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52(45), 11785-11789.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

EPFL Doctorate Prize, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 2008.

Multidrug resistance is a major

impediment to chemotherapy

and limits the efficacies of

conventional anticancer drugs. A

phenotypic screening strategy

was developed to identify new

drug candidates capable of

inducing apoptosis-independent

programmed cell death and

therefore bypass multidrug

resistance is to develop.


30

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/angwh.htm

http://weehan.sgresearcher.net/


Associate Professor Ryan P. A. BETTENS

Postdoc., Australian National Univ., 1999; Postdoc., Ohio State Univ., 1996;Postdoc., ETH, 1994; Ph.D., Monash Univ., 1992; B.Sc., Univ. of Queensland, 1986

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/bettens.htm



• Ng, Y.-H.; Bettens, R. P. A. Comparing Vibrationally Averaged Nuclear Shielding Constants by

Quantum Diffusion Monte Carlo and Second-Order Perturbation Theory. J. Phy. Chem. A. 2016, 120(8), 1297-1306.

• Ouyang, J. F.; Bettens, R. P. A. Many-Body Basis Set Superposition Effect. J. Chem. Theory Comput.2015, 11 (11), 5132-5143.

• Collins, M. A.; Bettens, R. P. A. Energy-Based Molecular Fragmentation Methods. Chem. Rev. 2015,

115 (12), 5607-5642.

• Collins, M. A.; Cvitkovic, M. W.; Bettens, R. P. A. The Combined Fragmentation and Systematic

Molecular Fragmentation Methods. Acc. Chem. Res. 2014, 47 (9), 2776-2785.

• Ouyang, J. F.; Cvitkovic, M. W.; Bettens, R. P. A. Trouble with the Many-Body Expansion. J. Chem.Theory Comput. 2014, 10 (9), 3699-3707.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Collins, M. A.; Bettens, R. P. A., Energy-Based Molecular Fragmentation Methods. Chem. Rev. 2015,

115 (12), 5607-5642.

In the highlighted review we surveyed the numerous energy-based molecular fragmentation methods

in the literature, including our own Combined Fragmentation Method. These fragmentation methods

allow for the theoretical study of large chemical systems, such as molecular clusters and biomolecules,

by decreasing the computational cost. The large chemical system is broken up into small fragments and

the fragments are selectively interacted to recover the energetics of the original system. The review

discusses how various fragmentation methods break up the molecule and the choice of interactions

between fragments. We also reviewed the possible applications including prediction of NMR, crystal

structures and reaction mechanisms.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research area is in the understanding and accurate description, via computational chemistry, of

inter- and intra-molecular interactions. Ultimately the understanding and description will be applied to

the dynamics of large systems like proteins and nucleic acids. Specific foci are:

• Accurately describe and predict enzyme-substrate interactions

• Accurately describe water and its interactions with large molecules

• Performance of first-principle molecular dynamics of an enzyme and substrate

Right: (A) Fragmentation methods

break up a molecule into small

fragments and interacts these

fragments to recover the original

system. (B) This allows for the study of

the properties of large chemical

systems, for example mapping out the

electrostatic potential of a large

protein to discover potential target

sites for drug design.


31

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/bettens.htm



Associate Professor CHAN Yin Thai

Postdoc., Stanford Univ., 2006-2008; Ph.D., Massachusetts Inst. ofTechnology, 2006; B.Sc., Univ. of California at Berkeley, 2001

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chanyt.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Our research interests generally lie in the development of novel hierarchically complex semiconductor

nanomaterials for optoelectronic , photocatalytic and biological imaging applications. Specific foci are:

• Biological and chemical sensing using nanoparticle-based multilayer microfluidics

• Synthesis and characterization of hybrid metal-semiconductor nanostructures

• Developing the surface chemistry of semiconductor nanoparticles for bio-imaging


• Chakrabortty, S.; Guchhait, A.; Ong, X.; Mishra, N.; Wu, W.; Jhon, M. H.; Chan, Y. Facet to Facet

Linking of Shape Anisotropic Inorganic Nanocrystals with Site Specific and Stoichiometric Control.

Nano Lett., 2016, 16 (10), pp 6431–6436

• Li, M.; Zhi, M.; Zhu, H.; Wu, W.-Y.; Xu, Q.-H.; Jhon, M. H.; Chan, Y. Ultralow-Threshold Multiphoton-

Pumped Lasing from Colloidal Nanoplatelets in Solution. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6.• Wu, W. Y.; Li, M. J.; Lian, J.; Wu, X. Y.; Yeow, E. K. L.; Jhon, M. H.; Chan, Y. Efficient Color-Tunable

Multiexcitonic Dual Wavelength Emission from Type II Semiconductor Tetrapods. ACS Nano 2014, 8(9), 9349-9357.

• Lian, J.; Xu, Y.; Lin, M.; Chan, Y. Aqueous-Phase Reactions on Hollow Silica-Encapsulated

Semiconductor Nanoheterostructures. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134 (21), 8754-8757.

• Liao, Y. L.; Xing, G. C.; Mishra, N.; Sum, T. C.; Chan, Y. Low Threshold, Amplified Spontaneous

Emission from Core-Seeded Semiconductor Nanotetrapods Incorporated into a Sol-Gel Matrix. Adv.Mater. 2012, 24 (23), OP159-OP164.

• Mishra, N.; Lian, J.; Chakrabortty, S.; Lin, M.; Chan, Y. Unusual Selectivity of Metal Deposition on

Tapered Semiconductor Nanostructures. Chem. Mater. 2012, 24 (11), 2040-2046 .

• Li, X. H.; Lian, J.; Lin, M.; Chan, Y., Light-Induced Selective Deposition of Metals on Gold-Tipped

CdSe-Seeded CdS Nanorods. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133 (4), 672-675.

• Chakrabortty, S.; Yang, J. A.; Tan, Y. M.; Mishra, N.; Chan, Y. Asymmetric Dumbbells from Selective

Deposition of Metals on Seeded Semiconductor Nanorods. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49 (16),

2888-2892.

MAJOR RECOGNITION• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Postdoctoral Fellow , Stanford University , 2006-2008

• Excellent Young Teacher Award, Faculty of Science, NUS, 2012

• Distinguished Lectureship Award from the Chemical Society of Japan, 2014

32

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chanyt.htm


Associate Professor CHEN Wei

Postdoc National University of Singapore, 2004-2008, Ph.D., NationalUniversity of Singapore., 2004; B.Sc., Nanjing Univ., 2001

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chenwei.htmhttp://www.chenweilab.com/


RESEARCH INTERESTS

The broad objective of my research is to have molecular-scale understanding of the interface properties

for molecular, organic and graphene electronics, to provide design rules for effective interface

engineering approaches to improve device performance and materials efficiency, with particular

emphasis on the interface-controlled interface engineering for organic and 2D materials based

functional devices, and interface-controlled nanocatalysis for energy and environmental issues.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Surface Functionalization of Black Phosphorus via Potassium towards High Performance

Complementary Devices” Han C, Hu ZH, C. Gromes L, Bao Y, Carvalho A, Tan SJR, Lei B, Xiang D, Wu J,

Wang L, Huo FW, Huang W, Loh KP, Chen W, Nano Letter 17, 4122-4129 (2017)


• Hu, Z. H.; Li, Q.; Lei, B.; Zhou, Q. H.; Xiang, D.; Lyu, Z. Y.; Hu, F.; Wang, J. L.; Ren, Y. J.; Guo, R.; Goki, E.;

Wang, L.; Han, C.; Wang, J. L.; Chen, W. Water-Catalyzed Oxidation of Few-Layer Black Phosphorous

in Dark Environment. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 9131-9137.

• Zhang, J. L.; Zhao, S. T.; Han, C.; Wang, Z. Z.; Zhong, S.; Sun, S.; Guo, R.; Zhou, X.; Gu, C. D.; Yuan, K.

D.; Li, Z. Y.; Chen, W. Epitaxial Growth of Single Layer Blue Phosphorene: A New Phase of Two-

Dimensional Phosphorus. Nano Lett. 2016, 16, 4903-4908.

• Zhang, J. L.; Wang, Z. Z.; Zhong, J. Q.; Yuan, K. D.; Shen, Q.; Xu, L. L.; Niu, T. C.; Gu, C. D.; Wright, C. A.;

Tadich, A.; Qi, D. C.; Li, H. X.; Wu, K.; Xu, G. Q.; Li, Z. Y.; Chen, W. Single-Molecule Imaging of

Activated Nitrogen Adsorption on Individual Manganese Phthalocyanine. Nano Lett. 2015, 15 (5),

3181-3188 .

• Xiang, D.; Han, C.; Wu, J.; Zhong, S.; Liu, Y. Y.; Lin, J. D.; Zhang, X. A.; Hu, W. P.; Özyilmaz, B.; Castro, N.

A. H.; Wee, A. T. S.; Chen, W. Surface Transfer Doping Induced Effective Modulation on Ambipolar

Characteristics of Few-layer Black Phosphorus. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6, 8.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• NUS Dean’s Chair Professor, 2016

• Singapore Young Scientist Award, Singapore, 2012

• NUS Young Investigator Award, Singapore, 2010


33

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chenwei.htm

http://www.chenweilab.com/


Associate Professor CHI Chunyan

RESEARCH INTERESTS

We are interested in the development of novel pi-structures and synthesis of high performance

conjugated materials for organic electronics and sensors

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Wang, Q.; Gopalakrishna, T. Y.; Phan, H.; Herng, T. S.; Dong, S.; Ding, J.; Chi, C.*, Cyclopenta Ring

Fused Bisanthene and Its Charged Species with Open-Shell Singlet Diradical Character and Global

Aromaticity/ Anti-Aromaticity. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 55, 11415-11419.

Cyclopenta ring fused bisanthene and its charged species were synthesized. The neutral compound

has open-shell singlet ground state and displays global anti-aromaticity. The dication also exhibits

singlet diradical character but has a unique [10]annulenewithin-[18]annulene global aromatic

structure. The dianion is closed shell singlet in ground state and shows global aromaticity with 22 π

electrons delocalized along the periphery. Our research gave new insight into the design and

properties of global aromatic/anti-aromatic systems based on π-conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbons.


• Wang, Q.; Gopalakrishna, T. Y.; Phan, H.; Herng, T. S.; Dong, S.; Ding, J.; Chi, C. Cyclopenta Ring

Fused Bisanthene and Its Charged Species with Open-Shell Singlet Diradical Character and Global

Aromaticity/ Anti-Aromaticity. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 55, 11415-11419.

• Dong, S.; Herng, T. S.; Gopalakrishna, T. Y.; Phan, H.; Lim, Z. L.; Hu, P.; Webster, R. D.; Ding, J.; Chi, C.

Extended Bis(benzothia)quinodimethanes and Their Dications: From Singlet Diradicaloids to

Isoelectronic Structures of Long Acenes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 9316-9320. [Hot Paper]

• Dai, G.; Chang, J.; Luo, J.; Dong, S.; Aratani, N.; Zheng, B.; Huang, K.-W.; Yamada, H.; Chi, C. Z-

Shaped Pentaleno- Acene Dimers with High Stability and Low Band Gap. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.,2016, 55, 2693-2696. [Highlighted in SYNFACTS 2016, 12, 0360].

• Yang, X. Shi, X.; Aratani, N.; Gonçalves, T. P.; Huang, k.-W.; Yamada, H.; Chi, C.; Miao, Q.

Benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]fluorene: an isomeric motif for pentacene containing linearly fused five-

, six- and seven-membered rings. Chem. Sci. 2016, 7, 6176-6181. [Highlighted in SYNFACTS 2016,

12, 0916]

• Shi, X.; Kueh, W.; Zheng, B.; Huang, K.W.; Chi, C. Dipolar Quinoidal Acene Analogues as Stable

Isoelectronic Structures of Pentacene and Nonacene. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 14412-14416.

[Highlighted in SYNFACTS 2016, 12, 0034]

• Ye, Q.; Chi, C. Recent Highlights and Perspectives on Acene Based Molecules and Materials. Chem.Mater. 2014, 26, 4046-4056. [Invited Perspective]

Postdoc., Univ. California at Santa Barbara, 2007; Ph.D., Max-Planck-Inst. forPolymer Res., 2004.

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chicy.htm


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Distinguished Lectureship Award from Chemical Society of Japan, 2017

• Department Young Chemist Award, Department of Chemistry, NUS, 2016

• Asian Core Program Lectureship Award from Japan, China and Taiwan, 2013 & 2014


34

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chicy.htm


Associate Professor CHIN Wee Shong

Commewealth Fellowship., Univ. of Bristol, 1994; Ph.D., National Univ. ofSingapore, 1993; B.Sc.(Hons), National Univ. of Singapore, 1987

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chinws.htm


RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Loh, P. Y.; Lee, K K.; Ng, Y.; Sow, C. H.; Chin, W. S.,

Co/Al Layered Double Hydroxides Nanostructures: A

Binderless Electrode for Electrochemical Capacitor.

Electrochem. Commun. 2014, 43, 9–12.

We prepare Co/Al layered double hydroxides (LDH)

nanoflakes supported on Co nanowires as a binderless

electrode for electrochemical capacitor. This is the first

report AAO template is used as a source of Al3+ to form

the LDH directly. Capacitance was found to increase with

the amount of Co/Al-LDH. This content is controllable by

varying the duration of alkaline treatment. High

capacitance of 0.510 F/cm2 was achieved for sample

containing 12% Al measured at current density 2.5

mA/cm2 in 1 M KOH. The electrodes also exhibited good

stability, maintaining more than 90% of their original

capacitance after 3000 continuous charge–discharge

cycles.


• Subha, R.; Nalla, V.; Lim, E. J. Q.; Vijayan, C.; Huang, B. B. S.; Chin, W. S.; Ji, W. Slow Down of Charge

Transfer Owing to Auger Recombination and Two-Photon Action Cross-Section of CdS-CdSe-CdS

Segmented Nanorods. ACS Photonics 2015, 2 (1), 43-52.

• Lee, K. K.; Chin, W. S.; Sow, C. H. Cobalt-Based Compounds and Composites as Electrode Materials

for High-Performance Electrochemical Capacitors. J. Mater. Chem. A. 2014, 2 (41), 17212-17248.

• Lee, K. K.; Loh, P. Y.; Sow, C. H.; Chin, W. S. CoOOH Nanosheet Electrodes: Simple Fabrication for

Sensitive Electrochemical Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide and Hydrazine. Biosens. Bioelectron. 2013,39 (1), 255-260.

• Zhang, Z. H.; Lu, M. H.; Xu, H. R.; Chin, W. S. Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Zinc Oxide: a Simple

Method for the Preparation of Metal Oxide Nanocrystals in Non-Aqueous Medium. Chem. Eur. J.2007, 13 (2), 632-638.

• Chin, W.S.; Sow, C.H.; Wee, A.T.S. Science at the Nanoscale - An Introductory Textbook; Pan Stanford

Publishing, Singapore, 2010.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Our research focuses on the fabrication and applications of nanostructures and their hybrids. We

explore methodologies to synthesize size-, morphology- and phase-controllable nanomaterials, and to

fabricate them into heterostructured or hybrid materials for specific applications. Current projects

include synthesis of doped and layered oxide/hydroxide nanocomposites for energy, sensor and

photocatalytic applications.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• University Quality Service Award , NUS, 2005

• Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty of Science, NUS, 2007 & 2008


35

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chinws.htm


Associate Professor CHUA Lay Lay

Ph.D., Univ. of Cambridge, 2007; Research Fellow, ONDL, Physics, NUS (2004-2008); Research Associate, Cavendish Laboratory, Univ. of Cambridge (2002-2003); Member of Technical Staff, Bell Laboratories (2001-2002); Engineer, thenPrincipal Engineer, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (1995-2001); B.Sc.Computational Chemistry, NUS (1995)

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chualaylay.htmhttp://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/~ondl/


RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Tang C.G., Ang M.C.Y., Choo K.K., Keerthi V., Tan J.K., Nur Syafiqah M., Kugler T., Burroughes J.H., Png

R.Q., Chua L.L., Ho P.K.H., “Doped polymer semiconductors with ultrahigh and ultralow work functions

for ohmic contacts”, Nature 2016, 539, 536 [Highlighted by Nature News & Views 2016 same issue]


• Kam, F. Y.; Png R. Q.; Ang M. C. Y.; Kumar, P.; Rubi, K.; Mahendiran, R.; Solomeshch, O.; Tessler, N.;

Lim, G. K.; Chua, L. L.; Ho, P. K. H. Solution-Processed 2-Dimensional Hole-Doped Ionic Graphene

Compound. Mater. Horiz. 2017, 4, 456.

• Seah, W. L.; Tang, C. G.; Png, R. Q.; Keerthi, V.; Zhao, C.; Guo, H.; Yang, J. G.; Zhou, M.; Ho, P. K. H.;

Chua, L. L. Interface Doping for Ohmic Organic Semiconductor Contacts Using Self-Aligned

Polyelectrolyte Counterion Monolayer. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2017, 1606291.

• Tang, C. G.; Ang, M. C. Y.; Choo, K. K.; Keerthi, V.; Tan, J. K.; Nur Syafiqah, M.; Kugler, T.; Burroughes,

J.H.; Png, R. Q.; Chua, L. L.; Ho, P. K. H. Doped Polymer Semiconductors with Ultrahigh and Ultralow

Work Functions for Ohmic Contacts. Nature 2016, 539, 536.

• Png, R. Q.; Ang, M. C. Y; Teo, M. H.; Choo, K. K.; Tang, C. G.; Belaineh, D.; Chua, L. L.; Ho, P. K. H.

Madelung and Hubbard Interactions in Polaron Band Model of Doped Organic Semiconductors. Nat.Commun. 2016, 7, 11948.

• Yang, J. G.; Seah, W. L.; Guo, H.; Tan, J. K.; Zhou, M.; Matsubara, R.; Nakamura, N.; Png, R. Q.; Ho, P. K.

H.; Chua, L. L. Characterization of Ohmic Contacts in Polymer Organic Ffield-Effect Transistors. Org.Electron. 2016, 37, 491.

RECENT INTERESTS

My research program focuses on materials and processing development to advance the science and

technology of polymer organic semiconductors including organic polymer−graphene hybrids. Several

device chemistry aspects that is central to Organic Electronics, including structure-morphology–

property relations and energy-level engineering.

To make high-performance semiconductor

devices, good ohmic contacts between the

electrode and the semiconductor layer are

required to enable the maximum current

density across the contact. Hole-doped

polymer organic semiconductors are

available in a limited workfunction range

but hole- and electron doped materials with

ultralow and ultrahigh work functions are

not yet available. The key challenges are

stabilizing the thin films against de-doping

and suppressing dopant migrants. Here we

report a general strategy to overcome these

limitations and achieved solution-

processable doped films over a wide range

of workfunction (3.0-5.8 eV.

high density of mobile holes on p-conjugated OSC core for injection

h+

M+

–tethered counter-ion for self-compensation

–spectator ion and tethered counter-ion for processability

e−X−+ +

Self-compensated p-doped polymer OSC

Self-compensated n-doped polymer OSC


36

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chualaylay.htm

http://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/~ondl/


Associate Professor CHUAH Gaik Khuan

Postdoc., Fritz-Haber-Institüt, 1987; Ph.D., Texas A&M Univ., 1987; B.Sc., Univ.of Singapore, 1984

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chuahgk.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Our main research area is on heterogeneous catalysis :

• Applications of zeolites in fine chemicals synthesis

• Green chemistry and catalysis

• Synthesis and applications of materials with tunable textural properties

• Photocatalysts in water remediation

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Zirconium phosphates are used as cation exchangers in the treatment of nuclear wastes and radioactive

wastewater, acid catalysts and catalyst supports, intercalation host for drugs and other molecules, fast

ion conductors and in chromatography. Zirconium phosphate exists in various crystal structures. In the

a-form, planes of zirconium atoms are bridged by phosphate groups which are alternately located

above and below the planes. Each zirconium atom is six-coordinated with oxygen atoms from six

different phosphate groups. For each phosphate group, three of the oxygen atoms are bonded to three

different zirconium atoms while the fourth oxygen atom is protonated. This proton, being

exchangeable, gives the material its ion-exchange property with exchange capacity. However, synthesis

methodologies to form crystalline -zirconium phosphate (Zr(HPO4)2·H2O) typically involve the use of

excess phosphoric acid, addition of HF or oxalic acid and long reflux times or hydrothermal conditions.


• Cheng, Y.; Wang, X.; Jaenicke, S.; Chuah, G. K. Minimalistic Liquid-Assisted Route to Highly

Crystalline a-Zirconium Phosphate. ChemSusChem 2017, 10, 3235-3242.

• Yanxiu Gao, Y. X.; Wang, J.; Han, A. J.; Jaenicke, S.; Chuah, G. K. Chemoselective TransferHydrogenation of α, β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds Using Potassium Formate Over Amine-

Grafted Ru/AlO(OH) Catalysts. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2016, 6, 3806 – 3813.

• Wang, J.; Okumura, K.; Jaenicke, S.; Chuah, G. K. Post-Synthesized Zirconium-Containing Beta Zeolite

in Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley Reduction: Pros and Cons. Appl. Catal. A. 2015, 493, 112-120.

• Han, A. J.; Sun, J. L.; Lin, X. H.; Yuan, C.-H.; Chuah, G. K.; Jaenicke, S. Influence of Facets and

Heterojunctions in Photoactive Bismuth Oxyiodide. RSC Adv. 2015, 5, 88298-88305.

• Fan, A.; Jaenicke, S.; Chuah, G. K. A Heterogeneous Pd-Bi/C Catalyst in the Synthesis of L-Lyxose and

L-Ribose from Naturally Occurring D-Sugars. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2011, 9 (22), 7720-7726. [Hot

paper].

• Radhakrishnan, R.; Wu, J. A.; Jaenicke, S.; Chuah, G. K. Effects of Acidity and Pore Size Constraints on

Supported Niobium Oxide Catalysts for the Selective Formation of Glycerol Monolaurate.

ChemCatChem 2011, 3 (4), 761-770.

• Radhakrishan, R.; Do, D. M.; Jaenicke, S.; Sasson, Y.; Chuah, G. K. Potassium Phosphate as a Solid

Base Catalyst for the Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Aldehydes and Ketones. ACS Catal. 2011,

1 (11), 1631-1636.

We have developed a minimalistic sustainable

route using only zirconium oxychloride and

concentrated phosphoric acid to form highly

crystalline -zirconium phosphate within hours.

The morphology can be changed from platelets

to rod-shaped particles. Key features of this

minimal solvent synthesis are the excellent

yields obtained with high atom economy under

mild conditions and ease of scalability .


37

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/chuahgk.htm


Associate Professor FAN Wai Yip

Postdoc., Univ. of California at Berkeley, 2000; Ph.D., Univ. of Cambridge, 1998;B.Sc., Univ. of London, 1994

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/fanwy.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Two primary areas : (1) Earth-abundant transition metal complexes as catalysts for electrochemical

proton reduction and organic transformations such as dehydrogenative coupling. (2) Molecular and

nanomaterials for catalysis and photochemical processes.


• Yap, C.P.; Hou, K.P.; Bengali, A; Fan, W. Y. A Robust Penta-Coordinated Fe(II) Proton Reduction

Catalyst Stabilized by a Tripodal Phosphine. Inorg. Chem. 2017, in press.

• Teo, A. K. L.; Fan, W. Y. A Novel Iron Complex for Highly Efficient Catalytic Hydrogen Generation

from fhe Hydrolysis of Organosilanes. Chem. Commun. 2014, 50 (54), 7191-7194.

• Hou, K. P.; Poh, H. T.; Fan, W. Y. Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Generation by a Trithiolato-Bridged

Dimanganese Hexacarbonyl Anion with a Turnover Frequency Exceeding 40 000 s(-1). Chem.

Commun. 2014, 50 (50), 6630-6632.

• Ng, C. H. B.; Fan, W. Y. Reuleaux Triangle Disks: New Shape on the Block. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014,

136 (37), 12840-12843.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Yap, C.P.; Hou, K.P.; Bengali, A; Fan, W. Y., A Robust Penta-Coordinated Fe(II) Proton Reduction

Catalyst Stabilized by a Tripodal Phosphine, Inorg. Chem. 2017, ASAP article.

We report the preparation of a robust iron complex capable of sustaining the catalysis of

electrochemical proto reduction at a low overpotential and catalytic efficiency. The design on the

complex is inspired by the distal Fe center of the [FeFe] hydrogenase..


38

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/fanwy.htm


Associate Professor GAO Zhiqiang

B.Sc. Ph.D., Wuhan University; Feinberg Postdoctoral Fellow, Weizmann Institute

of Science; Lee Kuan Yew Postdoctoral Fellow, National University of Singapore.

https://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Gaozhiqiang.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Analytical Chemistry. Electrochemistry, Nanobiotechnology, Renewable Energy and Medical Devices.


• Yang, X.; Gao, Z. Q. Enzyme-Catalyzed Deposition of Ultrathin Silver Shells on Gold Nanorods: A

Universal and Highly Efficient Signal Amplification Strategy for Translating Immunoassay into

Litmus-Type Test. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 6928-6931.

• Lim, S. Y.; Shen, W.; Gao, Z. Q. Carbon Quantum Dots and Their Applications. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2015,44 (1), 362-381.

• Yang, X. J.; Yu, Y. B.; Gao, Z. Q. A Highly Sensitive Plasmonic DNA Assay Based on Triangular Silver

Nanoprism Etching. ACS Nano 2014, 8 (5), 4902–4907.

• Shen, W.; Deng, H. M.; Gao, Z. Q. Gold Nanoparticle-Enabled Real-Time Ligation Chain Reaction for

Ultrasensitive Detection of DNA. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134 (36), 14678−14681.

• Shen, W.; Deng, H.; Teo, A. K. L.; Gao, Z. Colorimetric Detection of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms

with a Real-Time PCR-Like Sensitivity. Chem. Commun. 2012, 48 (82), 10225–10227.

• Peng, Y. F.; Gao, Z. Q. Amplified Detection of MicroRNA Based on Ruthenium Oxide Nanoparticle-

Initiated Deposition of an Insulating Film. Anal. Chem. 2011, 83 (3), 820–827.

• Yi, G. S.; Peng, Y. F.; Gao, Z. Q. Strong Red-Emitting Near-Infrared-to-Visible Upconversion

Fluorescent Nanoparticles. Chem. Mater. 2011, 23 (11), 2729–2734.

• Roy, S.; Chen, X.; Li, M.-H.; Peng, Y.; Anariba, F.; Gao, Z. Mass-Produced Nanogap Sensor Arrays for

Ultrasensitive Detection of DNA. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131 (34), 12211–12217.

• Fan, Y.; Chen, X.; Trigg, A. D.; Tung, C.-h.; Kong, J.; Gao, Z. Detection of MicroRNAs Using Target-

Guided Formation of Conducting Polymer Nanowires in Nanogaps. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129(17), 5437–5443.

• Fan, Y.; Chen, X. T.; Kong, J. M.; Tung, C. H.; Gao, Z. Q. Direct Detection of Nucleic Acids by Tagging

Phosphates on Their Backbones with Conductive Nanoparticles. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46 (12),

2051–2054.

PRIMERY US PATENT GRANTED

• Somenath, R.; Gao, Z. Transistor Arrangement and a Method of Forming a Transistor Arrangement.

U.S. Patent 8,963,118, February 24, 2015.

• Gao, Z.; Zhang, J. Immunoassay. U.S. Patent 8,679,772, March 25, 2014.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Yang, X. J.; Yu, Y. B.; Gao, Z. Q., A Highly Sensitive

Plasmonic DNA Assay Based on Triangular Silver

Nanoprism Etching. ACS Nano 2014, 8 (5), 4902–4907.

A facile DNA detection platform based on a plasmonic

silver nanoprism etching process, in which the shape

and size of the nanoprisms were altered accompanied

by a substantial surface plasmon resonance shift.

Through the combination of enzyme-linked

hybridization chain reaction amplification and inherent

sensitivity of plasmonic silver nanoprims, this assay

could detect as low as 6.0 fM target DNA.


39

https://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Gaozhiqiang.htm


Associate Professor HUANG Dejian

Postdoc., MIT, 2001; Ph.D., Indiana Univ. Bloomington, 1999; M.Sc., ChineseAcad. of Sciences, 1990; B.Sc., Fujian Teachers Univ., 1987

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/huangdj.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Transition metal complex-based fluorescent probes for ultrasensitive detection of small molecules of

biological importance, such as H2S, NO, NO2, and 1O2.

• High throughput assay-guided isolation and characterizations of natural products with alpha-

amylase inhibitory activity and anti-aging activity (using yeast as a model), induced phytoalexins

from plant seeds

• Chemistry of dietary organosulfur compounds with regard to their activity as a natural H2S donors in

biology.


• Liang, D.; Wu, H. X.; Wong, M. W.; Huang, D. J. Diallyl Trisulfide is a Fast H2S Donor, but Diallyl

Disulfide is a Slow One: the Reaction Pathways and Intermediates of Glutathione with

Polysulfides. Org. Lett. 2015, 17(17), 4196-4199.

• Yan, Y.; Krishnakumar, S.; Yu, H.; Ramishetti, S.; Deng L. W.; Wang, S. H.; Huang, L., Huang, D. J.

Nickel (II) Dithiocarbamate Complexes Containing Sulforhodamine B as Fluorescent Probes for

Selective Detection of Nitrogen Dioxide. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135(14), 5312-5315.

• Liu, T. T.; Song, L. X.; Wang, H. Y.; Huang, D. J. A High-Throughput Assay for Quantification of Starch

Hydrolase Inhibition Based on Turbidity Measurement. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2011, 59 (18), 9756-

9762.

• Wang, S. H.; Han, M. Y.; Huang, D. J. Nitric Oxide Switches on the Photoluminescence of Molecularly

Engineered Quantum Dots. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131 (33), 11692-11694.

• Huang, D. J.; Ou, B. X.; Prior, R. L. The Chemistry behind Antioxidant Capacity Assays. J. Agric. FoodChem. 2005, 53 (6), 1841-1856.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Liang, D., Wang, C., Tocmo, R., Wu, H., Deng, L. W., Huang, D.J. Hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S)

releasing capacity of essential oils isolated from organosulphur rich fruits and vegetables. J. Funct.Foods. 2015, 14, 634-640.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Highly cited researcher (in Agricultural Sciences) by Thomson Reuters, 2014, 2015.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous

signaling molecule with multiple biological

functions in human body. A fluorescent

probe based method for H2S releasing

capacity assay in cell lines was developed,

and the H2S releasing capacities of 10

organosulfur rich foods (garlic, red onion,

yellow onion, scallion, shallot, leek, spring

onion, Chinese chives, durian, and stinky

beans) were evaluated and ranked. Stinky

beans (a vegetable from South East Asia)

topped the ranking with incredible H2S

releasing capacity, followed by garlic and

yellow onion.


40

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/huangdj.htm


Associate Professor HUYNH Han Vinh

Dr. rer. nat (magna cum laude), Univ. Münster (WWU), Germany, 2002; Dipl. Chem., Univ. Münster (WWU), Germany, 1999

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/huynh.htm


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, 2003-2004

• Asian Core Program Lectureship Award for Hong Kong 2010

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Our research involves ligand design for applications in organometallic and classical coordination

Chemistry. Specific foci are:

• Development of unprecedented and non-classical carbenes and related strong donor ligands

• Applications of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) complexes in catalysis and bioorganometallic

chemistry

• Physical organic chemistry

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Bernhammer, J.C.; Frison, G.; Huynh, H. V., Electronic Structure Trends in N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

(NHCs) with Varying Number of Nitrogen Atoms and NHC[BOND]Transition-Metal Bond Properties.

Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19 (38), 12892−12905.


• Bernhammer, J. C.; Singh, H.; Huynh, H. V. Amine-Functionalized Indazolin-3-Ylidene Complexes of

Palladium(II) by Postmodification of a Single Precursor. Organometallics 2014, 33 (16), 4295–4301.

• Yuan, D.; Teng, Q. Q.; Huynh, H. V. Template-Directed Synthesis of Palladium(II) Sulfonate-NHC

Complexes and Catalytic Studies in Aqueous Mizoroki-Heck Reactions. Organometallics 2014, 33 (7),

1794−1800.

• Liu, Y.; Ganguly, R.; Huynh, H. V.; Leong, W. K. Direct Evidence for the Attack of a Free N-Heterocyclic

Carbene at a Carbonyl Ligand: A Zwitterionic Osmium Carbonyl Cluster. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013,52 (46), 12110−12113.

• Huynh, H. V.; Teng, Q. Q. Highly Modular Access to Functionalised Metal-Carbenes via Post-

Modifications of a Single Bromoalkyl-Substituted NHC-Pd(II) Complex. Chem. Commun. 2013, 49(39), 4244–4246. [Invited contribution for the special issue “Emerging Investigators 2013”].

• Guo, S.; Sivaram, H.; Yuan, D.; Huynh, H. V. Gold and Palladium Hetero-Bis-NHC Complexes:

Characterizations, Correlations, and Ligand Redistributions. Organometallics 2013, 32 (13),

3685−3696.


41

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/huynh.htm


Dr rer. nat., 1981, University of Karlsruhe; B.Sc. (Vordiplom), 1973, University ofCologne;

https://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/jaenicke.htm


Associate Professor Stephan JAENICKE

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The Jaenicke Research Group conducts studies in heterogeneous catalysis with the aim to understand

the origins of catalytic activity, and to use that fundamental understanding for the design of improved

catalysts. Reactions are followed by steady state measurements in flow reactors, and by determining

the concentration profiles in batch reactions. With these data, the chemical kinetic are determined and

the catalytic performance evaluated. We also use spectroscopic measurements to identify species on

the catalyst surfaces. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy, solid state NMR, UV-vis reflectance and

infrared spectroscopy reveal further details of the chemical state of the surface and the bonding of

adsorbed species. The acid catalysis by zeolites, hydrodeoxygenation of biomass derived molecules,

and the photochemical degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants over semiconductor surfaces are

catalytic systems of current interest. Particularly the conversion of sugars and other biomaterial into

platform molecules for the chemical economy of the future, which will be based on renewable raw

materials (bio-refinery concept), is central to our research program.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTSingle-crystalline nanosheets with either {001} or {110} planes as the dominant facets were formed by

tuning the pH during synthesis. The {001}-facetted BiOI consisted of large crystallites with low surface

areas in contrast to the thinner and smaller {110}-facetted platelets. The specific activity per m2 for the

photodegradation of p-cresol was ~ 5 times higher over the {001} than over the {110}-facetted BiOI of

p-cresol. The specific activity per m2 for the photodegradation of p-cresol was ~ 5 times higher over

the {001} than over the {110}-facetted BiOI which can be correlated to the stronger adsorption of the

substrate at the oxygen-rich {001} surface.

However, the low surface area of < 1 m2 g-1 is a drawback

for practical use. Instead, by simple calcination of {110}-

facetted BiOI at structures were formed. Instead, by

simple calcination of {110}-facetted BiOI at 350 oC,

composites of different BixOyIz phases with closely related

crystalline structures were formed. The intimate contact

between the phases results in the formation of

heterojunctions which greatly improve the photoactivity,

even over that of {001}-facetted BiOI.

PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Han, A. J.; Sun, J. L.; Chuah, G. K.; Jaenicke, S, Enhanced p-Cresol Photodegradation over BiOBr/Bi2O3 in

the Presence of Rhodamine B. RSC Adv. 2017, 7, 145–152.

• Roslan, I. I.; Ng, K.-H.; Chuah, G. K.; Jaenicke, S. 2-Aminopyridines as an a-Bromination Shuttle in a

Transition Metal-Free One-Pot Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2-]pyridines. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2016, 358, 364-

369.

• Liu, H.; Chuah, G. K.; Jaenicke, S. Alumina-Entrapped Ag Catalyzed Nitro Compounds Coupled with

Alcohols using Borrowing Hydrogen Methodology. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2015, 17, 15012-15018.

• Han, A. J.; Sun, J. L.; Lin, X. H.; Yuan, C.-H.; Chuah, G. K.; Jaenicke, S. Influence of Facets and

Heterojunctions in Photoactive Bismuth Oxyiodide. RSC Adv. 2015, 5, 88298-88305.

• Wang, J.; Do, D. M.; Chuah, G. K.; Jaenicke, S. Core-Shell Composite as the Racemization Catalyst in the

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols. ChemCatChem 2013, 5 (1), 247-254.

• Liu, H. H.; Chuah, G. K.; Jaenicke, S. N-Alkylation of Amines with Alcohols over Alumina-Entrapped Ag

Catalysts using the “Borrowing Hydrogen" Methodology. J. Catal. 2012, 292, 130-137.

• Fan, A.; Jaenicke, S.; Chuah, G. K. A Heterogeneous Pd-Bi/C Catalyst in the Synthesis of L-Lyxose and L-

Ribose from Naturally Occurring D-sugars. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2011, 9 (22), 7720-7726.

• Ng, J. F.; Weil, T.; Jaenicke, S. Cationized Bovine Serum Albumin with Pendant RGD Groups forms Efficient

Biocoatings for Cell Adhesion. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B. 2011, 99B (2), 282-290.

• Ng, J. F.; Nie, Y. T.; Chuah, G. K.; Jaenicke, S. A Wall-Coated Catalytic Capillary Microreactor for the Direct

Formation of Hydrogen Peroxide. J. Catal. 2010, 269 (2), 302-308.


42

https://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/jaenicke.htm


Associate Professor KANG Hway Chuan

Ph.D., Caltech, 1989; B.Sc., Yale Univ., 1983

https://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/kanghc.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Surface chemistry and physics and computational chemistry are my main interests. My specific foci

include:

• Silicon-germanium surfaces/interfaces

• Electronic structure and reactivity of nanoclusters of pure and mixed transition metals

• Sputtering dynamics

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

My research focuses upon the use of simulations grounded in statistical and quantum mechanics to

provide molecular scale "pictures" of physical and chemical processes in molecules, clusters, surfaces

and bulk materials. We are interested in modelling the kinetics of catalytic reactions, the structure and

properties of solid and cluster surfaces, reaction energetics, the interactions and reactions of molecules

adsorbed on surfaces, and the energetics of defects on surfaces and in the bulk.


• Ng, R. Q. M.; Tok, E. S.; Kang, H. C. Disilane Chemisorption on SixGe1-x(100)-(2x1): Molecular

Mechanisms and Implications for Film Growth Rates. J. Chem. Phys. 2009, 131 (4), 8.

• Ong, W.; Tok, E. S.; Johll, H.; Kang, H. C. Self-Assembly, Dynamics, and Structure of Si Magic Clusters.

Phys. Rev. B. 2009, 79 (23), 9.

• Johll, H.; Kang, H. C.; Tok, E. S. Density Functional Theory Study of Fe, Co, and Ni Adatoms and

Dimers Adsorbed on Graphene. Phys. Rev. B. 2009, 79 (24), 18.

• Ng, R. Q. M.; Tok, E. S.; Kang, H. C. Molecular Mechanisms for Disilane Chemisorption on Si(100)-

(2x1). J. Chem. Phys. 2009, 130 (11), 11.

Li, Q.; Tok, E. S.; Kang, H. C. Energetics of Adsorbed Hydrogen and Surface Germanium on Stepped

Si(x)Ge(1-x)(100)-(2 X 1) Surfaces. Phys. Rev. B. 2008, 77 (20), 10.


43

https://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/kanghc.htm


Associate Professor LAI Yee Hing

Postdoc., Univ. of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, 1982;Ph.D., Univ. of Victoria, 1980; B.Sc., Nanyang Univ., 1978

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/laiyh.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

My primary interest lies on organic chemistry.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Our research interests are centred mainly on the studies of conjugated aromatic systems going from

theoretically interesting molecules to organic materials for specific applications.


• Wang, W. L.; Xu, J. W.; Sun, Z.; Zhang, X. H.; Lu, Y.; Lai, Y. H. Effect of Transannular p-p Interaction on

Emission Spectral Shift and Fluorescence Quenching in Dithia 3.3 Paracyclophane-Fluorene

Copolymers. Macromolecules 2006, 39 (21), 7277-7285.

• Wang, F.; Han, M. Y.; Mya, K. Y.; Wang, Y. B.; Lai, Y. H. Aggregation-Driven Growth of Size-Tunable

Organic Nanoparticles using Electronically Altered Conjugated Polymers. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005,

127 (29), 10350-10355.

• Ting, Y. H.; Lai, Y. H. Extreme Projection of a Proton into the p-cloud of an Aromatic Ring: Record

Shielding of an Aromatic Proton in Trans-10b-Methyl-10c-(1-Naphthyl)-10b,10c-Dihydropyrene. J.Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126 (3), 909-914.

• Zhang, Y. P.; Yong, K. S.; Lai, Y. H.; Xu, G. Q.; Wang, X. S. Formation of Order Molecular

Nanostructures on the Si(111)-(7x7) Surface by Patterned Assembly. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2004, 85 (14),

2926-2928.

• Wang, F.; Lai, Y. H.; Han, M. Y. Post-Coordination of Multinuclear Transitional Metal Clusters to

Azulene-Based Polymers: A Novel Strategy for Tuning Properties in p-conjugated Polymers. Org.Lett. 2003, 5 (25), 4791-4794.


44

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/laiyh.htm


Associate Professor LAM Yulin

Research Fellow, Inst. of Molecular and Cell Biology, 1994-1996; Research Fellow,The Scripps Research Inst., 1992-1994; Ph.D., National Univ. of Singapore, 1992;B.Sc.(Hons), National Univ. of Singapore, 1987

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/lamyl.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Our research interests include (i) bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, and (ii) green chemical synthesis.

Specific foci are:

• Synthesis and biological evaluations of novel organic compounds and natural product derivatives as

potential anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and neurological agents;

• Development of recyclable, fluorous reagents and catalysts for organic transformations in water.


• Ng, C. Y.; Kwok, T. X. W.; Tan, F. C. K.; Low, C.-M.; Lam, Y. Fluorogenic Probes to Monitor Cytosolic

Phospholipase A2 Activity. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 1813.• Poh, Z. W.; Gan, C. H.; Lee, E. J.; Guo, S.; Yip, G. W.; Lam, Y. Divergent Synthesis of Chondroitin Sulfate

Disaccharides and Identification of Sulfate Motifs that Inhibit Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Sci. Rep.2015, 5, 14355.

• Ang, W. J.; Lam, Y. Allylic and Benzylic sp(3) C-H Oxidation in Water. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2015, 13 (4),

1048-1052.

• Huang, H.; Ng, C. Y.; Yu, D. J.; Zhai, J.; Lam, Y.; Soong, T. W. Modest CaV1.342-Selective Inhibition by

Compound 8 is β-Subunit Dependent. Nat. Commun. 2014, 5 , 7.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTRef. : Ng, C. Y.; Kwok, T. X. W.; Tan, F. C. K.; Low, C.-M.; Lam, Y, Fluorogenic Probes to Monitor Cytosolic

Phospholipase A2 Activity. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 1813.

Cytosolic phospholipase A2

(cPLA2) is an ubiquitous enzyme

which is highly selective for

glycerophospholipids containing

arachidonic acid (AA). There has

been much interest to

understand the molecular

mechanism regulating this

enzyme and to develop

therapeutics for the treatment of

cPLA2-upregulated diseases.

Herein we have developed AA

derivatives equipped with either

one or two fluorescent groups

which function as inhibitor and

substrate probes of cPLA2. The

inhibition was demonstrated to

perform dual functions of

inhibition and imaging while the

substrate probe could be used

for activity assay.

Figure show the targeting of cPLA2 by the newly-designed inhibitor

and substrate probes. Left: Identifying differences in cPLA2 level in

untreated and Trichostatin A (TSA)-treated SHSY5Y cells. Right:

FRET-based assay with the use of substrate probe that demonstrate

higher selectivity for cPLA2 against sPLA2.


45

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/lamyl.htm



Associate Professor LIU Shao Quan

Postdoctoral Fellow, New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, 1994-1997; Ph.D,Massey University, New Zealand, 1994; M.S., Massey University, New Zealand1990; B.S., South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China, 1985

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/liusq.htm

E-mail: [email protected]

RESEARCH INTERESTS

General interests are food science and technology. Specific foci are:

• Flavour modulation (e.g. tea, coffee, palm kernel oil)

•Food and beverage fermentation (e.g. probiotic beer, fruit wine, meat sauce)

• Valorisation of food processing side streams (e.g. okara, tofu whey)


• Lee, L. W. W.; Liu, X. S.; Wong, W. S. E.; Liu, S.-Q. Effects of Sucrose Monopalmitate (P90), Tween 80

and Modified Starch on Coffee Aroma Retention and Release in Coffee Oil-Based Emulsions. FoodHydrocolloids 2017, 66, 128-135.

• Lu, Y. Y.; Chua, J. Y.; Huang, D. J.; Lee, P. R.; Liu, S.-Q. Chemical Consequences of Three Commercial

Strains of Oenococcus oeni Co-Inoculated with Torulaspora Delbrueckii in Durian Wine

Fermentation. Food Chem. 2017, 215, 209-218.

• Toh, M. Z.; Liu, S.-Q. Influence of Commercial Inactivated Yeast Derivatives on the Survival of

Probiotic Lactobacillus Rhamnosus HN001 in an Acidic Environment. AMB Express 2017, 7, 156.

• Vong, W. C.; Lim, X. Y.; Liu, S.-Q. Biotransformation with Cellulase, Hemicellulase and YarrowiaLipolytica Boosts Health Benefits of Okara. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2017, 101, 7129-7140

• Zhang, W.; Zhao, F.; Yang, T.; Zhao F.; Liu, S.-Q. Pentopan Mono MG Pretreatment Modified the

Aroma of Palm Kernel Oil after Kernel Roasting. LWT – Food Sci. Technol. 2017, 86, 577-585.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Toh, M.Z., and Liu, S.-Q.

(2017). Influence of commercial

inactivated yeast derivatives on

the survival of probiotic

Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001

in an acidic environment. AMB

Express 7, 156.

Reduction of L. rhamnosusHN001 viability after 10-h

exposure to PBS adjusted to pH

3.0 with lactic acid at 30 °C in

the presence of whole extract,

water-soluble (supernatant) and

insoluble fraction (pellets) of

0.3% IYDs. Different lowercase

letters indicate significant

differences (P < 0.05). Values

are the mean of triplicate

experiments (n = 3), with error

bars representing the standard

deviations of the mean values.

c

b

a

d

ab ab

d

aab

d

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Co

ntr

ol

Wh

ole

ex

tra

ct

Solu

ble

fra

ctio

n

Inso

lub

le

fra

ctio

n

Wh

ole

ex

tra

ct

Solu

ble

fra

ctio

n

Inso

lub

le

fra

ctio

n

Wh

ole

ex

tra

ct

Solu

ble

fra

ctio

n

Inso

lub

le

fra

ctio

n

Lo

g (

N0h/N

10h)

46

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/liusq.htm


Associate Professor Christian A. NIJHUIS

Postdoc., Harvard University, 2007; Ph.D., University of Twente, 2002; M. Sc.,University of Groningen, 1996

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Nijhuis.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

My general research interests include molecular electronics, plasmonic-electronics, supramolecular

chemistry & self-assembly, quantum plasmonics, micro/nano-fabrication

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Du W; Wang T; Chu HS; Nijhuis CA, “Highly Efficient On-Chip

Direct Electronic-Plasmonic Transducers” NATURE PHOTONICS. DOI:

10.1038/s41566-017-0003-5.

Photonic elements have a data transport capacity that far exceeds

(more than 1,000 times) that of electronic systems, however, they are

usually large in size and this greatly limits their use in many advanced

nano-electronics systems. Surface plasmon polaritons, which are light-

confined to sub-wavelength dimensions, function like photonic

elements but they are usually excited by optical means. We developed

plasmonic-electronic transducers that can efficiently convert electrical

signals into plasmonic signals eliminating the need for bulky optical

elements. These devices are efficient and based on tunnelling

junctions, and have the potential to be integrated with existing

technologies.


• Chen, X.; Roemer, M.; Yuan, L.; Du, W.; Thompson, D.; del Barco, E.; Nijhuis, C. A. Nat. Nanotech. 2017, 12,

797–803.

• Loh, D.; Sen, S.; Bosman, M.; Tan, S. F.; Zhong, J.; Nijhuis, C. A.; Král, P.; Matsudaira, P.; Mirsaidov, U Nat.Chem. 2017, 9, 77–82

• Du, W.; Wang, T.; Chu, H.; Wu, L.; Liu, R.; Sun, S.; Phua, W.K.; Wang, L.; Tomczak, N.; Nijhuis, C. A. Nat.Photon. 2016, 10, 274 – 280.

• Yuan, L.; France, C.; Crivillers, N.; Mas-Torrent, M.; Cao, L.; Sangeeth, C. S. S.; Rovira, C.; Veciana, J.; Nijhuis,

C. A. Nat. Commun. 2016, 7, 12066.

• Garrigues, A. R.; Wang, L.; del Barco, E.; Nijhuis, C. A. Nat. Commun. 2016, 7, 11595.

• Song, P.; Suchand Sangeeth, C. S.; Thompson, D.; Du, W.; Loh, K. P.; Nijhuis, C. A. Adv. Mater. 2016, 28,

631–639

• Wang, D.; Fracasso, D.; Nurbawono, A.; Annadata, H. V.; Sangeeth, C. S. S.; Yuan, L.; Nijhuis, C. A. Adv.Mater. 2015, 27, 6689–6695 .

• Jiang, L.; Sangeeth, C. S. S.; Yuan, L.; Thompson, D.; Nijhuis, C. A. Nano Lett. 2015, 15 (10), 6643–6649.

• Yuan, L.; Nerngchamnong, N.; Cao, L.; Hamoudi, H.; del Barco, E.; Roemer, M.; Sriramula, R.; Thompson, D.;

Nijhuis, C. A. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6, 6324.

• Yuan, L.; Nerngchamnong, N.; Cao, L.; Hamoudi, H.; del Barco, E.; Roemer, M.; Sriramula, R. K.; Thompson,

Yuan, L.; Jiang, L.; Thompson, D.; Nijhuis, C. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136 (18), 6554-6557.

• Tan, S. F.; Wu, L.; Yang, J. K. W.; Bai, P.; Bosman, M.; Nijhuis, C. A. Science 2014, 343 (6178), 1496-1499.

• Nerngchamnong, N.; Yuan, L.; Qi, D.-C.; Li, J.; Thompson, D.; Nijhuis, C. A. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2013, 8, 113-

118.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Head of the Molecular Electronics & Nanofabrication laboratory (2010 – present)

• NRF research fellowship award (2010)

• Young Scientist Award (2014)

• University Young Researcher Award, NUS (2016)

• Department Outstanding Chemist Award, Department of Chemistry, NUS (2016)


47

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Nijhuis.htm


Associate Professor Suresh VALIYAVEETTIL

Ph.D.- Univ of Victoria, BC, Canada. BSc/MSc. Calicut University, Kerala, India,MTech. - Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, IndiaPost doc. - Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Cornell University.

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/suresh.htm



• Hao, L.; Desai, M. K.; Wang, P.; Valiyaveettil S. Successive Extraction of As(V), Cu(II), and P(V) Ions

from Water using Surface Modified Ghee Residue Protein. ACS Sustain. Chem. 2017, 5, 3742-3750.

• Hao, L.; Wang, P.; Valiyaveettil S. Successive Extraction of As(V), Cu(II) and P(V) Ions from Water

using Spent Coffee Powder as Renewable Bioadsorbents. Sci. Rep. 2017, 7, 42881.

• Sen, C. P.; Valiyaveettil, S. Soluble Graphene Nanoribbons from Planarization of Oligophenylenes.

Chem. Eur. J. 2017, 23, 1686-1693

• Sen, C. P.; Valiyaveettil, S. Synthesis, Characterization, and Structure-Property Investigation of

Conformationally Rigid Regioisomers of Poly(p-Phenylene Ethynylene)s. J. Polymer Sci. A 2016, 54,

3652 – 3662.

• Sen, C. P., Goud, V. D., Shrestha, R. G., Shrestha, L. K., Ariga, K., Valiyaveettil, S. BODIPY Based

Hyperbranched Conjugated Polymers for Detecting Organic Vapors. Polymer Chem. 2016, 7, 4213 –

4225.

• Sriramulu, D., Turaga, S. P., Yi, A. X ., Bettiol, A. A., Valiyaveettil, S. Synthesis, Characterization and

Application of Luminescent Silica Nanomaterials. J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4 (47), 11190 – 11197.

• Murali, M. G., Wang, X. Z., Wang, Q., Valiyaveettil, S. New Banana Shaped A-D-p-D-A Type Organic

Dyes Containing Two Anchoring Groups for High Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. Dyes andPigments, 2016, 134, 375-381.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests are:

• Cellulose and Biomaterials

• Functional polymers

• Nanomaterials, Nanosafety/Nanotoxicity

• Materials for environmental applications

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Synthesis of optically active hydrophobic silica particles: We reported a correlation between optical

properties with the molecular alignment and aggregation of perylene molecules inside and outside

the silica nanoparticles, See Scientific Reports, 2017, 7, Article Number: 7842.; Scientific Reports, 2016,

6, Article Number: 35993; J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4 (47), 11190 – 11197.

Polymers with well defined architectures

Regioirregular PPE1, R =

Regioirregular PPE2, R =

Regioregular PPE3, R = PPE4, R =

Super hydrophobic

hard silica coatings


48

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/suresh.htm


Associate Professor Thomas WALCYZK

Postdoc., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology (ETH Zurich), 1996; Ph.D. (Dr. rer.nat.), Univ. of Regensburg (D), 1994; Dipl. Chem., Univ. of Regensburg (D), 1991

Joint appointment with Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Dept. of Biochemistry

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/walczyk.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research at our lab is directed towards a better understanding of mineral and trace element metabolism

in humans and their role in health and disease with a special focus on iron and calcium. Specific foci are:

• Factors affecting absorption, utilization and excretion of essential elements by the human body

• Development and application of stable isotope techniques for element tracing in animal and human

studies

• Exploration of natural isotope signatures in the human body for essential elements

• Inorganic trace analysis and elemental speciation analysis by isotope dilution mass spectrometry


• Hotz, K.; Walczyk, T. Natural Iron Isotopic Composition of Blood is an Indicator of Dietary Iron

Absorption Efficiency in Humans. J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2013, 18 (1), 1-7.

• Chew, G.; Walczyk, T. Measurement of Isotope Abundance Variations in Nature by Gravimetric

Spiking Isotope Dilution Analysis (GS-IDA). Anal. Chem. 2013, 85 (7), 3667-3673.

• Hotz, K.; Augsburger, H.; Walczyk, T. Isotopic Signatures of Iron in Body Tissues as a Potential

Biomarker for Iron Metabolism. J. Anal. Atom. Spectrom. 2011, 26 (7), 1347-1353.

• Bullen, T. D.; Walczyk, T. Environmental and Biomedical Applications of Natural Metal Stable Isotope

Variations. Elements 2009, 5 (6), 381-385.

• Hoppler, M.; Zeder, C.; Walczyk, T. Quantification of Ferritin-Bound Iron in Plant Samples by Isotope

Tagging and Species-Specific Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry. Anal. Chem. 2009, 81 (17), 7368-

7372.

• Denk, E.; Hillegonds, D.; Vogel, J.; Synal, A.; Geppert, C.; Wendt, K.; Fattinger, K.; Hennessy, C.;

Berglund, M.; Hurrell, R. F.; Walczyk, T. Labeling the Human Skeleton with Ca-41 to Assess Changes

in Bone Calcium Metabolism. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2006, 386 (6), 1587-1602. [ABC Best Paper Award

2007].

• Krayenbuehl, P. A.; Walczyk, T.; Schoenberg, R.; von Blanckenburg, F.; Schulthess, G. Hereditary

Hemochromatosis is Reflected in the Iron Isotope Composition of Blood. Blood 2005, 105 (10),

3812-3816.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

References:

• Chen, J.; Singh, N.N.; Tay, H.; Walczyk, T., Imbalance of iron influx and efflux causes brain iron

accumulation over time in the healthy adult rat. Metallomics 2014, 6, 1417-1426.

• Chen, J.; Shinavas, S.; Singh, N.N.; Ong, W.Y.; Walczyk, T., Stable iron isotope tracing reveals

significant brain iron uptake in adult rats. Metallomics 2013, 5, 167–173.

Iron deposits in brain are a hallmark of several neurodegenerative

disorders including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease. Earlier short-

term experiments in rodents using radiotracers showed that uptake of

injected iron by the healthy brain is only marginal after closure of the

blood brain barrier early in life (< 0.001% of dose). In a series of rat

studies we pioneered stable isotope tracing of iron from diet to brain

in the first ever long-term in vivo experiment involving continuous

tracer feeding. In agreement with earlier studies we found that only a

minor fraction of administered iron entered the brain. However, due to

the low concentration of iron in brain, this fraction amounted to ca. 10% of brain iron which challenges

current textbook knowledge. In a second experiment we could show that iron influx exceeds iron efflux

in the long-term and that iron accumulation in brain over lifetime is apparently inevitable.


49

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/walczyk.htm



Associate Professor Simon WATTS

B.Sc. [Hons]: (1981) Bradford, UK; Ph.D. (1985) : Royal School of Mines, ImperialCollege, UK

Postdoctoral: Universities at Norwich (UK), Leeds (UK), Oxford (UK), Wellington(NZ); Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (NZ); KiwicareCorporation (NZ).

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/Watts.htm


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Chair of the (UK) Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences, 2006-2007

• Member of Council of the Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2005-2007

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Atmospheric biogeochemistry of Sulfur, and its effects on health and climate. Development of passive

samplers for hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide and a range of atmospheric pollutants. Particular foci

are:

• outdoor urban air quality and health

• Indoor urban air quality, cultural artefacts and health

• Passive samplers (particularly for reduced sulfur) to assess air quality

• emissions of reduced sulfur from engine exhaust systems

• reduced sulfur and climate change

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Sekine, Y.; Watts, S.F.; Rendell, A.; Butsugan, M., Development of highly sensitive passive sampler

for nitrogen dioxide using porous polyethylene membrane filter as turbulence limiting diffuser. Atmos.Env. 2008, 42 (18), 4079-4088.

The new class of multi analyte high speed passive samplers.


• Sekine, Y.; Watts, S. F.; Butsugan, M. The Use of Passive Samplers for Assessing Personal Exposure

and Air Concentrations of Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbonyl Compounds in Indoor,

Outdoor and Workplace Environments. In Advance in Chemistry Research, Taylor, J. C., Ed. Nova

Science Publisher Inc: New York, 2012; Vol. 11, pp 255-275.

• Watts, S. F. The Mass Budgets of Carbonyl Sulfide, Dimethyl Sulfide, Carbon Disulfide and Hydrogen

Sulfide. Atmos. Env. 2000, 34 (5), 761-779.

• Hipkins, S.; Watts, S. F. Estimates of Air Pollution in York: 1381-1891. Env. Hist. 1996, 2 (3), 337-345.

• Watts, S. F.; Brimblecombe, P.; Watson, A. J. Methane Sulfonic Acid, Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Dimethyl

Sulfone in the Marine Atmosphere. Atmos. Env. 1990, 24A, 353-359.

50

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/Watts.htm



Associate Professor XU Qing-Hua

Postdoc., UC Santa Barbara, 2005; Postdoc., Stanford Univ., 2002; Ph.D., UCBerkeley, 2001; M.Sc. Univ. of Chicago, 1997; M.Sc. Peking Univ., 1996; B.Sc.,Zhejiang Univ., 1993

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/xuqh.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

We are mainly interested in development of various light based applications, such as sensing, imaging,

photo-sensitization and optoelectronics using nano-materials and organic/polymer materials, as well as

investigation of the underlying fundamental mechanisms and photophysical processes using various

novel optical spectroscopy and imaging techniques to understand their working principles, which

provide insights for device design of better performance. Specific foci are:

• Nanophotonics, plasmonics, bophotonics and optoelectronics

• Optical spectroscopy and imaging


• Yuan, P. Y.; Ding, X.; Guan, Z. P.; Gao, N. Y.; Ma, R.; Jiang, X. F.; Yang, Y. Y.; Xu, Q. H. Plasmon-Coupled

Gold Nanospheres for Two-Photon Imaging and Photoantibacterial Activity. Adv. Healthc. Mater. 2015, 4(5), 674-678.

• Shen, X. Q.; Li, S.; Li, L.; Yao, S. Q.; Xu, Q. H. Highly Efficient, Conjugated-Polymer-Based Nano-

Photosensitizers for Selectively Targeted Two-Photon Photodynamic Therapy and Imaging of Cancer

Cells. Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21 (5), 2214-2221.

• Gao, N. Y. et al. Shape-Dependent Two-Photon Photoluminescence of Single Gold Nanoparticles. J. Phys.Chem. C. 2014, 118 (25), 13904-13911.

• Yuan, P. Y.; Ma, R. Z.; Guan, Z. P.; Gao, N. Y.; Xu, Q. H. Tuning Two-Photon Photoluminescence of Gold

Nanoparticle Aggregates with DNA and Its Application as Turn-on Photoluminescence Probe for DNA

Sequence Detection. ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. 2014, 6 (15), 13149-13156.

• Zhao, T. T. et al. Gold Nanorod Enhanced Two-Photon Excitation Fluorescence of Photosensitizers for

Two-Photon Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy. ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. 2014, 6 (4), 2700-2708.

• Guan, Z. P.; Gao, N. Y.; Jiang, X. F.; Yuan, P. Y.; Han, F.; Xu, Q. H. Huge Enhancement in Two-Photon

Photoluminescence of Au Nanoparticle Clusters Revealed by Single-Particle Spectroscopy. J. Am. Chem.Soc. 2013, 135 (19), 7272-7277.

• Fang, C. H.; Lee, Y. H.; Shao, L.; Jiang, R. B.; Wang, J. F.; Xu, Q. H. Correlating the Plasmonic and Structural

Evolutions during the Sulfidation of Silver Nanocubes. ACS Nano 2013, 7 (10), 9354-9365.

• Yu, K.; Zijlstra, P.; Sader, j.; Xu, Q. H.; Orrit, M. Damping of Acoustic Vibrations of Immobilized Single Gold

Nanorods in Different Environments. Nano Lett. 2013, 13 (6), 2710-2716.

• Tian, N.; Xu, Q. H. Enhanced Two-Photon Excitation Fluorescence by Fluorescence Resonance Energy

Transfer using Conjugated Polymers. Adv. Mater. 2007, 19 (15), 1988-1991.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Young Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, NUS 2008

RECENT HIGHLIGHTOur group recently found that aggregation of

noble metal nanoparticles resulted in significantly

enhanced two-photon photoluminescence. The

enhancement factor reached up to a few hundreds

of times in solution and five orders of magnitude

on the single particle level. This phenomenon has

been further utilized to develop various

applications in two-photon sensing, imaging, and

phototherapy. Ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy

and single particle spectroscopy have been

performed to understand the underlying

enhancement mechanisms.

thrombinAg NP

TBA15: 5’-GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG-3’

folded TBA15

400 500 600 7000

100

200

300

400

500

TP

PL

In

ten

sity

(a.u

.)

Wavelength (nm)

[Target DNA] (nM)

0 0.8

0.025 1.0

0.1 1.5

0.2 2.0

0.3 3.0

0.5 3.5

400 500 600 700

0

20

40

60

TP

PL

Inte

nsi

ty (

a.u

.)

Wavelength (nm)

[Target DNA] (nM)

0

0.005

0.025

0.050

0.075

0.100

A

C D

0.01 0.1 11

10

0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.081.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

TP

PL

/TP

PL

0

[Target DNA] (nM)

TP

PL

/TP

PL

0

Wavelength (nm)

Probe ssDNAa: 5’-TCCATGCAACTCAAAAAAAAAA-SH-3’

Probe ssDNAa: 5’-SH-AAAAAAAAAAAAGAGGAGTTAA-3’

Target ssDNA: 5’- GAGTTGCATGGATTAACTCCTCTT-3’

[Target DNA] (nM)

0 1.0

0.2 1.5

0.3 2.0

0.5 3.0

0.8 3.5

400 500 600 700 800 900

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

Ex

tin

cti

on

Wavelength (nm)

B

E

Ultrafast Spectroscopic Studies Single Particle Spectroscopic Studies

Chemical and Biological Sensing Bio-imaging and Phototherapy

51

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/xuqh.htm



Associate Professor YIP Hon Kay John

Ph.D., Univ. of Hong Kong, 1993; B.Sc., Univ. of Hong Kong, 1989

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/yipjohn.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

We design and synthesize inorganic and organometallic molecules for photocatalytic CO2 reduction, H2

formation and multichromophoric supramolecular assemblies for light harvesting and energy transfer.


• Hu, J.; Yip, J. H. K.; Ma, D. L.; Wong, K. Y.; Chung, W. H. Switching on the Phosphorescence of Pyrene

by Cycloplatination. Organometallics 2009, 28 (1), 51-59.

• Wang, Y. Y.; Lin, R.; Yip, J. H. K. Templated Assembly of a Pseudorotaxane of Gold Rectangles. DaltonT. 2008, (21), 2806-2808. [Selected as Hot paper and cover page].

• Heng, W. Y.; Hu, J.; Yip, J. H. K. Attaching Gold and Platinum to the Rim of Pyrene: a Synthetic and

Spectroscopic Study. Organometallics 2007, 26 (27), 6760-6768.

• Hu, J.; Lin, R.; Yip, J. H. K.; Wong, K. Y.; Ma, D. L.; Vittal, J. J. Synthesis and Electronic Spectroscopy of

Luminescent Cyclometalated Platinum-anthracenyl Complexes. Organometallics 2007, 26 (26), 6533-

6543.

• Lin, R.; Yip, J. H. K.; Zhang, K.; Koh, L. L.; Wong, K. Y.; Ho, K. P. Self-Assembly and Molecular

Recognition of a Luminescent Gold Rectangle. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126 (48), 15852-15869.

• Yip, J. H. K.; Wu, J. G.; Wong, K. Y.; Ho, K. P.; Pun, C. S. N.; Vittal, J. J. Electronic Communication

Mediated by a Pt-I-Pt-I Sigma-Bond. Organometallics 2002, 21 (24), 5292-5300.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Nguyen, M.-H.; Yip, J. H. K., Gold(I) and

Platinum(II)-Tetracenes and Tetracenyl-diacetylides:

Structural and Fluorescence Color Changes

Induced by σ-Metalation. Organometallics 2010,

29, 2422–2429.

Nguyen, M.-H.; Yip, J. H.K., Platinum-Conjugated

Homo- and Heterobichromophoric Complexes of

Tetracene and Pentacene. Organometallics 2012,

31, 7522–7531.

Nguyen, M.-H.; Yip, J. H.K., Pushing Pentacene-

Based Fluorescence to the Near-Infrared Region

by Platination. Organometallics 2011, 30, 6383–

6392.

52

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/yipjohn.htm


Associate Professor ZHANG Chun

Postdoc., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005-2008; Ph.D., University ofFlorida, 2004; M.S., Fudan University, 2000 ; B.S., Fudan University, 1996

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/zc.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Our research interests are theoretical modeling and simulation of materials at nanoscale Specific foci are:

• Molecular electronics

• Nanocatalysis


• Zhang, C.; Barnett, R. N.; Landman, U. Bonding, Conductance, and Magnetization of Oxygenated Au

Nanowires. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008, 100 (4).

• Zhang, C.; Yoon, B.; Landman, U. Predicted Oxidation of CO Catalyzed by Au Nanoclusters on a Thin

Defect-Free MgO Film Supported on a Mo(100) Surface. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129 (8), 2228-2229.

• Marchenkov, A.; Dai, Z. T.; Zhang, C.; Barnett, R. N.; Landman, U. Atomic Dimer Shuttling and Two-

level Conductance Fluctuations in Nb Nanowires. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2007, 98 (4).

• Zhang, C.; Wang, L. L.; Cheng, H. P.; Zhang, X. G.; Xue, Y. Spin-Dependent Transport through a

Magnetic Carbon Nanotube-Molecule Junction. J. Chem. Phys. 2006, 124 (20).

• Zhang, C.; Du, M. H.; Cheng, H. P.; Zhang, X. G.; Roitberg, A. E.; Krause, J. L. Coherent Electron

Transport through an Azobenzene Molecule: A Light-Driven Molecular Switch. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2004,

92 (15).

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Zhang, C.; Barnett, R. N.; Landman, U., Bonding, conductance, and magnetization of oxygenated

Au nanowires. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008, 100 (4).

Spin-density-functional calculations of tip-suspended gold chains, with molecular oxygen, or dissociated

oxygen atoms, incorporated in them, reveal structural transitions for varying lengths.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

CNMS Research Scholar Award, Oak Ridge National Lab (US), 2005


53

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/zc.htm


Associate Professor ZHAO Yu

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• To develop simple (asymmetric) catalytic systems to address key problems in chemistry

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Reported the first enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines using borrowing hydrogen:


• Lim, C. S. et al. Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinolines Using Borrowing Hydrogen.

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 7176 (VIP).

• Liu, T.-L. et al. Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Isomerization of Secondary Allylic Alcohols. J.Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 3643.

• Yang, L.-C. et al. Construction of Nine-Membered Heterocycles through Palladium-Catalyzed

Formal [5 + 4] Cycloaddition. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 2927.

• Lee, J. T. D. et al. Access to Acyclic (Z)-Enediynes via Alkyne Trimerization: Cooperative Bimetallic

Catalysis Using Air as the Oxidant. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55 , 13872.

• Pan, H.-J. et al. Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Imines using Alcohol: Efficiency and

Selectivity Are Affected by Hydrogen Donor. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55 , 9615.

• Huang, Y. et al. Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantioselective Vinylation of Activated Ketones and Imines. J.Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 6571.

• Huang, Y. et al. Cobalt-Catalyzed Allylation of Heterobicyclic Alkenes: Ligand-Induced Divergent

Reactivities. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 13696.

• Rong, Z. Q. et al. Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Amination of Alcohols: From A Mixture of Four

Isomers to Diastereo- and Enantiopure a-Branched Amines. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 4944.

• Liao, J. Y. et al. Catalytic Divergent Synthesis of 3H or 1H Pyrroles by 3+2 Cyclization of Allenoates

with Activated Isocyanides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 628.

• Lu, S. C. et al. Kinetic Resolution of 1,1 '-Biaryl-2,2 '-Diols and Amino Alcohols through NHC-

Catalyzed Atroposelective Acylation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 11041.

• Shao, P. L. et al. Highly Diastereo-and Enantioselective Silver-Catalyzed Double 3+2 Cyclization of

a-Imino Esters with Isocyanoacetate. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 5435.

• Zhang, Y. et al. Catalytic Enantioselective Amination of Alcohols by the Use of Borrowing Hydrogen

Methodology. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 1399.

• Zhao, Y. et al. Enantioselective silyl protection of alcohols catalysed by an amino-acid-based small

molecule. Nature 2006, 443, 67.

Assist Prof., NUS, 2011-2017; Postdoc., MIT, 2008-2011Ph.D., Boston college, 2008; B.S., Peking University, 2002

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/ZHAOYu.htmhttp://zhaoyugroup.sg


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Thieme Chemistry Journals Award, 2016

• Young Scientist Award, NUS Faculty of Science, 2015


54

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/ZHAOYu.htm

http://zhaoyugroup.sg/


Assistant Professor CHNG Shu Sin

Postdoc., Harvard Medical School, 2011; Ph.D., Harvard University, 2010;B.Sc.(Hons), National University of Singapore, 2003

Website: www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/ChngShuSin.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

My group focuses on understanding how biological membranes are assembled in cells using bacterial

outer membranes as models. Specifically, we are interested to elucidate the mechanisms of inter-

membrane lipid trafficking in Gram-negative bacteria and mycobacteria and to identify protein targets

in these bacteria for antibiotics discovery.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

The defining feature of the mycobacterial outer

membrane (OM) is the presence of mycolic acids

(MAs), which in part render the bilayer extremely

hydrophobic and impermeable to external insults,

including many antibiotics. While the biosynthetic

pathway of MAs is well studied, the mechanism(s)

by which these lipids are transported across the cell

envelope is(are) much less known. MmpL3, an

essential inner membrane (IM) protein, is

implicated in MA transport, but its exact function

has not been elucidated. It is believed to be the

cellular target of several anti-mycobacterial

compounds; however, evidence for direct inhibition

of MmpL3 activity is also lacking. Here, we establish

that MmpL3 is the MA flippase at the IM of

mycobacteria, and is the molecular target of

BM212, a 1,5-diarylpyrrole compound.


• Shrivastava, R.; Jiang, X. E.; Chng, S.-S. Bacterial Outer Membrane Homeostasis via Retrograde

Phospholipid Transport in Escherichia Coli. Mol. Microbiol. 2017, in press.

• Xu, Z. J.; Meshcheryakov, V. A.; Poce, G.; Chng, S.-S. MmpL3 is the Flippase for Mycolic Acids in

Mycobacteria. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2017, 114(30), 7993-7998.

• Thong, S. H.; Ercan, B.; Torta, F.; Fong, Z. Y.; Wong, H. Y.; Wenk, M.R.; Chng, S.-S. Defining Key Roles

for Auxiliary Proteins in an ABC Transporter that Maintains Bacterial Outer Membrane Lipid

Asymmetry. eLife 2016, 5 , e19042.

• Chong, Z.-S.; Woo, W.-F.; Chng, S.-S. Osmoporin OmpC Forms a Complex with MlaA to Maintain

Outer Membrane Lipid Asymmetry in Escherichia Coli. Mol. Microbiol. 2015, 98, 1133-1146.

We develop assays that selectively access mycolates on the surface of Mycobacterium smegmatisspheroplasts, allowing us to monitor flipping of MAs across the IM. Using these assays, we establish

the mechanism-of-action of BM212 as a potent MmpL3 inhibitor, and employ it as a molecular probe

to demonstrate the requirement for functional MmpL3 in the transport of MAs across the IM. Finally,

we show that BM212 binds MmpL3 directly and inhibits its activity. Our work provides fundamental

insights into OM biogenesis and MA transport in mycobacteria. Furthermore, our assays serve as an

important platform for accelerating the validation of small molecules that target MmpL3, and their

development as future anti-tuberculosis drugs.


55

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/ChngShuSin.htm


Assistant Professor Goki EDA

Postdoc, Imperial College LondonPh.D., Rutgers University ; M.Sc., Worcester Polytechnic Institute ; B.A.,International Christian University

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Eda.htmhttp://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/~phyeda/index.html


RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Graphene and other 2-dimensional solids

• Optical and vibrational spectroscopy

• Charge transport

• Electronic and optoelectronic devices

• Intercalation chemistry and colloidal processing

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Our studies have recently found that layered tungsten dichalcogenides such as WS2 and WSe2

undergo indirect-to-direct band gap transition when thinned to a monolayer. The transition results in

strongly enhanced photoluminescence from monolayer WS2 and WSe2.


• Zhao, W. J.; Ghorannevis, Z.; Chu, L. Q.; Toh, M. L.; Kloc, C.; Tan, P. H.; Eda, G. Evolution of Electronic

Structure in Atomically Thin Sheets of WS2 and WSe2. ACS Nano 2013, 7 (1), 791-797.

• Eda, G.; Fujita, T.; Yamaguchi, H.; Voiry, D.; Chen, M. W.; Chhowalla, M. Coherent Atomic and

Electronic Heterostructures of Single-Layer MoS2. ACS Nano 2012, 6 (8), 7311-7317.

• Eda, G.; Yamaguchi, H.; Voiry, D.; Takeshi, F.; Chen, M.; Chhowalla, M. Photoluminescence from

chemically exfoliated MoS2. Nano Lett. 2011, 11 (12), 5111-5116.

• Eda, G.; Chhowalla, M. Graphene Patchwork. ACS Nano 2011, 5 (6), 4265-4268.

• Wobkenberg, P. H.; Eda, G.; Leem, D. S.; de Mello, J. C.; Bradley, D. D. C.; Chhowalla, M.;

Anthopoulos, T. D. Reduced Graphene Oxide Electrodes for Large Area Organic Electronics. Adv.Mater. 2011, 23 (13), 1558-1562.

• Eda, G.; Chhowalla, M. Chemically Derived Graphene Oxide: Towards Large-Area Thin-Film

Electronics and Optoelectronics. Adv. Mater. 2010, 22 (22), 2392-2415.

• Loh, K. P.; Bao, Q. L.; Eda, G.; Chhowalla, M. Graphene Oxide as a Chemically Tunable Platform for

Optical Applications. Nat. Chem. 2010, 2 (12), 1015-1024.

• Eda, G.; Fanchini, G.; Chhowalla, M. Large-Area Ultrathin Films of Reduced Graphene Oxide as a

Transparent and Flexible Electronic Material. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2008, 3 (5), 270-274.

Photoluminescence spectra of 1~5 layer WS2 and WSe2.

Bright field and corresponding photoluminescence images

of exfoliated sheets of WS2 and WSe2.


56

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Eda.htm

http://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/~phyeda/index.html


Assistant Professor GE Shaozhong

Singapore Millenn. Found. Fellow, National Univ. of Singapore, 2002-2004;Postdoc., Univ. of Cambridge, 2002; Ph.D., Univ. of Cambridge, 1997; M.A., Univ.of Cambridge, 1996; B.A., Univ. of Cambridge, 1992

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/GeShaozhong.html


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Organometallic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis, Asymmetric Catalysis

The GE Research Group at NUS aims to discover and understand transition-metal-catalyzed reactions

of organic molecules. We will focus on the development of practical first-row metal-catalyzed reactions

that address problems encountered in the synthesis of complex organic molecules and drug discovery.

Our approaches to reaction discovery will involve identification and synthesis of potential

organometallic intermediates, the systematic study of their reactivity, and the detailed kinetic and

mechanistic study. Ultimately, our goal is to provide synthetic organic chemists with new catalysts and

new organic reactions of practical applications in chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Our focus on both fundamental and practical aspects of our reaction discovery provides an opportunity

for students in my group to get trained and expertized in various aspects of organometallic chemistry,

synthetic organic chemistry, and physical organic chemistry.


• Ge, S. Z.; Arlow, S. I.; Mormino, M. G.; Hartwig, J. F. Pd-Catalyzed -Arylation of Trimethylsilyl

Enolates of ,-Difluoroacetamides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136 (41), 14401-14404. [Highlighted by

C&EN 2014, 92, pp. 25].

• Ge, S. Z.; Chaladaj, W.; Hartwig, J. F. Pd-Catalyzed -Arylation of , -Difluoroketones with Aryl

Bromides and Chlorides. A Route to Difluoromethylarenes. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136 (11), 4149-

4152. [Highlighted by C&EN 2014, 92, pp. 25].

• Ge, S. Z.; Green, R. A.; Hartwig, J. F. Controlling First-Row Catalysts: Amination of Aryl and Heteroaryl

Chlorides and Bromides with Primary Aliphatic Amines Catalyzed by a BINAP-Ligated Single-

Component Ni(0) Complex. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136 (4), 1617-1627.

• Ge, S. Z.; Hartwig, J. F. Highly Reactive, Single-Component Nickel Catalyst Precursor for Suzuki-

Miyuara Cross-Coupling of Heteroaryl Boronic Acids with Heteroaryl Halides. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.

2012, 51 (51), 12837-12841. [Highlighted by Synfacts 2013, 9, 0143].

• Ge, S. Z.; Hartwig, J. F. Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric -Arylation and Heteroarylation of Ketones with

Chloroarenes: Effect of Halide on Selectivity, Oxidation State, and Room-Temperature Reactions. J.

Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133 (41), 16330-16333. [Highlighted by Synfacts 2012, 8, 0055].


57

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/GeShaozhong.html


Assistant Professor Kim Jung Eun

Post-doc, Purdue University; Dietetic Intern, Yale-New Haven Hospital; Ph.D.,Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut; M.S., Nutritional Science andFood Management, Ewha Womans University; B.S., Food and Nutrition, EwhaWomans University.


RESEARCH INTERESTS

As a nutrition scientist with advanced training in dietetics and human clinical research, my long-term

goal is to develop and validate dietary strategies that effectively protect against age-associated

morbidities, including obesity; cardiovascular disease; gastro-intestinal disease; sarcopenia; and

osteoporosis. To fulfill my long-term research goal, my short-term research objectives include

investigating the effects of dietary constituents (including bioactive compounds and dietary

macronutrients) on body composition and other cardio-metabolic health parameters in middle-aged

and older adults from human clinical studies.


• O'Connor, L.E.; Kim, J.E.; Campbell, W.W. Reply to A Satija et al. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2017,105 (6), 1568-

1569.

• Kim, J.E.; Dunville, K.; Li, J.; Cheng, J.; Conley, T.B.; Couture, C.; Campbell, W.W. Intermuscular

Adipose Tissue Content and Intramyocellular Lipid Fatty Acid Saturation are Associated with Fasting

State Glucose Homeostasis in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) [Online]

2017. Doi: 10.3803/EnM.2017.32.2.257.

• Kim, J.E.; Lin, G.; Zhou, J.; Case, J.; Campbell, W.W. The Effect of Higher Protein Intake During Weight

Loss on Monocyte Subpopulations and Their Relations to Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in

Overweight and Obese Adults. Nutr. Res. 2017, 40, 75-84.

• O'Connor, L.E.; Kim, J.E.; Campbell, W.W. Total Red Meat Intake ≥0.5 Servings per Day does not

Negatively Influence Cardiovascular Disease Risk: a Systemically Searched Meta-Analysis of

Randomized Controlled Trials. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2017,105 (1), 57-69.

• Song, J.K.; Jin, H.M.; Kim, J.E. A Study on Happiness in Massage Therapists with Visual Impairment

According to Their Work Type. Journal of Wellness 2016, 20 (3),1-16.

• Kim, J.E.; Ferruzzi, M.G.; Campbell, W.W. Egg Consumption Increases Vitamin E Absorption from Co-

Consumed Raw Mixed Vegetables in Healthy Young Men. J. Nutr. 2016, 146 (11), 2199-2205.

• Kim, J.E.; Moon, H.; Jin, H.M. The Effects of Exercise Training and Type of Exercise Training on

Changes in Bone Mineral Density in Korean Postmenopausal Women: a Systematic Review. J. Exerc.Nutrition Biochem. 2016, 20 (3), 7-15.

• Song, J.K.; Jin, H.M.; Kim, J.E. The Status of Health-Related Lifestyle in Massage Therapists with

Visual Impairment. Journal of Rehabilitation and Welfare 2016, 20 (3),1-16.


58

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Kim%20Jung%20Eun.htm


http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Kim Jung Eun.htm

Assistant Professor LU Jiong

Postdoctoral fellow, 2011-2014 National University of Singapore and Universityof California at Berkeley; Ph.D., 2011, National University of Singapore; B.Sc.,2007, Fudan University.

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/LuJiong.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Our group will conduct interdisciplinary research on low-dimensional materials for optoelectronic,

energy and environmental related applications. We aim to understand and control the chemical and

physical processes from the atomic to the macroscopic scale for creating novel functional materials and

devices. In particular, we are interested in exploring nanoscale chemical and physical phenomena with

an aim towards understanding the basic properties of single atoms and molecules at surfaces in a

device environment.


• Liu, Y.; Qiu, Z.; Carvalho, A.; Bao, Y.; Xu, H.; Tan, S. J. R.; Liu, W.; Castro Neto, A. H.; Loh, K. P.; Lu, J.

Gate-Tunable Giant Stark Effect in Few-Layer Black Phosphorus. Nano Lett. 2017, 17, 1970-1977.

• Wickenburg, S.; Lu, J.; Lischner, J.; Tsai, H. Z.; Omrani, A. A.; Riss, A.; Karrasch, C.; Bradley, A.; Jung, H.

S.; Khajeh, R.; Wong, D.; Watanabe, K.; Taniguchi, T.; Zettl, A.; Castro Neto, A. H.; Louie, S. G.;

Crommie, M. F. Tuning Charge and Correlation Effects for a Single Molecule on a Graphene Device

Nat. Commum. 2016, 13553, 7.

• Tsai, H. Z.; Omrani, A. A.; Coh, S.; Oh, H.; Wickenburg, S.; Son, Y. W.; Wong, D.; Louie, S. G.; Lu, J.;

Cohen, M. L.; Crommie, M. F. et al. Molecular Self-assembly in a Poorly Screened Environment:

F4TCNQ on Graphene/BN. ACS Nano 2015, 9, 12168-12173.

• Lu, J.; Gomes, L. C.; Nunes, R. W.; Neto, A. H. C.; Loh, K. P., Lattice Relaxation at the Interface of Two-

Dimensional Crystals: Graphene and Hexagonal Boron-Nitride. Nano Lett. 2014, 14 (9), 5133-5139.

• Yang, B.; Xu, H.; Lu, J.; Loh, K. P., Periodic Grain Boundaries Formed by Thermal Reconstruction of

Polycrystalline Graphene Film. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136 (34), 12041-12046.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Best Graduate Researcher in Chemistry, NUS (2011)

• Wang Gungwu Medal and Prize, NUS (2012)

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Two-dimensional black phosphorus has sparked

enormous research interest due to its high carrier

mobility, layer-dependent direct bandgap and

outstanding in-plane anisotropic property. It is one

of the few 2D materials where it is possible to tune

the bandgap over a wide energy range from the

visible to the IR spectrum. A team led by Assistant

professor Lu Jiong has demonstrated an electrical

field-controlled giant Stark effect in black

phosphorus for potential applications in advanced

electro-optic devices. This work has recently been

published in Nano Letters (DOI:10.1021/acs.nanolett.

6b05381) and highlighted in Nature Photonics

(doi:10.1038/nphoton.2017.102).


59

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/LuJiong.htm


Assistant Professor TAN Zhi Kuang

Postdoc. (2015): University of Cambridge; Ph.D. (2014): University of Cambridge;B.Sc., Honours 1st Class (2010): National University of Singapore

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/tanzk.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Materials chemistry and physics of optoelectronic devices

• New hybrid and organic semiconductors

• Spectroscopy and charge dynamics in semiconductors

• Nano-materials, structures and quantum dots


• Li, G.; Rivarola, F. W. R.; Davis, N. J. L. K.; Bai, S.; Jellicoe, T. C.; Peña, F. d. l.; Hou, S.; Ducati, C.; Gao, F.;

Friend, R. H.; Greenham, N. C.; Tan, Z.-K. Highly-Efficient Perovskite Nanocrystal Light-Emitting Diodes

Enabled by a Universal Cross-linking Method. Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 3528.

• Tan, Z. K.; Moghaddam, R. S.; Lai, M. L.; Docampo, P.; Higler, R.; Deschler, F.; Price, M.; Sadhanala, A.; Pazos,

L. M.; Credgington, D.; Hanusch, F.; Bein, T.; Snaith, H. J.; Friend, R. H. Bright Light-Emitting Diodes Based

on Organometal Halide Perovskite. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2014, 9 (9), 687.

• Tan, Z. K.; Vaynzof, Y.; Credgington, D.; Li, C.; Casford, M. T. L.; Sepe, A.; Huettner, S.; Nikolka, M.; Paulus, F.;

Yang, L.; Sirringhaus, H.; Greenham, N. C.; Friend, R. H. In-Situ Switching from Barrier-Limited to Ohmic

Anodes for Efficient Organic Optoelectronics. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2014, 24 (20), 3051.

• Tan, Z. K.; Johnson, K.; Vaynzof, Y.; Bakulin, A. A.; Chua, L. L.; Ho, P. K. H.; Friend, R. H. Suppressing

Recombination in Polymer Photovoltaic Devices via Energy-Level Cascades. Adv. Mater. 2013, 25 (30),

4131.

• Li, G. R.; Tan, Z. K.; Di, D. W.; Lai, M. L.; Jiang, L.; Lim, J. H. W.; Friend, R. H.; Greenham, N. C. Efficient Light-

Emitting Diodes Based on Nanocrystalline Perovskite in a Dielectric Polymer Matrix. Nano Lett. 2015, 15(4), 2640.

• Wang, J. P.; Wang, N. N.; Jin, Y. Z.; Si, J. J.; Tan, Z. K.; Du, H.; Cheng, L.; Dai, X. L.; Bai, S.; He, H. P.; Ye, Z. Z.;

Lai, M. L.; Friend, R. H.; Huang, W. Interfacial Control Toward Efficient and Low-Voltage Perovskite Light-

Emitting Diodes. Adv. Mater. 2015, 27 (14), 2311.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

NUS Early Career Research Award

National Research Foundation PhD Overseas Scholarship

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

In 2014, we successfully demonstrated bright electroluminescence in new hybrid perovskites (Tan, Z.-K.

et al., Nature Nanotechnology 9, 687), thereby opening up possibilities of their application in large-

area colour displays and lighting. Our group aims to build on this initial success to achieve high-

performance perovskite-based light-emitting diodes and photovoltaics through materials and device

engineering as well as fundamental optical and structural investigations. As perovskite semiconductors

possess low exciton binding energy, it is necessary to confine electronic charges within quantum dots

or charge-wells for efficient exciton formation and radiative recombination. We chemically synthesize

luminescent perovskite nanoparticles and nanorods, and work on surface defect passivation to

enhance their luminescence yield. We analyse our new nano

materials using advanced structural techniques such as x-ray

diffraction, atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy

to investigate their crystallinity and polydispersity. We also use

optical spectroscopic techniques to determine luminescence

efficiency and spectral characteristics, which could provide

clues towards defect density and the extent of exciton

confinement. Successes in the development of this new

material class could bring real commercial benefits towards the

growing large-panel display industry.


60

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/tanzk.htm


Assistant Professor WU Jie

Postdoc., Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, 2012-2015; Ph.D., BostonUniversity, 2012; B.Sc. Beijing Normal University, 2006

https://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Wu%20Jie.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

The research program in WU group will leverage recent advances in organic synthesis with continued

development of engineered continuous-flow reactors to provide new chemical transformations and

technologies with relevance to contemporary problems. The field of flow chemistry is rapidly expanding

and has the potential to revolutionize the synthesis of organic molecules. It has also been identified as

a key research area for sustainable manufacturing in industry. Our long-term goal is to advance

otherwise difficult or ineffective chemical reactions using continuous-flow techniques, as well as to

develop new chemical strategies to aid the multistep flow process. Our group’s research is truly

multidisciplinary including both organic chemistry and engineering aspects, which provides

opportunities to learn areas of research outside of traditional organic synthesis. Students in my group

will get trained on continuous-flow synthesis, multi-


• Wu, J.; Yang, X., He, Z.; Mao, X.; Hatton, T. A.; Jamison, T. F. Continuous Flow Synthesis of Ketones

from Carbon Dioxide and Organolithium or Grignard Reagents. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53(32),

8416-8420.

• Wu, J.; Kozak, J. A.; Simeon, F.; Hatton, T. A.; Jamison, T. F. Mechanism-Guided Design of Flow

Systems for Multicomponent Reactions: Conversion of CO2 and Olefins to Cyclic Carbonates. Chem.

Sci. 2014, 5 (3), 1227-1231.

• Kozak, J. A.; Wu, J.; Su, X.; Simeon, F.; Hatton, T. A.; Jamison, T. F. Bromine-Catalyzed Conversion of

CO2 and Epoxides to Cyclic Carbonates under Continuous Flow Conditions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013,

135 (49), 18497-18501.

• Wu, J.; Pu, Y.; Panek, J. S. Divergent Synthesis of Functionalized Carbocycles through Organosilane-

Directed Asymmetric Alkyne-Alkene Reductive Coupling and Annulation Sequence. J. Am. Chem.

Soc. 2012, 134 (44), 18440-18446.

• Wu, J.; Becerril, J.; Lian, Y. J.; Davies, H. M. L.; Porco, J. A.; Panek, J. S. Sequential Transformations to

Access Polycyclic Chemotypes: Asymmetric Crotylation and Metal Carbenoid Reactions. Angew.

Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50 (26), 5938-5942.

• Wu, J.; Panek, J. S. Total Synthesis of (-)-Virginiamycin M-2. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49 (35),

6165-6168.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

SkolTech Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013-2014

Step synthesis, green chemistry, and

microfluidics. They will build in-depth

chemistry background and strong problem-

solving techniques. The advantages of

continuous flow processing are increasingly

being appreciated both by industry and

academia, and students expertized in this

field will find enormous job opportunities.


61

https://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Wu Jie.htm


Assistant Professor YANG HongshunPost-doc, University of Maryland, 2013; Auburn University, 2006-2008; Ph.D., Food

Science, University of Minnesota, 2012; Ph.D., Refrigeration & Cryogenics

Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2005; M.S., Henan University of

Technology, 2002; B.S., Anhui Science and Technology University, 1998.

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Yanghongshun.htm

http://www.fst.nus.edu.sg/OurPeople/YangHS.html


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Member of Editorial Board, LWT-Food Science and Technology, Elsevier, 2017-present• NJC Partner Award, National Junior College, Singapore, 2017

• The Most Valuable Partner Award, Guangzhou Welbon Biological Technology Co., Ltd, 2017

• Outstanding Collaborator Award, Guangzhou Welbon Biological Technology Co., Ltd, 2016

• Certificate of Appreciation, Y G C Group (S) Pte. Ltd, 2015

• PepsiCo Global Research Competition Award, PepsiCo., Inc., 2011

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My overall research interests are food processing and safety engineering. Specific foci are: Organic

and/or Sustainable Food Processing; Food Safety Engineering.


• Yu, X.; Yang, H. Pyrethroid Residue Determination in Organic and Conventional Vegetables using

Liquid-solid Extraction Coupled with Magnetic Solid Phase Extraction based on Polystyrene-coated

Magnetic Nanoparticles. Food Chem. 2017, 217, 303-310.

• Yang, H.; Wu, Q.; Ng, L.Y.; Wang, S. Effects of Vacuum Impregnation with Calcium Lactate and Pectin

Methylesterase on Quality Attributes and Chelate-soluble Pectin Morphology of Fresh-cut

Papayas. Food and Bioprocess Tech. 2017, 10, 901-913.

• Feng, X.; Zhu. Y.; Liu, Q.; Lai, S.; Yang, H. Effects of Bromelain Tenderisation on Myofibrillar Proteins,

Texture and Flavour of Fish Balls Prepared from Golden Pomfret. Food and Bioprocess Tech. 2017,

10, 1918-1930.

• Feng, X.; Fu, C.; Yang, H. Gelatin Addition Improves Nutrient Retention, Texture and Mass Transfer of

Fish Balls without Altering Their Nanostructure during Boiling. LWT-Food Sci. Technol. 2017, 77, 142-

151.

• Liu, Q.; Wu, J.; Lim, Z.Y.; Aggarwal, A.; Yang, H.; Wang, S. Evaluation of the Metabolic

Response of Escherichia Coli to Electrolysed Water by 1H NMR Spectroscopy. LWT-Food Sci. Technol.2017, 79, 428-436 .

• Zhang, J.; Zhou, S.; Chen, R.; Yang, H., Development of a Portable Electrolytic Sanitising Unit for the

Production of Neutral Electrolysed Water. LWT-Food Sci. Technol. 2017, 82, 207-215.

Ref. : Lin, M.; Tay, S.H.; Yang, H.; Yang, B., Li, H., Development of eggless cakes suitable for lacto-

vegetarians using isolated pea proteins. Food Hydrocolloid. 2017, 69, 440-449.

Eggs are important components of cakes. However, some consumers cannot enjoy traditional cakes

made with eggs due to religious beliefs and health concerns. Isolated pea protein (PPI), xanthan gum

(XN), and emulsifier mixtures were investigated to prepare eggless cakes. The eggless cake recipe

containing PPI+0.1% XN+1% soy lecithin was considered as a potential candidate recipe for

substituting eggs in cakes.


62

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/Yanghongshun.htm

http://www.fst.nus.edu.sg/OurPeople/YangHS.html


Assistant Professor Rowan Drury YOUNG

BSc (UNSW), PhD (ANU), Postdoc (Oxon), Postdoc (Edin)

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/youngdr.html

RESEARCH INTERESTSMy group’s chemistry is focused on developing and understanding catalytic chemical transformations.

The ability to streamline the efficiency of current and future industrial catalytic processes is a key

element in societies’ reduction of energy usage for a greener future. This research field encompasses

more traditional redox active metal based catalysis to recently developed Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP)

catalysis. In particular I am interested in accessing alternate reaction pathways and reaction products

through the use of Z-type ligands (electron pair acceptors) and carbocation Lewis acids.

2.. Carbon-boron activation chemistry

Carbon-carbon coupling reactions are seen as fundamental

towards building complex organic motifs, and are a

foundation of organic chemistry. Increasingly, inorganic

chemists are developing catalytic C-C bond forming reactions

that are proving to be more efficient and economical in

generating a range of organic compounds. A number of these

reactions rely upon transmetallation. For example, the Suzuki-

Miyaura cross-coupling reaction (Figure 2). This reaction is

already used industrially as a convenient route to high

demand commercial chemicals such as biaryls and polyaryls.

My research interests lie in exploring the activation chemistry

of carbon-boron bonds to better understand the mechanism

of transmetallation. Figure 2. Left – Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling mechanism

(see: J. Organomet. Chem., 1999, 576, 147).

PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Shuttleworth, T. A.; Huertos, M. A.; Pernik, I.; Young, R. D.; Weller, A. S. Bis(Phosphine)Boronium Salts.

Synthesis, Structures and Coordination Chemistry. Dalton Trans. 2013, 42 (36), 12917-12925. [Elected as

a ‘Hot Article’].

• Young, R. D.; Hill, A. F.; Cavigliasso, G. E.; Stranger, R. [(µ-C){Re(CO)2(η-C5H5)}2]: A Surprisingly Simple

Bimetallic Carbide Complex. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52 (13), 3699-3702. [Featured in “Research

Highlights” in Chem. Aust. (June 2013 issue, page 9)].

• Hooper, J. F.; Young, R. D.; Pernik, I.; Weller, A. S.; Willis, M. C. Carbon-Carbon Bond Construction using

Boronic Acids and Aryl Methyl Sulfides: Orthogonal Reactivity in Suzuki-type Couplings. Chem. Sci. 2013,

4 (4), 1568-1572. [Featured in Synfacts: Swagger, T. M.; Sletten, E. M., Synfacts, 2013, 9, 495].

• Young, R. D.; Lawes, D. J.; Hill, A. F.; Ball, G. E. Observation of a Tungsten Alkane Sigma-Complex Showing

Selective Binding of Methyl Groups Using FTIR and NMR Spectroscopies. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134(20), 8294-8297.

- Cover art for issue 20, volume 134, May 2012

- Featured in “Spotlights on recent JACS publications”: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 8293-8293

- Work featured in JACS Cover Artpodcast #38

• Young, R. D.; Hill, A. F.; Hillier, W.; Ball, G. E. Transition Metal-Alkane Sigma-Complexes with Oxygen

Donor Co-Ligands. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133 (35), 13806-13809.


Figure 1. Imine hydrogenation catalysed by a

Frustrated Lewis Pair (see: Org. Biomol.

Chem., 2008, 6, 1535).

1. Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) Small molecule activationand catalysis.

The emergence of Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) has led to the

activation of small molecules using group 13 and 15 centres.

This chemistry has been developed into useful chemical

transformations, where the group 15 molecule has been

transformed (Figure 1). I am currently exploring catalytic

reactivity of customised FLPs..


63

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/academic_staff/youngdr.html


Dr CHAN Sau Han Edith

Lecturer

Ph.D., The University of Hong Kong; M.Phil., The Chinese University of HongKong; B.Sc.(Hons), The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/chansh.htm


TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Teaching interests include coordination chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, medicinal inorganic

chemistry and spectroscopic applications in inorganic chemistry.

• Teaching experiences in transition metal chemistry, general inorganic chemistry, biomolecules,

spectroscopic applications in inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry, coordination chemistry,

bioinorganic chemistry, general organic chemistry, material science, and a number of practical

courses including the topics of environmental science, spectroscopic applications, inorganic

chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry and physical chemistry.

• Research interests and experience include chemical biology and coordination chemistry.

• Educational research interests in medicinal inorganic chemistry and spectroscopic applications in

inorganic chemistry, and blended teaching and learning methods in inorganic chemistry.


• Pavlova, S. V.; To, H. L.; Chan, E. S. H.; Li, H. W.; Mak, T. C. W.; Lee, H. K.; Chan, S. I. Synthesis,

Structure and Dioxygen Reactivity of a Bis(m-Iodo)Di-Copper(I) Complex Supported by the N-(3,5-di-

Tert-Butyl-2-Hydroxybenzyl)-N,N-di-(2-Pyridylmethyl) Amine Ligand. Dalton Trans. 2006, 18, 2232-

2243.

• Tong, Y. L.; Yan, Y.; Chan, E. S. H.; Yang, Q. C.; Mak, T. C. W.; Ng, D. K. P. Cis-Dioxo-Tungsten(VI) and -

Molybdenum(VI) Complexes with N2O2 Tetradentate Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, Electrochemistry

and Oxo-transfer Properties. Dalton Trans. 1998, 18, 3057-3064.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Organising committee member, 9th Asian Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference (AsBIC9), 2018.

• Departmental Student Exchange Programme (SEP) Coordinator, NUS, 2008(Jan.)-2014(Aug.), & 2016

(April) – present.

• Judge, Singapore Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF), 2013-2017.

• Judge, 12th Singapore National Crystal Growing Challenge, 2016.

• Organizing committee member, International Conference on Coordination Chemistry (ICCC-41),

2014.

• Hon. Treasurer and Scientific Co-Chair, International Conference on Green & Sustainable Chemistry

(ICGSC), 2009.


64

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/chansh.htm


Dr CHUI Sin Yin, StephenLecturerChair of teaching laboratory

Ph.D., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 1999. University ofHong Kong, 2001-2011.

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/chuiSY.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Structure-Property Relation of Functional Molecules

Fundamental understanding of this concept is of interests for both basic and applied research. New

crystalline condensed and open framework materials exhibiting interesting solid-state properties such

as selective gaseous adsorption, charge-transport, magnetism, ferroelectricity, vapoluminescence,

liquid-crystal behaviours are of academic, scientific and technological impacts to our society.

Crystallography for Chemical Education

Commercial and open-access crystallographic database such as CSD, ICSD-FIZ, COD and AMCSD are

the world’s repository of experimental crystal structures of various organic and inorganic compounds.

Subsequent strategic exploration, innovations, analysis and transformations with all these useful

experimental evidence or resources for educational or pedagogical purpose would enhance a variety

of teaching and learning outcomes for our undergraduate core and advanced elective modules, which

are beneficial to teachers and students. Crystallography in Undergraduate Classrooms is of interest as

implemented by using freely downloadable software – OLEX2 for teaching structure determination of

X-ray structures of molecular and polymeric organic, inorganic and organometallics compounds.

Furthermore, exploring the uses of qualitative and quantitative phase analyses by X-ray powder

diffraction for teaching undergraduate practical modules are of current interests and in progress.

TEACHING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

CM2111 – Inorganic Chemistry 2CM2191 – Experiment in Chemistry 2CM3291 – Advanced Experiments Organic and Inorganic ChemistryCM4214 – Structural Methods in Inorganic ChemistryChair of Teaching Laboratories

Departmental Coordinator of Undergraduate Research Opportunities Projects in Science (UROPS)

Chemistry Safety Committee Member – Educator-Track Representative

Chairperson of CHEMDAYCAMP of NUS CHEM WEEK 2013 2015 2017

Deputy Mentor of Singapore Team for the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2014


• Tang, Y. Y.; Chui, S. S. Y.; Shih, K.; Zhang, L. R. Copper Stabilization via Spinel Formation during the

Sintering of Simulated Copper-Laden Sludge with Aluminum-Rich Ceramic Precursors. Env. Sci.Technol. 2011, 45 (8), 3598-3604.

• Kui, S. C. F.; Chui, S. S. Y.; Che, C. M.; Zhu, N. Y. Structures, Photoluminescence, and Reversible

Vapoluminescence Properties of Neutral Platinum(ii) Complexes Containing Extended pi-

conjugated Cyclometalated Ligands. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128 (25), 8297-8309.

• Chui, S. S. Y.; Chen, R.; Che, C. M. A Chiral [2] Catenane Precursor of the Antiarthritic Gold(I) Drug

Auranofin. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45 (10), 1621-1624

• Chui, S. S. Y.; Ng, M. F, Y.; Che, C. M. Structure Determination of Homoleptic AuI, AgI, and CuI

aryl/alkylethynyl Coordination Polymers by X-ray Powder Diffraction. Chem. Eur. J. 2005, 11(6),

1739-1749. [Front Cover Page].

• Lo, S. M. F.; Chui, S. S. Y.; Shek, L. Y.; Lin, Z. Y.; Zhang, X. X.; Wen, G. H.; Williams, I. D. Solvothermal

Synthesis of a Stable Coordination Polymer with Copper-I-copper-II Dimer units: [Cu4{1,4-

C6H4(COO)2}3(4,4'-bipy)2]n. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122 (26), 6293-6294.

• Chui, S. S. Y.; Lo, S. M. F.; Charmant, J. P. H.; Orpen, A. G.; Williams, I. D. A Chemically

Functionalizable Nanoporous Material [Cu3(TMA)2(H2O)3]n. Science 1999, 283 (5405), 1148-1150.


65

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/chuiSY.htm


Dr FOO Maw Lin

Lecturer

Special Appointed Assistant Professor: Kyoto University and Tokyo University(2012-2015); Post-doctoral Associate: UC Berkeley and Kyoto University (2008-2012); Ph.D. Princeton University (2005); B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. NationalUniversity of Singapore (2000)

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/FooML.htm


PEDAGOGICAL AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

Pedagogical interests include employment of Socratic methods to teach physical/inorganic chemistry

with focus on real-life applications. Application of technology to facilitate laboratory teaching and

learning.

Research interest include physical properties (photocatalytic, electrical, magnetic and gas adsorption) of

2D solid-state inorganic compounds and metal organic frameworks. Structural elucidation of crystal

structures via single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction.


• Foo, M. L.; Matsuda, R.; Hijikata, Y.; Krishna, R.; Sato, H.; Horike, S.; Hori, A.; Duan, J. G. ; Sato, Y.;

Kubota, Y.; Takata, M.; Kitagawa, S. An Adsorbate Discriminatory Gate Effect in a Flexible Porous

Coordination Polymer for Selective Adsorption of CO2 over C2H2. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138 (9),

3022-3030.

• Foo, M. L.; Matsuda, R.; Kitagawa, S. Functional Hybrid Porous Coordination Polymers. Chem. Mater.2014, 26 (1), 310-322.

• Foo, M. L.; Horike, S.; Inubushi, Y.; Kitagawa, S. An Alkaline Earth I3O0 Porous Coordination Polymer:

Ba2TMA(NO3)(DMF). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51 (25), 6107-6111.

• Schaak, R. E.; Klimczuk, T.; Foo, M. L.; Cava, R. J. Superconductivity phase diagram of

NaxCoO2∙1.3H2O. Nature 2003, 424 (6948), 527-529.

• Foo, M. L.; Wang, Y. Y.; Watauchi, S.; Zandbergen, H. W.; He, T.; Cava, R. J.; Ong, N. P. Charge

ordering, commensurability, and metallicity in the phase diagram of the layered NaxCoO2. Phys. Rev.Lett. 2004, 92 (24), 247001.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

Dodds University Honorific Fellowship, Princeton University (2004-2005)

Senior Chemist, Air Products and Chemicals (2006-2008), commercialized one amine curing agent


66

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/FooML.htm


Dr HOANG Truong Giang

Lecturer

B.Sc., National University of Singapore (2004, First Class Honors) Ph.D.,University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA (2012)

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/Giang.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Chemical Education: we are interested in designing new chemistry experiments to advance education

in undergraduate laboratory. Our focus are organic and medicinal chemistry experiments that

incorporate guide-inquiry pedagogy and modern concept of green chemistry.

Organic Synthesis: Development of new reaction methodologies via transition metal catalyzed bond

activation processes.

PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Hoang, G. T.; Kubo, T.; Young, V. G.; Kautzky, J. A.; Wissinger, J. E. Illustrating the Utility of X-ray

Crystallography for Structure Elucidation through a Tandem Aldol Condensation/Diels-Alder

Reaction Sequence. J. Chem. Educ. 2015, 92 (8), 1381-1384.

• Hoang, G. T.; Pan, Z. D.; Brethorst, J. T.; Douglas, C. J. Intramolecular Oxyacylation of Alkenes Using a

Hydroxyl Directing Group. J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79 (23), 11383-11394.

• Hoang, G. A. T.; Reddy, V. J.; Nguyen, H. H. K.; Douglas, C. J. Insertion of an Alkene into an Ester:

Intramolecular Oxyacylation Reaction of Alkenes through Acyl C-O Bond Activation. Angew. Chem.Int. Ed. 2011, 50 (8), 1882-1884. [Selected by the Editorial Board as a “Hot Paper”].

• Chng, S. S.; Hoang, T. G.; Lee, W. W. W.; Tham, M. P.; Ling, H. Y.; Loh, T. P. Synthetic studies towards

anti-SARS agents: application of an indium-mediated allylation of alpha-aminoaldehydes as the key

step towards an intermediate. Tetrahedron Lett. 2004, 45 (52), 9501-9504.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

New experiments were designed based on the Diels–Alder reaction of 2,3,4,5-

tetraphenylcyclopentadienone, which is synthesized prior to or in a one-pot reaction, with styrene.

Students are presented with three possible products, the endo and exo diastereomers and the

decarbonylated product. Both versions of the synthesis introduce students to two important and atom

economical reactions, use of the Karplus relationship for 1H NMR interpretation, and the power of X-

ray crystallography for molecular structure determination.


67

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/Giang.htm


Dr Adrian Michael, LEE

Senior Lecturer

Singapore Millenn. Found. Fellow, National Univ. of Singapore, 2002-2004;Postdoc., Univ. of Cambridge, 2002; Ph.D., Univ. of Cambridge, 1997; M.A., Univ.of Cambridge, 1996; B.A., Univ. of Cambridge, 1992

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/aml.htm


MAJOR RECOGNITION

• NASA Achievement Award, NASA, 1996

RESEARCH INTERESTS

We study the development and application of fragment-based quantum chemical methods to

accurately describe the properties and interactions of very large molecules. Specific foci are:

• Calculating the interaction energy between a neuraminidase substrate and several inhibitors,

including tamiflu and relenza.

• Optimisation of molecules within the energy-based fragmentation approximation and the

application of such techniques to nmr structure elucidation.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : ettens, R. P. A.; Lee, A. M., On the accurate reproduction of ab initio interaction energies between

an enzyme and substrate. Chem. Phys. Lett. 2007, 449 (4-6), 341-346.

This study reports the fragmentation of an entire enzyme and substrate and shows that the majority of

the small fragment molecule interactions can be accurately evaluated without the need to compute the

ab initio interaction energy. The perturbation approach presented in this work indicates the possibility

to perform accurate first principles molecular dynamics in systems as large as proteins.


• Lee, A. M.; Bettens, R. P. A. First Principles NMR Calculations by Fragmentation. J. Phys. Chem. A.2007, 111 (23), 5111-5115.

• Bettens, R. P. A.; Lee, A. M. A New Algorithm for Molecular Fragmentation in Quantum Chemical

Calculations. J. Phys. Chem. A. 2006, 110 (28), 8777-8785.

• Lee, A. M.; Roscoe, H. K.; Jones, A. E.; Haynes, P. H.; Shuckburgh, E. F.; Morrey, M. W.; Pumphrey, H.

C. The Impact of the Mixing Properties within the Antarctic Stratospheric Vortex on Ozone Loss in

Spring. J. Geophys. Res. 2001, 106 (D3), 3203-3211.

• Roscoe, H. K.; Jones, A. E.; Lee, A. M. Midwinter Start to Antarctic Ozone Depletion: Evidence from

Observations and Models. Science 1997, 278 (5335), 93-96.

• Wales, D. J.; Lee, A. M. Structure and Rearrangements of Small Trapped-Ion Clusters. Phys. Rev. A.1993, 47 (1), 380-393.

The −0.018 a.u. isosurface of the electrostatic potential

for the influenza neuraminidase tetramer computed

from first principles via energy-based molecular

fragmentation. This isosurface reveals that the most

energetically favorable approach of an anion to the

tetramer is only along a path that leads to a region of

the enzyme that includes the active site and secondary

binding site for sialic acid.


68

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/aml.htm


Dr LEONG Lai Peng

Senior Lecturer

Ph.D., Univ. of Leeds, 2000; M.Sc., Univ. of Leeds, 1996; B.Sc.(Hon), UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia, 1995

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/leonglp.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Main interest is in kinetics of chemical reactions in application to foods either during processing or

involving the development of methods for the analysis of foods. Specific foci are:

• Analysis of antioxidants in foods especially in relation to synergistic effect of antioxidants in micro

and nanoemulsion.

• Kinetics of Maillard reaction and antioxidant reactions in foods and in model system.

• Shelf life study of foods.

Also involved in the development of new food products for the food industry, sensory analysis of foods

and consumer perception studies. Other research area includes the migration of toxic contaminants in

foods and the authenticity of indigenous foods.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

Ref. : Chua, Y. G.; Chan, S. H.; Bloodworth, B. C.; Li, S. F. Y.; Leong, L. P., Identification of Edible Bird's Nest

with Amino Acid and Monosaccharide Analysis. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2015, 63 (1), 279-289.

The paper aims to identify Edible Bird's Nest based in the composition of amino acid and

monosaccharide. Such techniques can be used to authenticate foods for the prevention of food frauds.


• Chua, Y. G.; Chan, S. H.; Bloodworth, B. C.; Li, S. F. Y.; Leong, L. P. Identification of Edible Bird's Nest

with Amino Acid and Monosaccharide Analysis. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2015, 63 (1), 279-289.

• Goh, F. X. W.; Itohiya, Y.; Shimojo, R.; Sato, T.; Hasegawa, K.; Leong, L. P. Using Naturally Brewed Soy

Sauce to Reduce Salt in Selected Foods. J. Sens. Stud. 2011, 26 (6), 429-435.

• Thavasi, V.; Bettens, R. P. A.; Leong, L. P. Temperature and Solvent Effects on Radical Scavenging

Ability of Phenols. J. Phys. Chem. A. 2009, 113 (13), 3068-3077.

• , S. P.; Leong, L. P.; Koh, J. H. W. Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous Extracts of Selected Plants. Food

Chem. 2006, 99 (4), 775-783.

• Sun, C. L.; Leong, L. P.; Barlow, P. J.; Chan, S. H.; Bloodworth, B. C. Single Laboratory Validation of a

Method for the Determination of Bisphenol A, Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether and its Derivatives in

Canned Foods by Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography. J. Chromatogr. A. 2006, 1129 (1), 145-

148.

• Shui, G. H.; Leong, L. P. Analysis of Polyphenolic Antioxidants in Star Fruit using Liquid

Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. J. Chromatogr. A. 2004, 1022 (1-2), 67-75 .

• Shui, G. H.; Leong, L. P. Separation and Determination of Organic Acids and Phenolic Compounds in

Fruit Juices and Drinks by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. J. Chromatogr. A. 2002, 977

(1), 89-96.

• Leong, L. P.; Shui, G. An Investigation of Antioxidant Capacity of Fruits in Singapore Markets. Food

Chem. 2002, 76 (1), 69-75.

• Leong, L. P.; Wedzicha, B. L. A Critical Appraisal of the Kinetic Model for the Maillard Browning of

Glucose with Glycine. Food Chem. 2000, 68 (1), 21-28.


69

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/leonglp.htm


Dr LIU Mei Hui

Lecturer

BSc (Hons), National University of Singapore, Food Science and Technology,2003; Ph.D. ,National University of Singapore (Molecular Biology), 2007

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/lmh.html


RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Molecular Nutrition- Diet induced transcription regulation of Nuclear Receptors, their co-regulators

and non-coding RNAs in clinically relevant pathways using Genomics and Molecular approaches

• Nutrigenetics- Modulation of individual susceptibility to insulin resistance

• Nutrigenomics- Stratified nutritional strategies for the Asian population


• Liu, M.H.; Cheung, E. Systems Biology of Nuclear Hormone Signalling and Gene Regulation. In

Signaling Gene Regulation and Cancer; Singh, S.R.; Mishra, M.K., Ed.; Nova Science Publishers Inc. :

New York, 2012; pp 173-198.

• Mason, C. E.; Shu, F. J.; Wang, C.; Session, R. M.; Kallen, R. G.; Sidell, N.; Yu, T. W.; Liu, M. H.; Cheung,

E.; Kallen, C. B. Location Analysis for the Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Reveals Binding to Diverse ERE

Sequences and Widespread Binding within Repetitive DNA Elements. Nucleic Acids Res. 2010, 38

(7), 2355-2368.

• Fullwood, M. J.; Liu, M. H.; Pan, Y. F. et al. An Estrogen-Receptor-Alpha-Bound Human Chromatin

Interactome. Nature 2009, 462 (7269), 58-64.

• Pan, Y. F.; Wansa Kd Fau - Liu, M. H.; Liu Mh Fau - Zhao, B.; Zhao B Fau - Hong, S. Z.; Hong Sz Fau -

Tan, P. Y.; Tan Py Fau - Lim, K. S.; Lim Ks Fau - Bourque, G.; Bourque G Fau - Liu, E. T.; Liu Et Fau -

Cheung, E.; Cheung, E. Regulation of Estrogen Receptor-Mediated Long Range Transcription via

Evolutionarily Conserved Distal Response Elements. J. Biol. Chem. 2008, 283 (47), 32977- 32988 .

• Yong, E. L.; Li J Fau - Liu, M. H.; Liu, M. H. Single Gene Contributions: Genetic Variants of Peroxisome

Proliferator-Activated Receptor (Isoforms Alpha, Beta/Delta and Gamma) and Mechanisms of

Dyslipidemias. Curr. Opin. Lipidol. 2008, 19(2), 106- 112.

• Liu, M.H.; Li, J.; Shen, P.; Tai, E.S.; Yong, E.L. A Natural Polymorphism in Peroxisome Proliferator-

Activated Receptor-Alpha Hinge Region Attenuates Transcription due to Defective Release of

Nuclear Receptor Corepressor from Chromatin. Mol. Endocrinol. 2008, 22 (5), 1078-1092.

• Shen, P.; Liu, M.H.; Ng, T.Y.; Chan, Y.H.; Yong, E.L. Differential Effects of Isoflavones, from Astragalus

Membranaceus and Pueraria Thomsonii, on the Activation of PPARα, PPARγ, and Adipocyte

Differentiation In Vitro. J. Nutr. 2006, 136(4), 899-905.

• Loy, C. J.; Evelyn S Fau - Lim, F. K.; Lim Fk Fau - Liu, M. H.; Liu Mh Fau - Yong, E. L.; Yong, E. L. Growth

Dynamics of Human Leiomyoma Cells and Inhibitory Effects of the Peroxisome Proliferator-

Activated Receptor-Gamma Ligand, Pioglitazone. Mol. Hum. Reprod. 2005, 11, 561-566.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Visiting Fellow, Cornell University, 2010

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Genome Institute of Singapore, 2007-2013

A*STAR Graduate Scholar (2004); A*STAR Postdoctoral Fellow (2010)


70

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/lmh.html


Dr Linda SELLOU

Lecturer

Ph.D. (2008): Bristol University, UK, M.Sc. [Hons] (2004): Lille, France

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/Sellou.html


PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS• Sellou, L.; Harrison T. G. Big smile! Toothpaste Chemistry. Chem. Rev. 2008, 17, 2.

• Shallcross, D. E.; Harrison, T. G.; Henshaw, S.; Sellou. L. Fuelling Interest: Climate Change

Experiments. Sci. Sch. 2009, 11, 38-43.

• Shaw, A. J.; Harrison, T. G.; Medley, M. I.; Sellou, L.; Shallcross, K. L.; Croker, S. J.; Williams, S. J.,

Shallcross, D. E. University-School Partnerships: Polymer Chemistry Days Run at a University for 14-

15 year Olds and Their Impact on Attitudes to Science’. Acta Didact. Napocensia 2010, 3 (1), 9-26.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Colloidal chemistry, Structure in Colloidal Silica and its influence on abrading surfaces

Characterise the physical properties of silica particles on surfaces and relate them to their internal

structures. Understand the relationship between the physical properties of the particles and the

abrasion produced on surfaces by brushing. This research was in collaboration with Professor Martin

Addy from Bristol’s Department of Oral & Dental Science, because the types of silica involved in the

study are used in the manufacture of toothpaste and Professor Rob Richardson from the Physics

Department, Bristol for the X-rays scattering facilities.

Recipient of the University Engagement Awards for 2008 for International Outreach, University of Bristol.

MAJOR RECOGNITION

CURRENT INTEREST IN OUTREACH AND CHEMICAL EDUCATION• Developing chemistry outreach and awareness amongst school students and general public in

Singapore and South East Asia and pedagogy to teach chemistry at the undergraduate level.

• Outreach Experience: Teaching Fellowship, Bristol ChemLabS, Centre for Excellence in Teaching and

Learning (CETL). Invited Speaker at Rhodes University (South Africa), National University of Malaysia

(UKM) and Chemistry workshops for both public and schools’ engagement in UK, Jersey, Ireland,

Singapore, Brunei, France and South Africa.


71

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/Sellou.html


Dr TAN Sue Qing Emelyn

Senior Lecturer

Ph.D., Univ. of Canterbury, 2006; B.Sc. (Hons), Univ. of Canterbury, 2002

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/tansq.htm


TEACHING, EDUCATION RESEARCH AND OTHER INTERESTS

MAJOR RECOGNITION

• Faculty Teaching Excellence Award AY2012/2013

• Excellent Young Teacher Award AY2010/2011


• Lee, G. Y. P.; Chang, L.; Tan, W. Y.; Tan, J. Y. C.; Tan E. S. Q. “Are Chemistry Educational Apps Useful?”

– A Quantitative Study with Three In-House Apps. Chem. Ed. Res. Prac. 2018, Advance Articlepublished.

• Tan, E. S. Q.; Soo, Y. J. Creating Apps: A Non-IT Educator’s Journey Within a Higher Education

Landscape. In Mobile Learning in Higher Education in the Asia Pacific: Harnessing Trends and

Challenging Orthodoxies, ed. Murphy, A., Farley, H., Dyson, L. E. and Jones, H.; Springer : Asia, 2017;

pp 213-238.

• Tan, E. S. Q.; Teo, J. L. D. Appsolutely Smartphones: Usage and Perception of Apps for Educational

Purposes. Asian J. Scholar. Teach. Learn. 2015, 5, 55-75.

• Chin, C. F.; Tian, Q.; Setyawati, M. I.; Fang, W.; Tan, E. S. Q.; Leong, D. T.; Ang, W. H. Tuning the

Activity of Platinum(IV) Anticancer Complexes through Asymmetric Acylation, J. Med. Chem. 2012,

55, 7571-7582.

• Rong, J.; Dao, T. K. L.; Xu, B. X.; Xu, J. W.; Goh, B. L.; TAN, E. S. Q.; Xie H. Q.; Liew, T. Lubricant Pickup

Under Laser Irradiation. IEEE Trans. Magn. 2011, 47, 1988-1991.

• Tan, E. S. Q.; Ridha, W.; Toh, C. S. Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Aptamer-Based

Electrochemical Sensors for Thrombin. Electroanalysis 2009, 21, 749-754.

Screenshot from 3D Sym Op

(above) and ARMolVis (below).

• Teach analytical, general, physical and material chemistry

modules.

• Educational research include development of technology

enhanced teaching tools focusing on molecular animations

media and mobile apps, and evaluating their educational

impact.

Tools aim to enable 3D spatial visualisation at a molecular

scale.

• Media at YouTube channel NUS Chem Emelyn Tan.

• Mobile apps published on Apple App Store and Google

Play Store to date are SYM MO, SM2 Chem, Animol, 3D

Sym Op and ARMolVis.

• Chair for Outreach Committee


72

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/tansq.htm


Dr XU Hairuo

Lecturer

B.Sc., 2003, Peking University; Ph.D., 2009, National University of Singapore

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/xuhr.htm


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Synthesis and characterization of semiconductor nanomaterials with tunable optical properties


• Xu, H. Adopting a Paperless Laboratory Report Management System: A Feasibility Study. CDTL Brief2015, 18 (1), 14-18.

• Lim, X.; Xu, H.; Chew, Y. H. N.; Phua, Y. H.; Sie, E. J.; Sum, T. C. ; Chia, G. H.; Chin, W. S. ; Sow, W. S.

Nanoparticle Fractionation using an Aligned Carbon Nanotube Array. Nanotechnology 2010, 21,

295702.

• Liu, T.; Xu, H.; Chin, W. S.; Yang, P.; Yong, Z.; Wee, A.T.S., Local Structures of Zn1-xTMxO (TM=Co,

Mn, and Cu) Nanoparticles Studied by X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy and Multiple

Scattering Calculations. J. Phys. Chem. C. 2008, 112, 13410-13418.

• Feng, X.; Ang, Y. L.; He, J.; Beh, C. W. J.; Xu, H.; Chin, W. S.; Ji, W. Three-Photon Absorption in

Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Experiment. Opt. Express 2008, 16, 6999-7005.

• Liu, T.; Xu, H.; Chin, W.S.; Yong, Z.; Wee, A.T.S Local Structural Evolution of Co-doped ZnO

Nanoparticles upon Calcination Studied by In Situ Quick-Scan XAFS. J. Phys. Chem. C. 2008, 112,

3489-3495.

• Zhang, Z. H. ; Lu, M. H.; Xu, H.; Chin, W. S., Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Zinc Oxide: a Simple

Method to Prepare Metal Oxide Nanocrystals in Nonaqueous Medium. Chem. Eur. J. 2007, 13, 632-

638.

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

• Coordinator of Graduate Teaching Assistant assignment and training

TEACHING

• CM1131 Physical Chemistry 1

• CM2192 Experiments in Chemistry 3

• CM3232 Physical Chemistry of the Solid State and Interfaces

• CM3292 Advanced Experiments in Analytical and Physical Chemistry


73

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/xuhr.htm


Dr ZHANG Sheng

Lecturer

Ph.D., National University of Singapore, 2008; B.Sc., Peking University, 2003

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/zhangs.htm


TEACHING

• CM1121 Organic Chemistry I

• CM1401 Chemistry for Life Sciences

• CM1191 Experiments in Chemistry I

• CM2121 Organic Chemistry II

• CM2191 Experiments in Chemistry II

• CM3291 Advanced Experiments in Organic & Inorganic Chemistry

• CM5121 Graduate Organic Chemistry

RESEARCH INTEREST

Chiral Separation by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

RECENT HIGHLIGHT

• Excellent Young Teacher Award

• Mentor of Singapore Team for International Chemistry Olympiad

• Mentor of Singapore Chemistry Olympiad

• Judge of Singapore Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF)


74

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/people/Teaching_staff/zhangs.htm


Dr. Michael Yudistira PATUWO

Instructor

B.Sc. (Hons), 2007, National University of Singapore

Ph.D., 2011, National University of Singapore


Mr. FUNG Fun Man

Instructor


M.Sc., 2012, National University of Singapore & Technische Universität München

Ph.D., National University of Singapore (in progress)


Dr. TAN Wee Boon

Instructor

B. Sc. (Hons), 2005, National University of Singapore

Ph.D., National University of Singapore, 2015


Dr. CHONG Yuan Yi

Instructor

B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Class, 2009, National University of Singapore

Ph.D., 2014, National University of Singapore


Dr. CHEN Litai, Jeremiah

Instructor

B.Sc (Hons) 2008, National University of Singapore

Ph.D. 2016, National University of Singapore


TEACHING STAFF

75






Ms. THYAGARAJAN Saradha

Instructor

M.Sc., 1992, University of Madras

M.Ed., 1998, University of Madras

M.Phil., 2005, Bharadhidasan University, India


Dr. ONG Yue Ying

Teaching Assistant


Ph.D. 2016, National University of Singapore


TEACHING STAFF

76



Chemical, Molecular and Materials Analysis Centre (CMMAC)

Established in 1998, the Chemical, Molecular and Materials Analysis Centre (CMMAC)

at the Department of Chemistry, NUS, is a central instrumentation facility providing

professional support to teaching and research in the academia and industry.

The instruments in the CMMAC laboratories encompass a wide range of analytical

techniques. Combined with the knowledge of the Department's academic staff,

CMMAC is well positioned to provide solutions in chemical, molecular and materials

analyses.

Our extended vision is to be a premier knowledge resource in providing solutions to

local and regional enterprises. We promote close research interactions among

scientists, establish collaborative research programmes, provide training in chemical

instrumentation and conduct courses of current interests.

The Centre is headed by Associate Professor Chin Wee Shong and consists of a

consortium of eight laboratories:

1. Chromatography Laboratory

2. Electron Microscopy Laboratory

3. Electron Spin Resonance Laboratory

4. Elemental Analysis Laboratory

5. Mass Spectrometry Laboratory

6. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory

7. Thermal Analysis Laboratory

8. X-ray Diffraction Laboratory

9. Specialised Instruments

CHEMICAL, MOLECULAR AND MATERIALS ANALYSIS CENTRE

77

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/cmmac/about.htm

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/cmmac/about.htm

NUS Chemical Sciences Society (CSS)

NUS ACS Student Chapter (ACSSC)

STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS

78

ACSSC President: Mr Tan Jin Hui, Max

ACSSC Vice President: Ms Wong Shuyii

ACSSC Advisor: Assoc Prof Chin Wee Shong

CSS President: Mr Ismail Samsudin

CSS Vice President: Ms Huang Rui Ting and Mr Lin Qi Hao, Leroy

CSS Advisor: Asst Prof Chng Shu Sin

79

NUS Chemistry Graduate Society (CGS)

CGS President: Ms Deepshikha Arora

CGS Advisor: Dr Foo Maw Lin

STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS

Department of Chemistry

National University of Singapore

Block S8 level 3

3 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543

www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/

FACULTY HIGHLIGHT - NUS Chemistry · This annual publication introduces you to our faculty ......

Documents

Transcript of FACULTY HIGHLIGHT - NUS Chemistry · This annual publication introduces you to our faculty ......