RESEARCH AREAS

Lin X. Chen

Lin X. Chen Professor, Northwestern University Senior Chemist, Argonne National Laboratory P: 630-252-0379 E: lchen@anl.gov CSE Group, Argonne National Laboratory B.S., Peking University, 1982; Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1987

Biographical Sketch

Lin X. Chen received her B.S. in chemistry from Peking University in China, and her Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Chicago. At U. Chicago she studied ultrafast protein dynamics using laser spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation under Graham R. Fleming. Her postdoctoral research was conducted under Herbert L. Strauss and Robert G. Snyder at the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied the molecular dynamics of long chain molecules via Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, as well as under normal mode analysis. In 1989, she joined the Chemistry Division at Argonne National Laboratory where she is currently a senior scientist. Since 2007, she holds a joint appointment as a Professor of Chemistry in the Chemistry Department at Northwestern.

Research Statement

Chen’s research goal is to be able to understand and control electron and energy flow in materials and during chemical reaction mechanisms with light. She has established a facility for laser pump, x-ray probe dynamic structural studies at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory.

Her research interests focus mainly on the fundamental interactions between molecules and light (from IR to X-rays) and the consequences of these interactions in solar energy conversion, including energy and electron flow in photosynthetic reaction centers, organic materials such as conjugated oligomers and polymers, metal complexes and aggregates, and hybrid nanoscale materials. She uses ultrafast lasers to probe molecular dynamics and energetics, and uses steady-state and ultrafast X-rays to probe static and dynamic structures of systems in solutions and films during light-induced processes. Meanwhile, she collaborates with theoreticians on modeling excited state structures and molecular dynamics that can be used to elucidate experimental data.

Chen pioneered laser-initiated time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy to detect transient oxidation states, coordination and nuclear geometry of metal complexes in photochemical reactions relevant to hydrogen generation, water splitting, and photocatalysis. In addition, she conducts research in the fundamental photophysics of organic photovoltaic materials from conjugated oligomers and polymers and covalently linked electron donor/acceptor arrays in solutions and films.

Publications

• “Tracking Electrons and Atoms in a Photoexcited Metalloporphyrin,” L. X. Chen, X. Zhang, E. C. Wasinger, K. Attenkofer, G. Jennings, A. Z. Muresan, and J. S. Lindsey, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129, 9616-9618 (2007).
• “Probing Excited State Structures and Dynamics of Metal Complexes Using Time-resolved X-rays,” L. X. Chen, Invited Review, Ann. Rev. Phys. Chem. 56, 221-254 (2005).
• “Capturing a Photoexcited Molecular Structure Through Time-Domain X-ray Absorption Fine Structure,” L. X. Chen, W. J. H. Jäger, G. Jennings, D. J. Gosztola, A. Munkholm, and J. P. Hessler, Science 292, 262-264 (2001).

Most Significant Honors & Awards

• University of Chicago Award for Distinguished Performance, Argonne National Laboratory, 2002
• Excellent Student Award, Peking University, 1978-1981