RESEARCH AREAS

Luping Yu

Luping Yu Professor University of Chicago P: 773-702-8698 E: lupingyu@uchicago.edu Yu Group B.S., Zhejiang University, 1982; Ph.D., University of Southern California, 1989

Biographical Sketch

Luping Yu received his B.S. degree in chemistry in 1982 and a M.S. degree in polymer chemistry in 1984 from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, where he worked in Prof. Zhiquan Shen’s group. He earned his Ph.D. degree in polymer and physical vhemistry in 1989 and continued his postdoctoral training as part of Prof. L. R. Dalton’s group at the University of Southern California. In 1991, Yu joined the faculty of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago as an assistant professor and is currently a Professor of Chemistry.

Research Statement

Yu’s group is one of the pioneers in organic photorefractive polymers.  His group also pioneered the synthesis and investigation of metal-containing conjugated polymers, rod-rod conjugated diblock polymers and p-n junction molecular diodes. Current research focuses on polymer chemistry, surface chemistry and supramolecular chemistry. Examples of current projects include: (1) development of polymerization methodologies, (2) supramolecular assembly of nanostructured materials for nanoelectronics and molecular electronics, (3) conjugated diblock copolymers for the formation of self-assembled, nanosized electroactive materials for light harvesting, (4) new low bandgap semiconducting polymers for high efficiency solar energy conversion, (5) nanoporous polymers for hydrogen storage, and (6) gene transfer polymers.

Publications

• “Control in Energy Levels of Conjugated Polymers for Photovoltaic Application,” Y. Liang, S. Xiao, D. Feng, and L. Yu, J. Phys. Chem. C. 112(21), 7866-7871.
• “Charge Transport Mediated by d-Orbitals in Transition Metal Complexes,” Y. Lee, S. Yuan, A. Sanchez, and L. Yu, Chem. Comm. 247 – 249(2008).
• “Conjugated Block Copolymers and Oligomers: From Supramolecular Assembly to Molecular Electronics,” Y. Liang, H. Wang, S. Yuan, Y. Lee, L. Gan, and L. Yu, J. Mater. Chem. 17(21), 2183-2194 (2007).
• “Rectification Mechnaism in Diblock molecular Diodes,” I. I. Oleynik, M. A. Kozhushnerr, V. S. Posvyanskii, and L. P. Yu, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 096803 (2006).
• “Dynamics of Photoinduced Electron Transfer in A Molecular Donor-Acceptor Quartet”, L. X. Chen, S. Xiao, and L.Yu, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 110(24), 11730-11738, (2006).
• “Inversion of the Rectifying Effect in Diblock Molecular Diodes by Protonation,” G. M. Morales, P. Jiang, S. Yuan, Y. Lee, A. Sanchez, and L. Yu, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 10456-10457, (2005).
• “Synthesis of Diode Molecules and Their Sequential Assembly to Control Electron Transport”, P. Jiang, G. M. Morales, and L. Yu, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 43, 4471-4475  (2004).
• “Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Conjugated Diblock Copolymers”, H. Wang, W. You, P. Jiang and L. Yu, and H. Hau Wang, Chem. Eur. J. 10, 986 -993, (2004).  
• “Molecular Diodes Based Upon Conjugated Diblock Co-oligomers”, M-K Ng, D-C Lee, and L. Yu, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124(40), 11862-11863, (2002).
• “Conjugated Diblock Copolymers”, H. B. Wang, M-K Ng, L. M. Wang, and L. P. Yu,  Chemistry - A European Journal 8, 3246-3253, (2002).

Most Significant Honors & Awards

• NSF Special Creativity Award, 2004
• Mr. & Mrs. Sun Chan Memorial Award in Organic Chemistry,1998
• National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award, 1994-1999
• Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award, 1993-1995
• Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation New Faculty Award, 1991-1996