Bio

The Chueh Group explores efficient electrochemical routes for converting solar energy to chemical fuels and subsequently to electricity. The group also develops next-generation electrochemical energy storage materials. We take a rational approach towards materials discovery and optimization. Using powerful electron, X-ray and optical microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, we visualize electrochemical reactions as they take place on length scales ranging from tens of microns down to sub-nm. These fundamental observations, combined with atomistic- and continuum-level models, lead to new insights into the design of functional materials with novel compositions and structures. We utilize a wide range of solution, vapor and solid-state routes to create high-performance electrochemical devices, such as photo-electrochemical cells, fuel cells, electrolyzers and metal-air batteries.

Academic Appointments

Honors & Awards

  • Li Ming Scholarship, Caltech (2007)
  • Graduate Excellence in Materials Science Diamond Award, American Ceramics Society (2008)
  • Student Prize (2nd place), Lemelson-MIT Caltech (2009)
  • Josephine de Karman Fellowship, Josephine De Karman Fellowship Trust (2009)
  • Graduate Student Award, American Vacuum Society Thin Film Division (2009)
  • International Research Fellowship Award, ICMR (2009)
  • President Harry S. Truman Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship, Sandia Naitonal Laboratories (2010)
  • Demetriades-Tsafka-Kokkalis Prize in Energy, Caltech (2011)
  • Top 35 innovators under the age of 35, MIT Technology Review (2012)

Professional Education

  • PhD, Caltech, Materials Science (2010)
  • BS, Caltech, Applied Physics (2005)

Contact

Links

2014-15 Courses

Postdoctoral Advisees

Journal Articles

  • Semiconductor/Mixed Ion & Electron Conductor Heterojunction for Elevated-Temperature Water Splitting. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. Ye, X., Melas-Kyriazi, J., Feng, Z., A. , Melosh, N., A., Chueh, W., C. 2013; 15: 15459-15469
  • Determination of the Surface Structure of CeO2(111) by Low-Energy Electron Diffraction. J. Chem. Phys. Siegel, D., Chueh, W., C., Gabaly, F., El, McCarty, K., Figurera, J., de la, Blanco-Rey, M. 2013; 139: 114703
  • Sr- and Mn-doped LaAlO3-δ for Solar Thermochemical H2 and CO Production. Energy Environ. Sci. McDaniel, A., H., Miller, E., Arfin, D., Ambrosini, A., Coker, E., O’Hayre, R., Chueh, W. C. 2013; 6: 2424-2428
  • Identifying Electrochemical Intermediate Species in H2 Redox Reactions on Solid-State Electrolytes. Chem. Comm. Gabaly, F., El, McDaniel, A., H., Grass, M., E., Chueh, W., C., Bluhm, H., Liu, Z. 2012; 48: 8338-8340
  • Ionic and Electronic Conductivity of Nanostructured, Samaria-Doped Ceria. J. Electrochem. Soc. Souza, E., C. C., Chueh, W., C., Jung, W., Muccillo, E., N. S., Haile, S., M. 2012; 159: K127-K135
  • Electrochemistry of Mixed Oxygen Ion & Electron Conducting Electrodes in Solid Electrolyte Cells. Annu. Rev. Chem. Biomol. Eng. Chueh, W., C., Haile, S., M. 2012; 3: 313-341
  • High Stability and Reactivity of Ce3+ on Doped CeO2 Surface Revealed In operando. Chem. Mater. Chueh, W., C., McDaniel, A., H., Grass, M., E., Hao, Y., Jaibeen, N., Liu, Z. 2012; 24: 1876-1882
  • Decoupling Surface Reaction & Bulk Transport in Mixed Conductors with Electrochemically-Active Surfaces: A 2-D Numerical Study of Ceria. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. Ciucci, F., Chueh, W., C., Goodwin, D., G., Haile, S., M. 2011; 13: 2121-2135
  • Reducing Error & Measurement Time in Impedance Spectroscopy Using Model-based Optimal Experimental Design. Electrochim. Acta Ciucci, F., Carraro, T., Chueh, W., C., Lai, W. 2011; 56: 5416-5434
  • Experimental Determination of Transmittance of Porous Cerium Oxide Media in the Spectral Range 300 – 1,100 nm. Exp. Heat Transfer Lang, Z., Chueh, W., C., Ganesan, K., Haile, S., M., Lipinski, W. 2011; 24: 285-299
  • Unusual Decrease in Conductivity Upon Hydration in Acceptor Doped, Microcrystalline Ceria. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. Chueh, W., C., Yang, C. K., Garland, C., M., Lai, W., Haile, S., M. 2011; 13: 6442-6451
  • High-Flux Solar-Driven Thermochemical Dissociation of CO2 & H2O Using Nonstoichiometric Ceria. Science Chueh, W., C., Falter, C., Abbott, M., Scipio, D., Furler, P., Haile, S., M. 2010; 330: 1797-1801
  • Thermochemical Study of Ceria: Exploiting an Old Material for New Modes of Energy Conversion of CO2 Mitigation. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. Chueh, W., C., Haile, S., M. 2010; 368: 3269-3294
  • Ceria as a Thermochemical Reaction Medium for Selectively Generating Syngas or Methane from H2O & CO2. Chem. Sus. Chem. Chueh, W., C., Haile, S., M. 2009; 2: 735-739
  • Electrochemical Studies of Capacitance in Cerium Oxide Thin Films and Its Relationship to Anionic and Electronic Defect Densities. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. Chueh, W., C., Haile, S., M. 2009; 11: 8144-8148
  • Electrochemical Behavior of Ceria with Selected Metal Electrodes. Solid State Ionics Chueh, W., C., Lai, W., Haile, S., M. 2008; 179: 1036 - 1041
  • Inverse Opal Ceria-Zirconia: Architectural Engineering for Heterogeneous Catalysis. Energy Environ. Sci. Umeda, G., A., Chueh, W., C., Noailles, L., Haile, S., M., Dunn, B., S. 2008; 1: 484 - 486
  • Tunability of Propane Conversion over Alumina Supported Pt and Rh Catalysts. Top. Catal. Chueh, W., C., Shao, Z., Haile., S., M. 2007; 46: 402 - 413
  • High Power-Density Single-Chamber Fuel Cells Operated on Methane. J. Power Sources Shao, Z., Mederos, J., Chueh, W., C., Haile, S., M. 2006; 162: 589 - 596