headshot of Di Gao

Di Gao

Associate Professor
Associate Professor and W. K. Whiteford Faculty Fellow
Chem/Petroleum Engineering

about

(2012) Pitt Innovator Award, Univ. of Pittsburgh.

(2011) AIChE Owens-Corning Early Career Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

(2010) Advanced Materials Award, Carnegie Science Center.

(2010) Invited participant, U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, U.S. National Academy of Engineering.

(2009) 2009 AIChE Youth Council on Sustainable Science and Technology Award, received as the Team Leader of the University of Pittsburgh Team.

(2009) Pitt Innovator Award, Univ. of Pittsburgh.

(2008) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet for Sustainability Design Competition Award, received as the Team Leader of the University of Pittsburgh Team.

(2008) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, National Science Foundation.

(2008) William Kepler Whiteford Faculty Fellowship, Swanson School of Engineering, Univ. of Pittsburgh.

(2006) American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Type G Award.

(2005) Outstanding Poster Award, Univ. of California System-wide Bioengineering Symposium.

(2003) Applied Materials Graduate Fellow, Applied Materials, Inc..

(2003) Outstanding Presentation Award, Industry Advisory Board Meeting, Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center, Univ. of California.

(1998) Tsinghua Excellent Student Scholarship, Tsinghua University.

(1997) Petroleum Chemical Engineering Scholarship, SK Global Co. Ltd, Korea.

(1996) Tsinghua Excellent Student Scholarship, Tsinghua University.

(1995) Tsinghua Excellent Student Scholarship, Tsinghua University.

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2004

B.S., Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 1999

B.S., Computer Science, Tsinghua University, 1999

Zhao, B., Wen, X., Jiang, M., Wu, J., Lan, F., Wang, J., den Engelsen, D., Li, G., & Gao, D. (2017). The application of Al2TiO5 at the TiO2/perovskite interface to decrease carrier losses in solar cells. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, 5(7), 3691-3698.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c6ta10468a.

Duan, J., Wu, J., Zhang, J., Xu, Y., Wang, H., Gao, D., & Lund, P.D. (2016). TiO2/ZnO/TiO2 sandwich multi-layer films as a hole-blocking layer for efficient perovskite solar cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, 40(6), 806-813.Hindawi Limited. doi: 10.1002/er.3485.

Huang, Y., Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2016). High-efficiency perovskite solar cells based on anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays. THIN SOLID FILMS, 598, 1-5.Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.tsf.2015.12.001.

Jia, W., Wu, J., Gao, D., Wang, H., & Sun, M. (2016). Visualization of electrical field of electrode using voltage-controlled fluorescence release. COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, 75, 38-44.Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2016.05.008.

Jiang, M., Lan, F., Zhao, B., Tao, Q., Wu, J., Gao, D., & Li, G. (2016). Observation of lower defect density in CH3NH3Pb(I,Cl)3 solar cells by admittance spectroscopy. APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 108(24).AIP Publishing. doi: 10.1063/1.4953834.

Liu, L., Chen, R., Liu, W., Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2016). Catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol over Ni-Pd nanodimers supported on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, 320, 96-104.Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.08.019.

Peng, G., Wu, J., Wu, S., Xu, X., Ellis, J.E., Xu, G., Star, A., & Gao, D. (2016). Perovskite solar cells based on bottom-fused TiO2 nanocones. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, 4(4), 1520-1530.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c5ta08375c.

Wen, X., Wu, J., Gao, D., & Lin, C. (2016). Interfacial engineering with amino-functionalized graphene for efficient perovskite solar cells. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, 4(35), 13482-13487.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c6ta04616a.

Wen, X., Wu, J., Ye, M., Gao, D., & Lin, C. (2016). Interface engineering via an insulating polymer for highly efficient and environmentally stable perovskite solar cells. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 52(76), 11355-11358.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c6cc06290c.

Jiang, M., Wu, J., Lan, F., Tao, Q., Gao, D., & Li, G. (2015). Enhancing the performance of planar organo-lead halide perovskite solar cells by using a mixed halide source. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, 3(3), 963-967.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c4ta05373g.

Jia, W., Wu, J., Gao, D., & Sun, M. (2014). Characteristics of Skin-Electrode Impedance for a Novel Screw Electrode. Proc IEEE Annu Northeast Bioeng Conf, 2014, 1-2.IEEE. doi: 10.1109/NEBEC.2014.6972825.

Luan, B., Jia, W., Thirumala, P.D., Balzer, J., Gao, D., & Sun, M. (2014). A Feasibility Study on a Single-Unit Wireless EEG Sensor. Int Conf Signal Process Proc, 2014(October), 2282-2285.IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ICOSP.2014.7015401.

Peng, G., Xu, X., Mei, F., Xu, G., Wu, J., Gao, D., Ellis, J.E., Zhao, Y., Xing, Y., & Star, A. (2014). Substrate placement angle-dependent growth of dandelion-like TiO2 nanorods for solid-state semiconductor-sensitized solar cells. RSC ADVANCES, 4(95), 53335-53343.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c4ra10611c.

Desai, U.V., Xu, C., Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2013). Hybrid TiO2-SnO2 Nanotube Arrays for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C, 117(7), 3232-3239.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/jp3096727.

Wu, J., Zhao, S.L., Gao, L.Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2013). Sorting Short Fragments of Single-Stranded DNA with an Evolving Electric Double Layer. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B, 117(8), 2267-2272.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/jp3096715.

Desai, U.V., Xu, C., Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2012). Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells based on ordered ZnO nanowire arrays. NANOTECHNOLOGY, 23(20), 205401.IOP Publishing. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/23/20/205401.

Wu, J., Gao, L., & Gao, D. (2012). Multistage Magnetic Separation of Microspheres Enabled by Temperature-Responsive Polymers. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, 4(6), 3041-3046.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/am3004076.

Xu, C., & Gao, D. (2012). Two-Stage Hydrothermal Growth of Long ZnO Nanowires for Efficient TiO2 Nanotube-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C, 116(12), 7236-7241.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/jp300960r.

Xu, C., Wu, J., Desai, U.V., & Gao, D. (2012). High-Efficiency Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on TiO2-Coated ZnO Nanowire Arrays. NANO LETTERS, 12(5), 2420-2424.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/nl3004144.

Yan, J., Liu, J., Jing, P., Xu, C., Wu, J., Gao, D., & Fang, Y. (2012). Cholesterol-based low-molecular mass gelators towards smart ionogels. SOFT MATTER, 8(46), 11697-11703.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c2sm26332g.

Gao, L., Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2011). Enzyme-Controlled Self-Assembly and Transformation of Nanostructures in a Tetramethylbenzidine/Horseradish Peroxidase/H2O2 System. ACS NANO, 5(8), 6736-6742.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/nn2023107.

Kamalasanan, K., Jhunjhunwala, S., Wu, J., Swanson, A., Gao, D., & Little, S.R. (2011). Patchy, Anisotropic Microspheres with Soft Protein Islets. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION, 50(37), 8706-8708.Wiley. doi: 10.1002/anie.201101217.

Wu, J., Zhao, S.L., Gao, L.Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2011). Separation of single-stranded DNA fragments at a 10-nucleotide resolution by stretching in microfluidic channels. LAB ON A CHIP, 11(23), 4036-4040.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c1lc20600a.

Zhao, S.L., Wu, J., Gao, D., Wu, J. (2011). Gaussian fluctuations in tethered DNA chains. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS, 134(6), 065103.AIP Publishing. doi: 10.1063/1.3548887.

Yeri, A.S., Gao, L., & Gao, D. (2010). Mutation Screening Based on the Mechanical Properties of DNA Molecules Tethered to a Solid Surface. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B, 114(2), 1064-1068.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/jp909501h.

Cao, L., Jones, A.K., Sikka, V.K., Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2009). Anti-Icing Superhydrophobic Coatings. LANGMUIR, 25(21), 12444-12448.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/la902882b.

Cao, L., Price, T.P., Weiss, M., & Gao, D. (2008). Super water- and oil-repellent surfaces on intrinsically hydrophilic and oleophilic porous silicon films. LANGMUIR, 24(5), 1640-1643.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/la703401f.

Gao, L., Mbonu, N., Cao, L., & Gao, D. (2008). Label-free colorimetric detection of Gelatinases on nanoporous silicon photonic films. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, 80(5), 1468-1473.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/ac701870y.

Cao, A.M., Monnell, J.D., Matranga, C., Wu, J.M., Cao, L.L., & Gao, D. (2007). Hierarchical nanostructured copper oxide and its application in arsenic removal. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C, 111(50), 18624-18628.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/jp0773379.

Gao, D., Chen, W., Mulchandani, A., & Schultz, J.S. (2007). Detection of tumor markers based on extinction spectra of visible light passing through gold nanoholes. APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 90(7).AIP Publishing. doi: 10.1063/1.2535919.

Gao, D., Carraro, C., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2006). Polycrystalline silicon carbide as a substrate material for reducing adhesion in MEMS. TRIBOLOGY LETTERS, 21(3), 226-232.Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi: 10.1007/s11249-006-9024-9.

Gao, D., He, R., Carraro, C., Howe, R.T., Yang, P., & Maboudian, R. (2005). Selective growth of Si nanowire arrays via galvanic displacement processes in water-in-oil microemulsions. J Am Chem Soc, 127(13), 4574-4575.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/ja043645y.

San Paulo, A., Bokor, J., Howe, R.T., He, R., Yang, P., Gao, D., Carraro, C., & Maboudian, R. (2005). Mechanical elasticity of single and double clamped silicon nanobeams fabricated by the vapor-liquid-solid method. Applied Physics Letters, 87(5).AIP Publishing. doi: 10.1063/1.2008364.

Gao, D., Carraro, C., Radmilovic, V., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2004). Fracture of Polycrystalline 3C-SiC Films in Microelectromechanical Systems. Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 13(6), 972-976.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/jmems.2004.838372.

Gao, D., Wijesundara, M.B.J., Carraro, C., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2004). Recent Progress Toward a Manufacturable Polycrystalline SiC Surface Micromachining Technology. IEEE Sensors Journal, 4(4), 441-448.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/jsen.2004.828859.

Gao, D., Wijesundara, M.B.J., Carraro, C., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2004). Transformer coupled plasma etching of 3C-SiC films using fluorinated chemistry for microelectromechanical systems applications. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B: Microelectronics and Nanometer Structures Processing, Measurement, and Phenomena, 22(2), 513-518.American Vacuum Society. doi: 10.1116/1.1648067.

Gao, D. (2003). Characterization of residual strain in SiC films deposited using 1,3-disilabutane for MEMS application. Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS, 2(4), 259.SPIE-Intl Soc Optical Eng. doi: 10.1117/1.1610478.

Gao, D., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2003). High-selectivity etching of polycrystalline 3C-SiC films using HBr-based transformer coupled plasma. Applied Physics Letters, 82(11), 1742-1744.AIP Publishing. doi: 10.1063/1.1560561.

Wijesundara, M.B.J., Gao, D., Carraro, C., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2003). Nitrogen doping of polycrystalline 3C-SiC films grown using 1,3-disilabutane in a conventional LPCVD reactor. Journal of Crystal Growth, 259(1-2), 18-25.Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/s0022-0248(03)01573-2.

Ouyang, S., Wang, G., He, X., Gao, D., & Wu, X. (2014). A study of China's supply-demand gap of coking coal resources and the corresponding strategies. In 31st Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference: Coal - Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, PCC 2014.

Wenyan Jia, Jiamin Wu, Di Gao, & Mingui Sun. (2014). Microscopic imaging of electrical current distribution at the electrode-electrolyte interface. In Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc, 2014, (pp. 4252-4255).IEEE.United States. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2014.6944563.

Ji, H., Chen, G., Hu, J., Wang, M., Min, C., & Zhao, Y. (2013). Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Surfaces. AIChE Annual Meeting.San Francisco, California. doi: 10.1080/01932691.2011.646625.

Xu, C., Wu, J., Desai, U.V., & Gao, D. (2011). Multilayer Assembly of Nanowire Arrays for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. AIChE Annual Meeting.United States. doi: 10.1021/ja202135n.

Xu, C., Wu, J., Desai, U.V., & Gao, D. (2011). Multilayer Assembly of Nanowire Arrays for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. AIChE Annual Meeting.Minneapolis, MN. doi: 10.1021/ja202135n.

Cao, L., & Gao, D. (2010). Transparent superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic coatings. Faraday Discussion Meetings 146--Wetting Dynamics of Hydrophobic and Structured Surfaces (Faraday Division, Royal Society of Chemistry).England. doi: 10.1039/c003392h.

Xu, C., Shin, P., Cao, L., & Gao, D. (2010). Preferential Growth of Long ZnO Nanowire Array and Its Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. AIChE Annual Meeting.Nashville, TN. doi: 10.1021/jp9085415.

Xu, C., Shin, P.H., Cao, L., Wu, J., & Gao, D. (2010). Ordered TiO2 Nanotube Arrays on Transparent Conductive Oxide for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. AIChE Annual Meeting.Nashville,TN. doi: 10.1021/cm9027513.

Gao, L., Wu, J., Lyle, S., Zehr, K., Cao, L., & Gao, D. (2008). Magnetite Nanoparticle-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. AIChE Annual Meeting.Philadelphia. doi: 10.1021/jp805994h.

Yeri, A.S., Gao, L., & Gao, D. (2008). Rapid screening of DNA due to differences in the viscoelastic properties. AIChE Annual Meeting.Philadelphia.

Cao, A., Cao, L., & Gao, D. (2007). Fabrication of nonaging superhydrophobic surfaces by packing flowerlike hematite particles. American Physical Society March Meeting.New Orleans. doi: 10.1063/1.2766697.

Cao, L., Hu, H.H., & Gao, D. (2007). Design and fabrication of micro-textures for inducing a superhydrophobic behavior on hydrophilic materials. American Physical Society March Meeting.United States. doi: 10.1021/la063572r.

Gao, L., Wu, J., Gao, D., Wu, J. (2007). Separation of long DNA molecules through cleavage of hydrogen bonds under a stretching force. American Physical Society March Meeting.New Orleans. doi: 10.1063/1.2784967.

Jenikova, G., Lao, U.L., Gao, D., Mulchandani, A., & Chen, W. (2007). Elastin-calmodulin scaffold for protein microarray fabrication. American Chemical Society Annual Meeting.United States. doi: 10.1021/la0626151.

Bhave, S.A., Gao, D., Maboudian, R., & Howe, R.T. (2005). Fully-differential poly-SiC lamé-mode resonator and checkerboard filter. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), (pp. 223-226).

Gao, D., He, R., Carraro, C., Howe, R.T., Yang, P., & Maboudian, R. (2005). Selective growth of Si nanowire arrays via galvanic displacement processes in water-in-oil microemulsions. In AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings, (p. 11274).

Di Gao, Wijesundara, M.B.J., Carraro, C., Low, C.W., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2003). High modulus polycrystalline 3C-SiC technology for RF MEMS. IEEE International Solid-State Sensors and Actuators Conference.Boston, MA. doi: 10.1109/sensor.2003.1216977.

Stoldt, C.R., Carraro, C., Ashurst, W.R., Gao, D., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2002). A low-temperature CVD process for silicon carbide MEMS. In Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 97-98, (pp. 410-415).Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/s0924-4247(01)00810-x.