Di Gao

  • (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. 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. 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. Comput Biol Med, 75, 38-44.Elsevier. 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. J Hazard Mater, 320, 96-104.Elsevier. 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. Chem Commun (Camb), 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.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (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.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (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. J Phys Chem 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 Appl Mater 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 TiO(2)-coated ZnO nanowire arrays. Nano Lett, 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. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 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 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. J Chem Phys, 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. J Phys Chem 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. Anal Chem, 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 Nature. 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), 053111.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 Nanotechnology and Microelectronics Materials Processing Measurement and Phenomena, 22(2), 513-518.American Vacuum Society. doi: 10.1116/1.1648067.
  • 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.
  • Gao, D., Wijesundara, M.B.J., Carraro, C., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2003). Characterization of residual strain in SiC films deposited using 1,3-disilabutane for MEMS application. Journal of Micro/Nanopatterning Materials and Metrology, 2(4), 259-264.SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. doi: 10.1117/1.1610478.
  • 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. 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).Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (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).
  • Gao, D., Wijesundara, M.B.J., Carrero, C., Low, C.W., Howe, R.T., & Maboudian, R. (2003). High Modulus Polycrystalline 3C-SiC Technology for RF MEMS. TRANSDUCERS '03. 12th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems. Digest of Technical Papers (Cat. No.03TH8664).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, (pp. 410-415).Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/s0924-4247(01)00810-x.
headshot of Di Gao
Contact Di Gao
Associate Professor
Associate Professor and W. K. Whiteford Faculty Fellow
dig9@pitt.edu
Chem/Petroleum Engineering