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Zhiping Zheng, Department of Chemistry, The University of Arizona
Photo of Zhiping Zheng

Zhiping Zheng


Associate Professor of Chemistry
zhiping@u.arizona.edu
Old Chemistry 108B
Phone: (520) 626-6495
Fax: (520) 621-8407

Honors


  • Excellence in Teaching, The Honors College, The University of Arizona, 2007
  • International Junior Award, European Rare Earth and Actinide Society, 2003
  • National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2003
  • China Bridge International Fellowship, 1998-2001
  • Research Corporation Research Innovation Award, 1998-2002

Education and Appointments


  • B.S. 1987, Peking University, China
  • M.S. 1990, Peking University, China
  • Ph.D. 1995, UCLA

Research Interests


  • Inorganic
  • Materials Synthesis and Characterization
  • Organometallic and Coordination Chemistry
  • Catalysis and Reaction Dynamics
  • Polymers
  • Synthesis and Synthetic Methodology

Research Summary

Synthetic Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry, Supramolecular Chemistry, Catalysis, Materials Chemistry, Clusters and Nanostructured Materials

The development, characterization, and exploitation of novel materials based on the assembly of molecular components is an exceptionally active and rapidly expanding field. The research traverses the boundaries of chemistry, physics, biology, and medicine. A significant challenge in this context is the design, synthesis, and characterization of desired molecular components and their assembly into novel molecular architectures aimed at specific functions. Pursuant to this endeavor is our research program that has evolved from exploratory synthetic, structural, and reactivity studies on both molecular and nanoscale clusters.

Our general approach for undertaking this challenge has been to develop novel synthetic routes to the formation of metal clusters and their organization into nanoscopic assemblies. Using coordination chemistry-based synthetic approaches, my group has succeeded in producing new classes of polynuclear lanthanide clusters, cluster-supported metallodendrimers, and dendrimer-passivated gold nanoclusters. It has been possible to demonstrate not only the novel chemistry involved, but also the interesting electronic and optical properties of these materials. The ultimate goal of our research is to translate molecular properties of the metal clusters into the designed supramolecular assemblies for their applications in catalysis, separations, sensor technology, and information storage and processing.

The chemistry involved in our research is not only driven by the exotic architectures of the molecules, but also by their potential to function as advanced materials. From a fundamental point of view, our program gains significance in that it interfaces with both chemistry and materials science. From a practical point of view, our efforts serve to provide new materials with applications ranging from catalysis, communication, to medicine. Furthermore, while rooted in traditional chemistry, the program often involves students in collaborations with an array of other scientists and engineers while crossing fields of chemistry, biology and materials science. As such, the students' depth of fundamental chemical principles becomes augmented by exposure to a breadth of additional concepts. Such collaborative research often results in the creation of a fertile and creative environment for achievement of research goals.



Selected Publications

"A Four-shell, nesting doll-like 3d-4f cluster containing 108 metal ions." Kong, X.; Ren, Y.; Chen, W.; Long, L.; Zheng, Z.; Huang, R.; Zheng, L. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 2398-2401.

"Dual shell-like magnetic clusters containing Ni(II) and Ln(III) (Ln = La, Pr, and Nd) ions." Kong, X.; Ren, Y.; Long, L.; Zheng, Z.; Nichol, G. S.; Huang, R.; Zheng, L. Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, 2728-2739.

"Chiral symmetry breaking by chemically manipulating statistical fluctuation in crystallization." Wu, S.; Wu, Y.; Kang, Q.; Zhang, H.; Long, L.; Zheng, Z.; Huang, R. B.; Zheng, L. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 8475-8479.

"Cluster carbonyls of the [Re6(µ3-Se)8]2+ core." Orto, P.; Nichol, G. S.; Wang, R.; Zheng, Z. Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46, 8436-8438.

"A Keplerate Magnetic Cluster Featuring an Icosidodecahedron of Ni(II) Ions Encapsulating a Dodecahedron of La(III) Ions" Kong, X.; Ren, Y.; Long, L.; Zheng, Z.; Huang, R.; Zheng, L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7016-7017.

"Alcohol Addition to Acetonitrile Activated by the [Re6(µ3-Se)8]2+ Cluster Core" Orto, P.; Selby, H. D.; Ferris, D.; Maeyer, J. R.; Zheng, Z. Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46, 4377-4379.

"Dendritic Arrays of [Re6(µ3-Se)8]2+ Core-Containing Clusters: Exploratory Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies" Roland, B. K.; Flora, W. H.; Selby, H. D.; Armstrong, N. R.; Zheng, Z. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 6620-6625.

"Ligand-Bridged Oligomeric and Supramolecular Arrays of the Hexanuclear Rhenium Selenide Clusters-Exploratory Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Property Investigation" Selby, H. D.; Roland, B. K.; Zheng, Z. Acc. Chem. Res. 2003, 36, 933-944.