Computational chemistry for a circular economy

October 18, 2023

Congratulations to CHEN Meng-Fu, a Chemistry fresh graduate and Prof Richard WONG for receiving the CRISP award for their computational study on the use of ionic liquids as corrosion inhibitors.

For many, chemistry is associated with working behind a bench, mixing chemicals in beakers. However, Meng-Fu’s chemistry is done on a computer. Advances in deep learning and computational power now enable chemists to gain insights into the behaviour of chemicals and materials, so as to develop greener alternatives.

This is what Meng-Fu has done. He used density functional theory based methods to model the corrosion inhibition mechanism of ionic liquids, which shed light into the nature of their adsorption process.

This opens the door to the development of new sustainable corrosion inhibitors, which addresses the issue of how conventional corrosion inhibitors often fail to meet the standards of new environmental regulations. Green corrosion inhibitors, such as ionic liquids, do not contain toxic compounds and provide a sustainable alternative.

Meng-Fu also attended the American Chemical Society Spring conference in March 2022 at San Diego, USA where he shared his findings. “Through presenting my research to a wide audience, I received a lot of valuable feedback that helped me grow as a young researcher,” he says.

This experience, together with the guidance of his mentor, Prof Richard Wong, were instrumental in his research journey.

Witnessing Meng-Fu’s academic journey, Prof Wong says, “has been incredibly rewarding. It is a poignant reminder of the transformative power of mentoring.”

He adds, “I firmly believe in nurturing the curiosity and potential of emerging scholars. Mentoring is an avenue through which I can inspire and guide them toward their academic and professional goals.”

Under Prof Wong’s tutelage, his students acquire a range of research skills, including those related to computational chemistry techniques, data analysis and effective communication. Explaining the impact of mentorship, Prof Wong describes how this helps students to make strategic decisions regarding their research focus and career trajectories.

Meng-Fu will continue to pursue his passion in computational research under a PhD scholarship at Harvard University.   

Find out more about the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) here!