Phillip Christopher (he/him/his)

Professor, Rinker Founder's Chair - Mellichamp Chair, Sustainable Manufacturing - Dept Vice Chair

Contact

(805) 893-2610
3335 Engineering II
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5080

ChemE Research Areas: 

Honors: 

2024  Guiseppe Parravano Award for Excellence in Catalysis
2022  ACS Ipatieff Prize
2020  AIChE Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division Young Investigator Award
2020  ACS CATL Division Early Career in Catalysis Award
2019  Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
2018  Appointed as Duncan and Suzanne Mellichamp Endowed Chair in Sustainable Manufacturing
2016  NSF CAREER Award
2014  ARO Young Investigator Award

Research Description: 

Catalytic processes are relied upon globally for trillions of dollars per year of industry. The conversion of oil to gasoline, transformation of natural gas and nitrogen into fertilizer, and conversion of un-burnt fuels into less harmful gasses in the tail pipes of cars all rely on solid state catalysts. Increasing demands for efficient, environmentally friendly chemical processes, in concert with the push to utilize emerging natural resources, rely on the development novel catalytic materials and processes. We use principles from chemical engineering, materials science, physical chemistry and solid-state physics to engineer catalytic reactions towards these goals. We develop molecular level insights into governing phenomena of catalytic reactions by coupling quantum chemical calculations with an array of experimental and characterization techniques. Mechanistic insights are utilized to guide the synthesis of catalysts with targeted geometries, compositions and architectures.

Education: 

BS: Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara (2006)
MS: Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan (2008)
PhD: Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan (2011)

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