Jesse Canavan

As a passionate researcher in the fields of chemical engineering and materials science, I'm dedicated to expanding the preconceived notions of what is possible in heterogeneous catalysis. I believe that the key to doing so is letting go of the pride we often display in being "this" kind of engineer or "that" kind of scientist, etc. This recasts technical problems into people problems, where we need to break down barriers in communication between different kinds of engineers and scientists. At the community level it takes respect, patience, and an open mind to solve difficult interdisciplinary problems of this kind. It also requires humility at the personal level, as even the most experienced researchers have to go back to the textbook at times to learn the vernacular of the fundamental physics behind a problem. This shared language can act as a universal translator amongst scientists and engineers from various backgrounds when trying to tackle an applied problem together.

The goal of my PhD is to become an expert in working at these interfaces between people, not just between phases of matter. In any future role I may hold, I want to be the go-to person for breaking down barriers between disciplines, helping accelerate emerging technologies to market.

The Center for Programmable Energy Catalysis is tasked with building a better understanding of the in situ control of catalytically active surfaces. In the Dauenhauer lab, this is done through the use of “catalytic condenser” devices. These thin film parallel plate capacitors enable electron enrichment or depletion in the catalyst upon holding a voltage across the plates. This changes the electronic properties of the metal film, thereby increasing or decreasing the binding energy of adsorbates to the surface. In situ control of binding energy has been predicted in kinetic modeling studies to enhance reaction rates. It is predicted that programming an oscillating voltage for the catalytic condenser can raise the reaction rate above the Sabatier limit at a given temperature and pressure.

For recent publications that I have been involved with, click here. For publications from CPEC in general, click here.

• 2024 — Present: Ph.D. Candidate, Materials Science, University of Minnesota
• 2024: M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota
• 2022 — 2024: Ph.D. Student, Materials Science, University of Minnesota
• 2020 — 2022: B.S. Chemical Engineering, SUNY University at Buffalo
• 2018 — 2020: Pre-Engineering, Canisius University