Staff information

Biography

Jenny Yang is currently working in the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis. Her work has primarily focused on the generation of economical molecular complexes capable of catalyzing the production and oxidation of hydrogen. Both reactions are essential to the use of hydrogen as a chemical fuel. She has also begun a project on discovering new classes of catalysts for the oxidation of water to produce oxygen, a reaction important in chemical fuel production cycles. The catalyst designs are inspired by the active sites of enzymes that are capable of performing similar chemistry. Some of the important considerations are managing proton movement throughout the catalytic cycle, and understanding how structural or electronic changes affect thermochemical properties.

Education and Credentials

• Ph.D. Inorganic Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 2007
• B.S. Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 2001

Affiliations and Professional Service

• American Chemical Society

PNNL Publications

2024

• Appel A.M., and J.Y. Yang. 2024. "Maximum and Comparative Efficiency Calculations for Integrated Capture and Electrochemical Conversion CO2." ACS Energy Letters 9, no. 2:768-770. PNNL-SA-192746. doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.3c02489

2013

• Yang J.Y., S.E. Smith, T.L. Liu, W.G. Dougherty, W.A. Hoffert, W.S. Kassel, and M. Rakowski DuBois, et al. 2013. "Two Pathways for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Hydrogen by a Nickel Bis(diphosphine) Complex with Pendant Amines in the Second Coordination Sphere." Journal of the American Chemical Society 135, no. 26:9700-9712. PNNL-SA-92342. doi:10.1021/ja400705a

2012

• O'Hagan M.J., M. Ho, J.Y. Yang, A.M. Appel, M. Rakowski DuBois, S. Raugei, and W.J. Shaw, et al. 2012. "Proton Delivery and Removal in [Ni(PR2NR'2)2]2+ Hydrogen Production and Oxidation Catalysts." Journal of the American Chemical Society 134, no. 47:19409-19424. PNNL-SA-88737. doi:10.1021/ja307413x
• Smith S.E., J.Y. Yang, D.L. DuBois, and R.M. Bullock. 2012. "Reversible Electrocatalytic Production and Oxidation of Hydrogen at Low Overpotentials by a Functional Hydrogenase Mimic." Angewandte Chemie International Edition 51, no. 13:3152-3155. PNNL-SA-84487. doi:10.1002/anie.201108461
• Wiedner E.S., J.Y. Yang, S. Chen, S. Raugei, W.G. Dougherty, W.S. Kassel, and M.L. Helm, et al. 2012. "Stabilization of Nickel Complexes with Ni0···H-N Bonding Interactions Using Sterically Demanding Cyclic Diphosphine Ligands." Organometallics 31, no. 1:144-156. PNNL-SA-81603. doi:10.1021/om200709z

2011

• Appel A.M., D.H. Pool, M.J. O'Hagan, W.J. Shaw, J.Y. Yang, M. Rakowski DuBois, and D.L. DuBois, et al. 2011. "[Ni(PPh2NBn2)2(CH3CN)]2+ as an Electrocatalyst for H2 Production: Dependence on Acid Strength and Isomer Distribution." ACS Catalysis 1, no. 7:777-785. PNNL-SA-77921. doi:10.1021/cs2000939
• Galan B.R., J. Schoffel, J.C. Linehan, C. Seu, A.M. Appel, J.A. Roberts, and M.L. Helm, et al. 2011. "Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formate by [Ni(PR2NR`2)2(CH3CN)]2+ Complexes." Journal of the American Chemical Society 113, no. 35:12767-12779. PNNL-SA-77812. doi:10.1021/ja204489e
• O'Hagan M.J., W.J. Shaw, S. Raugei, S. Chen, J.Y. Yang, U.J. Kilgore, and D.L. DuBois, et al. 2011. "Moving Protons with Pendant Amines: Proton Mobility in a Nickel Catalyst for Oxidation of Hydrogen." Journal of the American Chemical Society 133, no. 36:14301-14312. PNNL-SA-77814. doi:10.1021/ja201838x
• Yang J.Y., R.M. Bullock, M. Rakowski DuBois, and D.L. DuBois. 2011. "Fast and efficient molecular electrocatalysts for H2 production: Using hydrogenase enzymes as guides." MRS Bulletin 36, no. 1:39-47. PNNL-SA-75088. doi:10.1557/mrs.2010.8

2010

• Wiedner E.S., J.Y. Yang, W.G. Dougherty, W.S. Kassel, R.M. Bullock, M. Rakowski DuBois, and D.L. DuBois. 2010. "Comparison of Cobalt and Nickel Complexes with Sterically Demanding Cyclic Diphosphine Ligands: Electrocatalytic H2 Production by [Co(PtBu2NPh2)(CH3CN)3](BF4)2." Organometallics 29, no. 21:5390-5401. PNNL-SA-72956. doi:10.1021/om100395r
• Yang J.Y., R.M. Bullock, W.G. Dougherty, W.S. Kassel, B. Twamley, D.L. DuBois, and M. Rakowski DuBois. 2010. "Reduction of Oxygen Catalyzed by Nickel Diphosphine Complexes with Positioned Pendant Amines." Dalton Transactions 39, no. 12:3001-3010. PNNL-SA-68965.
• Yang J.Y., S. Chen, W.G. Dougherty, W.S. Kassel, R.M. Bullock, D.L. DuBois, and S. Raugei, et al. 2010. "Hydrogen Oxidation Catalysis by a Nickel Diphosphine Complex with Pendant tert-Butyl Amines." Chemical Communications 46. PNNL-SA-74657. doi:10.1039/C0CC03246H

2009

• Yang J.Y., R.M. Bullock, W.J. Shaw, B. Twamley, K. Fraze, K. Fraze, and M. Rakowski DuBois, et al. 2009. "Mechanistic Insights into Catalytic H2 Oxidation by Ni Complexes Containing a Diphosphine Ligand with a Positioned Amine Base." Journal of the American Chemical Society 131, no. 16:5935-5945. PNNL-SA-64310.

2008

• Jacobsen G.M., J.Y. Yang, B. Twamley, A. Wilson, A. Wilson, R.M. Bullock, and M. Rakowski DuBois, et al. 2008. "Hydrogen Production Using Cobalt-Based Molecular Catalysts Containing a Proton Relay in the Second Coordination Sphere." Energy & Environmental Science 1, no. 1:167-174. PNNL-SA-59889. doi:10.1039/b805309j