Hongwei Yang

Hongwei Yang, PhD

  • Associate Professor
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Affiliated Programs

Education

  • Phd, Materials Science and Engineering (2006)
    University of Connecticut (CT)

About Me

As a teacher, I would certainly strive to teach students the fundamental content of the courses, but the more important aspect of my teaching goals is to help students foster critical thinking, develop life-long learning skills and prepare them to function effectively in our society. I believe that a key element in the classroom is to keep students motivated. The most effective learning occurs when students become actively engaged in the learning process and perceive the importance and relevance of the subject to their own lives. I also fully understand that students have a variety of learning styles, abilities and backgrounds. Therefore, I am attentive to these factors. In my class, I always pay attention to students’ verbal and nonverbal feedback so that I am able to adapt my teaching style and content in the most effective way.

Students learn the best from an approachable teacher who sets up a comfortable and encouraging atmosphere for learning. I always welcome students to stop by my office and have a conversation. I want students see me not only as a source of knowledge, but also a source of support and an avenue for other resources.

The amazing nature about teaching and learning is that the two things always go side by side. It is my expectation that students not only learn from me and from each other, but that I also learn from them as well. I treat each group of students as a new set of teachers who can help me learn how to better meet their needs in the future.

Research Interests

Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is the design, development and implementation of chemical products and processes to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of substances hazardous to human health and the environment. Under the principles of green chemistry, my research focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization and modification of solid-state inorganic or inorganic-organic hybrid materials for sustainable energy application, particularly in the area of gas storage, rechargeable batteries and thermal energy storage.

Publications

  • Orefuwa, S., Iriowen, E., Yang, H., Wakefield, B., & Goudy, A. (2013). Effects of nitro-functionalization on the gas adsorption properties of isoreticular metal-organic framework-eight (IRMOF-8). Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 177, 82-90.
  • Yang, H., Orefuwa, S., & Goudy, A. (2011). Study of mechanochemical synthesis in the formation of the metal-organic framework Cu3(BTC)2 for hydrogen storage. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 143, 37-45.
  • Yang, H., Ojo, A., Ogaro, P., & Goudy, A. (2009). Hydriding and dehydriding kinetics of sodium alanate at constant pressure thermodynamic driving forces. The Journal of Physical Chemistry, 113(32), 14512-14517.

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