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ORaCEL - Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratories

Wei You

Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Chemistry
919-962-6197
wyou at unc.edu
Kenan B, Room 540
Group website

B.S. Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China (1999); Ph.D. Organic/Polymer Chemistry, University of Chicago (2004); Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University (2004-2006).

Research interests

We believe that, given the interdisciplinary nature of our research projects, it is rather difficult – and unnecessary – to put a specific label on individual projects. In terms of applications, we are researching solar cells, electronic/spintronic devices, dental/bone repair, and cancer treatment, among others. The materials we are actively developing include conjugated organic/polymers, biocompatible polymers, traditional polymers, and inorganic/organic hybrids. Our strengths are in chemistry, including design and synthesis of organic molecules and polymers, and exploring new polymerization methodologies. Our mission is to apply innovative approaches to develop novel materials for practical applications. In the process, we strive to discover fundamental governing principles via rigorous structure-property analysis. Given the complex nature of many research projects in our portfolio, we have built a number of long-term collaborations with research groups world-wide. Together with our collaborators, we are actively exploring new territories and push the boundaries in individual fields.

Select Publications  

Complete List Of Publications

Honors & Awards

  • Excellent Student Fellowship (First Prize), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China, (1995)
  • Panasonic Scholarship- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China, (1996)
  • P&G Scholarship – University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China, (1997)
  • Excellent Student Fellowship (Third Prize) – University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China, (1998)
  • Excellent Thesis of USTC (Year 1999)” – University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China, (1999)
  • Outstanding Leadership and Dedication, recognized by Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, (2002)
  • Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research – American Chemical Society 228th National Meeting, (2004)
  • DuPont Science and Engineering Grant, (2007-2008)
  • DuPont Young Professor Award, (2008-2010)
  • R.J. Reynolds Junior Faculty Development Award, (2008-2009)
  • NSF CAREER Award, (2010-2015)
  • Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, (2011)
  • Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, (2011)
  • CAPA Distinguished Junior Faculty Award, (2012)
  • Two publications were in “the hottest research of 2011” by Thomas Reuters, (2012)
  • One publication was selected as one of the top 9 articles out of 1300+ for “Best of Macromolecular Journals 2012” by Wiley, (2013)
  • Ruth and Phillip Hettleman Prize for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement, (2013)