In energy conversion and utilization processes, energy storage, release, and transformation are inherently coupled with complex chemical reactions. These reactions typically occur under operando conditions, including high pressure, multiphase environments, high temperatures, and strong non-equilibrium states, where reaction pathways are highly coupled and key intermediates exhibit pronounced transient behavior. In contrast to idealized laboratory conditions, mechanistic understanding of such processes still relies largely on offline sampling and post-reaction analysis, limiting direct access to dynamic chemical information. Insufficient measurability of chemical reactions under operando conditions has therefore become a major bottleneck in energy conversion research.
My research focuses on online mass spectrometric diagnostics of chemical reactions under operando conditions in energy conversion, developing in situ and time-resolved methods to identify key intermediates and reaction pathways in high-pressure multiphase systems such as biomass-to-aviation-fuel conversion, as well as to resolve reaction kinetics and transient chemistry in high-temperature processes exemplified by energetic propellant combustion.