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Bates Research Group Google Scholar Curriculum Vitae

About

Jason received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Kansas in 2014 and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Purdue University in 2019. At Purdue, he studied the fundamental kinetic contributions of solvation and active site structure to dehydration reactions relevant to biomass upgrading using structurally well-defined Lewis acid and Brønsted acid zeolite catalysts. He was an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the Department of Chemistry, where he bridged the fields of thermal and electrocatalysis through studies of catalysts consisting of atomically dispersed metals incorporated into nitrogen-doped carbon.

In the Bates research group, we synthesize catalysts with well-defined structures and use quantitative kinetic measurements and characterizations of their active centers to elucidate structure–reactivity relationships. Our studies are enriched by a network of collaborations (e.g., theorists) and advanced characterization tools at national laboratories. We apply our approach to study catalytic technologies relevant for decarbonization of the energy and chemical industries.

Education

B.S., University of Kansas, Chemical Engineering, 2014

Ph.D., Purdue University, Chemical Engineering, 2019

Postdoctoral, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Chemistry, 2020–2023

"We study the fundamentals of heterogeneous (electro)catalysis in areas relevant to decarbonization of the energy and chemical industries."

Jason Bates

Research Interests

Catalysis
Electrocatalysis
Materials synthesis
Materials characterization

Selected Publications

Progress and Pitfalls in Designing Heterogeneous Catalysts with Molecular Precision. Nature Chemistry 2025, 17, 318–324.
Abstract
Chemical Kinetic Method for Active-Site Quantification in Fe-N-C Catalysts and Correlation with Molecular Probe and Spectroscopic Site-Counting Methods. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 26222–26237.
Abstract
Chemical and Electrochemical O₂ Reduction on Earth-Abundant M-N-C Catalysts and Implications for Mediated Electrolysis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 922–927.
Abstract
Structure and Solvation of Confined Water and Water-Ethanol Clusters within Microporous Brønsted Acids and their Effects on Ethanol Dehydration Catalysis. Chem. Sci. 2020, 11, 7102–7122.
Abstract

Awards

18th International Congress on Catalysis Young Talent 2024
Virginia Space Grant Consortium New Investigator Award 2024
Gordon Research Conference on Catalysis Postdoc Poster Award 2022
UW–Madison Chemistry Graduate Student Faculty Liaison Committee Postdoc Mentor Award 2021, 2022
National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award 2020
Purdue College of Engineering Outstanding Research Award 2020