Meet Max Chen Huang
Max Chen Huang is a third-year VIPER student majoring in Physics and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (CBE). He conducts computational materials research in Dr. Aleksandra Vojvodic’s lab, where he uses quantum mechanics-based simulations to study materials for energy technologies such as solar energy, electrolyzers and fuel cells. His recent work has focused on understanding why certain catalyst materials break down during the production of green hydrogen from water, with the goal of helping design more stable and efficient systems.
Specifically, he collaborated in an effort to understand the thermodynamic and kinetic driving forces behind atomic dissolution at the surface of iridium oxide nanoparticles. Currently, he is using deep learning to make these simulations faster and more powerful, allowing researchers to study complex materials in greater detail and helping connect fundamental science to real-world energy applications.