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Thien An Le

@thienanle

Senior Materials Scientist at KRICT who scaled ammonia-cracking materials from bench to pilot and enabled technology transfer to Lotte Chemical Corporation.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I’m seeking to develop differentiated materials and processes for product roadmaps as a Senior Materials Scientist at 3M.

At KRICT, I developed materials for COx-free hydrogen production from ammonia, including engineered CeO2-based oxides and Ru-free nitride catalysts. My Cs/Ce-promoted Co3Mo3N reached 85% NH3 conversion at 550 °C and retained about 97% of its performance over 100 hours.

I scaled material preparation and testing from bench to pilot with an industrial partner, leading to technology transfer to Lotte Chemical Corporation. I also refined processing and test methods, and used characterization and durability testing to guide material redesign.

My work has resulted in 10 granted patents and 20 peer-reviewed articles. I’m seeking to develop differentiated materials and processes for product roadmaps as a Senior Materials Scientist at 3M.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Researcher

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology

Jan 2019 - Dec 2026 (7 years 11 months)

Led development of new materials for low-temperature ammonia cracking to COx-free hydrogen, including Ru-free Ni-based and Cs/Ce-promoted Co3Mo3N catalysts. Scaled materials from bench to pilot with an industrial partner, leading to technology transfer to Lotte Chemical Corporation.

Ph.D. Researcher

Ajou University

Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 (4 years 7 months)

Synthesized nanostructured oxide-supported materials via sol-gel, hydrolysis-precipitation, and hydrothermal routes for low-temperature CO/CO2 methanation. Delivered materials that supported a granted patent and technology transfer to CES Co., Ltd.

Sol Gel Hydrolysis Precipitation Hydrothermal Synthesis Calcination Bankruptcy Methanation Technical Writer Patent Application

Graduate Research Assistant

Kyung Hee University

Jan 2012 - Feb 2014 (2 years 1 month)

Conducted biomass pyrolysis experiments to increase bio-oil yield and developed catalysts for bio-oil upgrading via hydrodeoxygenation (HDO).

Pyrolysis Bio Oil Upgrading Hydrodeoxygenation Catalyst Development

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Ajou University

Ph.D., Energy Chemical Engineering

2015 - 2019

Ph.D. in Energy Chemical Engineering. Research focused on C1 gas activation, developing nanostructured oxide-supported materials for low-temperature CO/CO2 methanation.

Kyung Hee University

M.S., Chemical Engineering

2012 - 2014

M.S. in Chemical Engineering. Research involved biomass pyrolysis to increase bio-oil yield and development of catalysts for bio-oil upgrading via hydrodeoxygenation.