Nini Wen | Catalysis | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nini Wen | Catalysis | Best Researcher Award

Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, China

👨‍🎓Profiles

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Nini Wen began her academic journey with a strong foundation in chemical engineering and materials science, culminating in the award of her Ph.D. in 2023. Shortly thereafter, she joined Zhejiang Sci-Tech University as a lecturer, where she continues to advance research at the intersection of environmental catalysis and materials chemistry.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Since her appointment, Dr. Wen has dedicated her academic career to the study and development of Selective Catalytic Reduction-Hydrocarbon (SCR-HC) catalysts, particularly focusing on novel catalytic systems like metal oxides, pillared interlayered clays (PILC), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), and atomic clusters. Her methodical approach integrates catalyst design with advanced characterization techniques to uncover fundamental catalytic properties and reaction mechanisms. She has completed one foundational research project and currently leads two additional national-level foundation projects, underscoring her growing research independence and leadership.

🧪 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Wen’s cutting-edge research lies in environmental pollution control and catalytic materials, particularly LDH-based catalysts for SCR-HC reactions. LDHs, known as emerging 2D layered materials, have seldom been utilized in this field. Her innovative work includes designing binary and ternary LDH catalysts, which leverage the synergistic effects of multi-metal components to enhance catalytic activity. She has thoroughly explored the impact of synergy on both the intrinsic physicochemical properties and catalytic mechanisms. Furthermore, her studies address real-world challenges by investigating how poisoning species such as H₂O, SO₂, and alkali metals influence catalyst performance and structural stability, making her contributions highly relevant for industrial applications.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Wen has made a significant mark in the catalysis community with over 20 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals including the Chemical Engineering Journal, Fuel, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, and Molecular Catalysis. Her work continues to inspire new approaches in designing resilient and efficient environmental catalysts, positioning her as a promising young scholar in the field of applied catalysis.

📈 Academic Citations

Although early in her independent career, Dr. Wen’s publications are gaining recognition in the academic world, with citations steadily increasing. Her focus on mechanistic insight and application-driven research makes her work valuable for both academic studies and industrial implementations in pollution mitigation technologies.

🛠️ Technical Skills

Dr. Wen possesses a broad suite of experimental and analytical techniques essential to modern catalysis research. These include X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), temperature-programmed desorption/reduction (TPD/TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), among others. These tools support her rigorous examination of structure-performance relationships in catalytic systems.

👩‍🏫 Teaching and Mentorship

As a lecturer, Dr. Wen is actively involved in undergraduate and graduate instruction. She integrates her research findings into the classroom to foster scientific curiosity and train students in environmental engineering and materials chemistry, laying the groundwork for future researchers.

🤝 Professional Memberships

Dr. Wen is a member of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, through which she engages in professional development and collaborative opportunities, staying current with trends in catalysis and environmental remediation technologies.

🌱 Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. Wen’s pioneering work in LDH-based SCR-HC catalysis and pollution control positions her at the forefront of sustainable environmental technologies. Her future plans include exploring atomically dispersed catalysts, enhancing low-temperature catalytic activity, and developing next-generation catalyst systems with improved tolerance to industrial poisons. Her work is expected to play a vital role in the global effort to reduce industrial emissions and transition toward greener technologies.

📖Notable Publications

Preparation and de-NOₓ performance of C₃H₆-SCR over Cu-SAPO-44 catalyst
Authors: Zhou, H.; Zhang, H.; Wen, N.; Wang, X.; Xu, L.; Li, W.; Su, Y.
Journal: Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress
Year: 2023

Research on resistance of CuxNiyFez-LDHs derived catalysts to poisoning components and insight into the complex role of SO₂ on C₃H₆-SCR performance
Authors: Wen, N.; Zhou, H.; Ning, S.; Hu, M.; Deng, W.; Zhao, B.; Su, Y.
Journal: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Year: 2023

Research progress on supported Cu-based zeolite catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NOₓ with hydrocarbons
Authors: Ning, S.; Su, Y.; Yang, H.; Wen, N.
Journal: Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress
Year: 2023

Selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide with propylene over one-step synthesized Cu-SAPO-44 catalysts
Authors: Zhang, H.; Zhou, H.; Wen, N.-N.; Wang, X.-R.; Xu, L.; Su, Y.-X.
Journal: Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology
Year: 2022

Study on CH₄-SCR performance by Ga-Fe catalysts supported on Ti-pillared interlayered clays (Ti-PILC)
Authors: Xu, G.-Q.; Su, Y.-X.; Wen, N.-N.; Zhang, H.; Liu, Q.; Deng, W.-Y.; Zhou, H.
Journal: Journal of Molecular Catalysis
Year: 2022

Synergy of CuNiFe-LDH based catalysts for enhancing low-temperature SCR-C₃H₆ performance: Surface properties and reaction mechanism
Authors: Wen, N.; Su, Y.; Deng, W.; Zhou, H.; Hu, M.; Zhao, B.
Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal
Year: 2022

 

Tao Yang | Electrochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Tao Yang | Electrochemistry | Best Researcher Award

University of Science and Technology Beijing, China

👨‍🎓Profiles

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Prof. Tao Yang embarked on his academic journey at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), where he pursued a doctoral degree at the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy from 2012 to 2018. His early research laid a strong foundation in materials science and electrochemistry, setting the stage for his future contributions to sustainable energy and carbon neutrality.

👨‍🏫 Professional Endeavors

After completing his doctorate, Prof. Yang continued at USTB as a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Materials Science and Engineering (2018-2021). During this period, he expanded his expertise in electrocatalysis and nanogenerator technologies. He then advanced to an associate professor role at the Collaborative Innovation Center of Steel Technology (2018-2021), further enhancing his research impact. Since July 2021, he has served as a full professor at the Institute of Carbon Neutrality at USTB, leading groundbreaking research initiatives in sustainable energy solutions.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Prof. Yang's research spans multiple critical areas in electrochemistry and energy science, including:

Electrocatalysis & Hydrogen Production: Developing advanced materials for water splitting to generate hydrogen efficiently.

Carbon Dioxide Reduction & Utilization: Innovating techniques to convert CO₂ into valuable chemical fuels, addressing climate change challenges.

Piezoelectricity & Nanogenerators: Exploring self-powered energy harvesting technologies for renewable energy applications.

Electromagnetic Wave Absorption: Investigating materials that mitigate electromagnetic interference, contributing to advanced communication and defense technologies.

📊 Impact and Influence

With over 60 SCI/EI-indexed papers as the first or corresponding author, Prof. Yang has established himself as a prolific researcher. His work has amassed 3,500 citations on Google Scholar, achieving an h-index of 36. Notably, 8 of his papers have been featured as journal covers, and 7 have been recognized as ESI Highly Cited Papers, underscoring the significance of his research in the scientific community.

🏆 Academic Recognitions

Prof. Yang's remarkable contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including:

Postdoctoral Innovative Talent Support Program

Beijing Outstanding Talent – Young Backbone Individual

Inclusion in Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists (2022-2024) These prestigious honors highlight his sustained excellence and influence in the field of carbon neutrality and energy conversion.

🛠️ Technical Skills

Prof. Yang possesses a deep expertise in advanced material characterization and electrochemical techniques, including: Electrocatalysis testing and analysis, Nanomaterial synthesis and modification, Advanced spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, Computational modeling for material behavior predictions His technical prowess enables him to push the boundaries of innovation in clean energy technologies.

🎓 Teaching and Mentorship

As a professor and doctoral supervisor at USTB, Prof. Yang plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of researchers. He actively mentors Ph.D. and master's students, guiding them in cutting-edge research on sustainable energy solutions. His commitment to academic excellence ensures that his students receive top-tier education and research training.

🌏 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking ahead, Prof. Yang aims to: Expand research on scalable hydrogen production technologies, Develop novel catalysts for efficient CO₂ conversion, Advance self-powered nanogenerator applications, Contribute to global efforts in achieving carbon neutrality His work continues to drive scientific innovation and practical solutions for a more sustainable future, making him a leading figure in electrochemical energy research.

📖Notable Publications

1. Gut dysbiosis is linked to hypertension
Authors: T Yang, MM Santisteban, V Rodriguez, E Li, N Ahmari, JM Carvajal, ...
Journal: Hypertension
Year: 2015

2. Multicomponent intermetallic nanoparticles and superb mechanical behaviors of complex alloys
Authors: T Yang, YL Zhao, Y Tong, ZB Jiao, J Wei, JX Cai, XD Han, D Chen, A Hu, ...
Journal: Science
Year: 2018

3. DSC: Scheduling parallel tasks on an unbounded number of processors
Authors: T Yang, A Gerasoulis
Journal: IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems
Year: 1994

4. Heterogeneous precipitation behavior and stacking-fault-mediated deformation in a CoCrNi-based medium-entropy alloy
Authors: YL Zhao, T Yang, Y Tong, J Wang, JH Luan, ZB Jiao, D Chen, Y Yang, ...
Journal: Acta Materialia
Year: 2017

5. A comparison of clustering heuristics for scheduling directed acyclic graphs on multiprocessors
Authors: A Gerasoulis, T Yang
Journal: Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing
Year: 1992

6. The gut microbiota and the brain–gut–kidney axis in hypertension and chronic kidney disease
Authors: T Yang, EM Richards, CJ Pepine, MK Raizada
Journal: Nature Reviews Nephrology
Year: 2018

7. Hypertension-linked pathophysiological alterations in the gut
Authors: MM Santisteban, Y Qi, J Zubcevic, S Kim, T Yang, V Shenoy, ...
Journal: Circulation Research
Year: 2017

Zhongxin Song | Electrochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Zhongxin Song | Electrochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Shenzhen University, China

👨‍🎓Profiles

🧑‍🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Zhongxin Song began her academic journey with a strong focus on Mechanical & Materials Engineering. She completed her Ph.D. in 2018 at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, where she honed her expertise in materials science. During her early academic years, Dr. Song developed a keen interest in nanomaterials, which would later form the core of her research in energy conversion and electrolysis.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Song is currently a Research Professor at Shenzhen University, China. Her professional trajectory has seen significant contributions to electrocatalysis and fuel cell technology. Along with her academic responsibilities, she has collaborated on several industry projects, including a notable one with Ballard Power Systems, Canada. These partnerships underscore her applied research in the energy sector.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Zhongxin Song's research revolves around the design and synthesis of both noble metal and nonnoble metal-based nanomaterials. These materials play a critical role in electrocatalysis and fuel cells. Her work on atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques and dual-metal-site catalysts has significantly advanced the field. Dr. Song's contributions have resulted in the publication of 53 high-impact research papers, two book chapters, and three Chinese patents.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Song's innovative research has made a considerable impact on the development of electrocatalysts and fuel cell technologies. With 3,355 citations to her name, her work is widely recognized within the scientific community. Her involvement in national and international projects, such as those funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, reflects her global influence in the field.

📚 Academic Cites

Dr. Song's work has been cited over 3,355 times in scientific literature, emphasizing the relevance and influence of her research in advancing sustainable energy technologies. This citation index places her among the leading researchers in her field, illustrating the growing recognition of her contributions.

🛠 Technical Skills

Dr. Song possesses strong technical expertise in the design and synthesis of nanomaterials for energy conversion and electrolysis. Her work involves advanced techniques like atomic layer deposition, electrochemical analysis, and material characterization. Her skills also extend to the development of catalysts and the application of novel materials in fuel cells and electrolysis systems.

👩‍🏫 Teaching Experience

As a research professor, Dr. Song has mentored students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She is deeply involved in shaping the next generation of engineers and researchers. Her teaching approach integrates her cutting-edge research into classroom instruction, providing students with both theoretical knowledge and practical applications.

🏆 Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. Song's ongoing research in nanomaterials for energy conversion continues to hold great promise for advancing clean energy technologies. With future projects focused on dual-metal-site catalysts for PEMFC anodes and electrocatalysis, her work is poised to have a lasting impact on fuel cell efficiency and longevity. She remains committed to both scientific innovation and mentorship, ensuring her legacy extends through future breakthroughs and the success of her students.

📖Notable Publications

Atomic layer deposited tantalum oxide to anchor Pt/C for a highly stable catalyst in PEMFCs

Authors: Zhongxin Song et al.

Journal: J. Mater. Chem. A

Year: 2017

Decoupling atomic-layer-deposition ultrafine RuO₂ for high-efficiency and ultralong-life Li-O₂ batteries

Authors: Zhongxin Song et al.

Journal: Nano Energy

Year: 2017

Exfoliation of graphite to few-layer graphene in aqueous media with vinylimidazole-based polymer as high-performance stabilizer

Authors: Zhongxin Song et al.

Journal: Carbon

Year: 2016

Metal-organic frameworks for energy storage and conversion

Authors: Zhongxin Song et al.

Journal: Energy Storage Materials

Year: 2016

Recent Progress on MOF-Derived Nanomaterials as Advanced Electrocatalysts in Fuel Cells

Authors: Zhongxin Song et al.

Journal: Catalysts

Year: 2016

Aqueous dispersion of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes prepared by using a vinylimidazole-based polymer dispersant

Authors: Zhongxin Song et al.

Journal: RSC Adv.

Year: 2014

 

Premnath Kumar | Electrocatalyst | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Premnath Kumar | Electrocatalyst | Best Researcher Award

Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

👨‍🎓Profiles

🧑‍🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Premnath Kumar's academic journey began with a strong foundation in chemistry, earning a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. from Thiruvalluvar University, Tamil Nadu. His postgraduate research involved the synthesis and characterization of BiOCl/α-Fe2O3 photocatalysts, marking his early interest in materials for energy applications. His academic excellence culminated in a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the same university, focusing on cost-effective, platinum-free electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions.

🧑‍🔬 Professional Endeavors

He expanded his expertise as an International Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, from 2022 to 2024. Collaborating with leading scientists, including his mentor, Dr. Piyasan Praserthdam, he contributed to cutting-edge advancements in electrocatalysis and nanomaterials for energy conversion.

🧪 Research Focus and Contributions

His research emphasizes sustainable energy solutions through nanomaterials, electrocatalytic processes, and supercapacitor technology. Key contributions include:

  • Development of platinum-free catalysts for hydrogen production.
  • Investigations into nanomaterials for enhanced energy storage and conversion.
  • Promoting photocatalysis for green energy applications.

🌍 Impact and Influence

His work directly supports global sustainability goals by advancing affordable and efficient green energy technologies. His research findings have gained recognition for their potential to revolutionize hydrogen production and energy storage systems, with implications across academia and industry.

📚 Academic Citations and Recognition

Dr. Kumar's publications have been cited extensively, reflecting the academic and practical value of his contributions to chemistry and renewable energy.

🛠️ Technical Expertise

His proficiency spans analytical and electrochemical techniques, including:

  • XRD, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, UV-Vis, PL, and XPS for material characterization.
  • Advanced electrochemical methodologies like cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and HER/OER analysis.

👨‍🏫 Teaching and Mentorship

He has played an instrumental role in mentoring students and junior researchers, sharing his knowledge in electrocatalysis and nanotechnology to inspire the next generation of chemists.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions

He aims to further his impact in renewable energy technologies by exploring innovative materials and processes. His dedication to green energy solutions positions him as a thought leader in chemistry and sustainable development.

📖Notable Publications

A comprehensive review and perspective of recent research developments, and accomplishments on structural-based catalysts; 1D, 2D, and 3D nanostructured electrocatalysts for hydrogen energy production

  • Authors: Kumar, P., García, A., Praserthdam, S., Praserthdam, P.
  • Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
  • Year: 2024

Nonylphenol polybenzoxazines-derived nitrogen-rich porous carbon (NRPC)-supported g-C3N4/Fe3O4 nanocomposite for efficient high-performance supercapacitor application

  • Authors: Selvaraj, K., Yu, B., Spontón, M.E., Sayed, S.R.M., Kannaiyan, D.
  • Journal: Soft Matter
  • Year: 2024

Renovated FeCoP-NC nanospheres wrapped by CoP-NC nanopetals: As a tremendously effectual and robust MOF-assisted electrocatalyst for hydrogen energy production

  • Authors: Kumar, P., Maia, G., Praserthdam, S., Praserthdam, P.
  • Journal: Environmental Research
  • Year: 2024

Double role of CTAB as a surfactant and carbon source in Ni-Mo2C/GA composite: As a highly active electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

  • Authors: Kumar, P., Arumugam, M., Maia, G., Praserthdam, S., Praserthdam, P.
  • Journal: Electrochimica Acta
  • Year: 2023

Reduced nickel on cobalt sulphide with carbon supported (Ni-CoS/C) composite material as a low-cost and efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

  • Authors: Kumar, P., Arumugam, M., Jagannathan, M., Praserthdam, S., Praserthdam, P.
  • Journal: Electrochimica Acta
  • Year: 2022

Carbon supported nickel phosphide as efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions

  • Authors: Kumar, P., Murthy, A.P., Bezerra, L.S., Maia, G., Madhavan, J.
  • Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
  • Year: 2021