Research

    Interface properties are key factors dominating in heterogeneous catalysis system. People have devoted plenty efforts to this specific area for a long time while conclusive summarization only exist in limited topics. That is why more and more research scientists jumping into this specific area and trying to find the ultimate solution of catalysis based on there own research. Our group is a team of passionate research chemists led by Dr. Hongbo Zhang at Nankai University. The group is designed to address energetic and environmental challenges from a fundamental perspective via combination studies with nano-fabrication, kinetic analysis and in-situ/operando characterizations to achieve strong structure and performance correlations, especially on the interface structure. Specifically, we are interested in C-H bond activation, C-C bond coupling, selective hydrogenation/ dehydrogenation of small platform moleculars, such as CH4, ethanol, furfural and CO2 etc to generate value added chemicals and even gasolines/diesels. The in-situ and operando characterization techniques and spectroscopies include XAFS, FTIR, Raman, XPS, XRD and solid-state NMR etc. The catalytic materials we are looking at include Zintl clusters, atomic layer deposition functionalized materials, metal organic frameworks, as well as some Rare Earth (RE) materials. Our research efforts include but not limited to：


1. Mechanistic studies on C-C bond formation and C-O bond rupture in the effective conversion of biomass platform molecules over MOFs and layered RE materials  
2. Atomic layer deposition in nano-catalytical system fabrication and application  
3. C-H bond activation via cofeed chemicals under mild conditions  
4. Kinetic Isotope Effect (KIE) with combination of pressure dependency studies in kinetically relevant step (KRS) assessment
5. Zintl catalysis
6. Photo-thermal catalysis
PersonalProfile

Dr. Hongbo Zhang (Research Scientist)

2002-2006   Chemistry　Department of Nankai University，Bachelor degree

2006-2012   Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics，PhD（Supervisor: Prof. Xinhe Bao and Prof. Xiulian Pan）

2013-2017   Argonne National Laboratory/ Penn State/ UIUC，Postdoc

2018-now    Research Scientist in School of Materials Science and Engineering of Nankai Univeristy


Representative results

  • 1. Jin Yuan#, Zhiwei He# and Hongbo Zhang*, J Catal., 2023, 423，34-49

  • 2. Zhiwei He, Qifeng Lei, Weili Dai and Hongbo Zhang*, J Catal., 2023, 421，172-184

  • 3. Xiuyi Wang#, Didi Li#, Zirui Gao#, Yong Guo*, Hongbo Zhang* and Ding Ma*, J Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, 145, 905-918

  • 4. Jinqiu Guo, Hongbo Zhang* and Ding Ma* et al., ACS Catal., 2022, 12, 7248-7261

  • 5. Jingjing Dai and Hongbo Zhang*, J Catal., 2022, 410: 266-279

  • 6. Leisheng Che and  Hongbo Zhang*, J Catal., 2022, 414: 336-348

  • 7. Xiuyi Wang, Hongbo Zhang*, J Catal., 2022, 406: 145-156

  • 8. Jinqiu Guo, Yaping Du*, Hongbo Zhang* et al., ACS Catal., 2021, 11, 6162-6174

  • 9. Yanru Wang, Yaping Du*, Hongbo Zhang* and Ding Ma* et al., ACS Catal., 2021, 11, 11820-11830

  • 10. Yanru Wang#, Chao Zhang#,  Zhong-Ming Sun* and Hongbo Zhang* et al., ACS Catal., 2020, 10, 14, 7808-7819

  • 11. Hongbo Zhang, Malek Y. S. Ibrahim, David W. Flaherty*, J Catal., 2018, 361: 290-302

  • 12. Hongbo Zhang and Christopher L. Marshall* et al., J Catal., 2015, 326: 172-181

  • 13. Hongbo Zhang and Christopher L. Marshall* et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2014, 53(45): 12132-12136

  • 14. Hongbo Zhang and Christopher L. Marshall* et al., J Catal., 2014, 317: 284-292

  • 15. Hongbo Zhang,  Xiulian Pan* and Xinhe Bao* et al., Chem. Sci., 2013, 4: 1075-1078

  • 16. Hongbo Zhang,  Xiulian Pan* and Xinhe Bao* et al., ChemSusChem, 2012, 4, 975-980