The group is led by 王鹏, an associate professor in the School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering at Xuzhou University of Technology. Its members are 王鹏, Shuai Wei, Hui Liang, Yao Zhang, Yuanyuan Liu and Yanling Han. Their research spans metal catalysts, semiconductors and carbon nitride, magnesium-based hydrogen-storage systems, and polyoxometalates.
Why can materials with similar compositions behave differently in a reaction? How do active sites, defects and interfaces affect adsorption, charge transfer and product formation? These questions connect the members’ individual work and provide a basis for collaboration in catalytic materials and energy chemistry.
What we study
- Carbon conversion and selective catalysis: CO and syngas conversion, lower-alcohol synthesis and selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived molecules, with attention to active sites and reaction pathways.
- Photocatalysis for energy and environmental applications: Light absorption, charge separation and surface reactions in semiconductors and carbon nitride, including hydrogen evolution, hydrogen peroxide synthesis, pollutant conversion and self-cleaning films, alongside material-design questions in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction.
- Hydrogen storage and catalytic release: Reversible hydrogen sorption in magnesium-based and composite materials, and catalytic release from chemical carriers such as formic acid, considering the trade-offs between rate, usable capacity and stability.
- Electrocatalysis and functional energy materials: Polyoxometalates and their derivatives, hydrogen and oxygen evolution, urea oxidation, and materials for electrochemical energy storage, examining the relationship between electrode structure and working state.
Explore our research areas and questions
People and expertise
- 王鹏: Group leader with a background in industrial catalysis, studying catalytic carbon conversion, metal active sites and catalyst–support interfaces, with collaborative work in photocatalysis and hydrogen release.
- Shuai Wei: Detailed structures and structure–activity relationships of composite catalysts, including work on CO oxidation and formic acid dehydrogenation.
- Hui Liang: Magnesium-based hydrogen storage, nanomaterials and composite interfaces, focusing on catalysis, material protection and cycling performance.
- Yao Zhang: Polyoxometalates and derived functional materials, with a focus on electronic structure and electrocatalytic reactions.
- Yuanyuan Liu: Applied chemistry teaching and research in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and functional materials, with additional research experience in biosensor materials.
- Yanling Han: Structures and interfaces of semiconductor photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution, hydrogen peroxide synthesis and self-cleaning functional films.
Connecting structure with reaction behavior
Members have co-authored studies on hydrogen peroxide photosynthesis over carbon nitride, catalytic formic acid dehydrogenation and semiconductor photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Different material systems offer useful points of comparison: how does contact between a metal and its support change an active site, can a semiconductor interface improve charge utilization, and how does a protective layer affect hydrogen-storage reaction rates?
Published work connects material preparation with structural characterization and reaction measurements. Some studies use in situ spectroscopy and theoretical calculations to examine intermediates and reaction pathways. Performance data need to be understood under the relevant temperature, pressure, illumination or electrochemical conditions; structural changes during a reaction also matter when interpreting activity and stability.
Visit the member profiles for publications, projects and individual contributions, or news for the background and sources of research updates.
Teaching and student projects
Members teach chemical engineering, materials and applied chemistry and participate in undergraduate supervision, student innovation projects and chemical engineering design competitions. Coursework, research and project work offer different opportunities to understand reaction principles, formulate questions and communicate results.
Hydrogen-storage research has also informed student innovation. The project “镁氢智储” received a national bronze award in the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition 2025. An earlier school report on the provincial competition named Hui Liang and 王鹏 as project advisers. Read about the project and award
Students interested in research training can start with the research areas and member profiles, then introduce their academic background and interests through the contact page. Admissions arrangements follow official university and school announcements.
University–industry exchange
Members’ projects and exchanges address topics including lower-alcohol production from syngas, self-cleaning hydrophilic films and hydrogen-storage materials. A school report dated 9 January 2025 describes a visit to companies in Xinyi led by 王鹏, with Yanling Han and other faculty members taking part in discussions on training and research cooperation. School report
We welcome discussions that begin with a specific material or reaction problem, the existing evidence, research conditions and possible areas of collaboration.
About Xuzhou University of Technology
Xuzhou University of Technology is located in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, and emphasizes applied education and collaboration with industry. Group members teach and conduct research in catalytic materials and energy chemistry at the School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering. The university website provides information about the institution and its educational programs.