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Faculty Member · PhD

Yanling Han

School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering · Xuzhou University of Technology

Studies structural and interfacial regulation of semiconductor photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution, carbon dioxide reduction, hydrogen peroxide synthesis and self-cleaning films.

Yanling Han is a faculty member with a PhD at the School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Xuzhou University of Technology. Han studies structural and interfacial regulation of semiconductor photocatalysts, with work on hydrogen evolution, carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen peroxide photosynthesis, alongside university–industry collaboration on self-cleaning functional films.

Research interests

  • Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution: Composite structures combining metal sulfides and metal phosphide cocatalysts, with interfacial contact, elemental doping and charge-transfer regulation to improve the separation and utilization of photogenerated carriers.
  • Defect engineering and carbon dioxide conversion: Effects of defects on electronic structure, light absorption, surface active sites, and carbon dioxide adsorption and activation; mechanisms of defect-assisted photocatalytic reduction.
  • Carbon nitride photocatalysts: Collaborative research on molecular architecture and support defects, including hydrogen peroxide photosynthesis and formic acid dehydrogenation.
  • Self-cleaning functional films: Control of nanofilm structure, surface functional groups and performance for photocatalytic and hydrophilic glass surfaces.

Selected publications

This selection covers research published in 2024–2026. Authorship roles are identified using publisher information.

  1. Yuanyuan Liu; Yanling Han; Yidong Miao; Jing Li; Congcong Luo; Shaolei Song; Hua Sun; Kaichi Chen; Lin Tian; Hui Liang; Peng Wang; Wenyi Tan; Xinli Guo. Molecular Benzene‐Heptazine Junction Over Carbon Nitride Frameworks for Dual‐Pathway Photosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide. Small, e74758 (2026), Early View. Co-first author (second in the author list). Investigates benzene–heptazine molecular junctions in carbon nitride for light absorption, charge separation and hydrogen peroxide photosynthesis.

  2. Yanling Han; Jiari He; Lin Tian; Fengjuan Ge; Jie Zhu; Peng Wang; Jing Li; Ming Song; Yuanyuan Liu; Xiao Feng; Wenyi Tan. Recent Development of Defect Engineering in Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction. Langmuir, 42(18), 12398–12414 (2026). Co-first author (first in the author list). Reviews defect types, construction methods, mechanisms and research challenges in photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction.

  3. Shuai Wei; Yuanyuan Liu; Wenzhu Yu; Yan Xu; Yanling Han; Hui Liang; Ming Song; Wenchang Zhuang; Zhenzhou Zhang; Wenyi Tan; Peng Wang. Biomass-Engineered Defect-Rich g-C3N4 Anchors Pd2+-Rich Ultrafine Particles for Highly Efficient Formic Acid Dehydrogenation. Rare Metals, 45(4), e70268 (2026). Co-author. Collaborative research on palladium catalysts supported on defect-rich carbon nitride for formic acid dehydrogenation.

  4. Yanling Han; Xiao Feng; Fengjuan Ge; Haifeng Dang; Shuai Wei; Ming Song; Peng Wang; Yuanyuan Liu; Wenyi Tan. The simultaneous modification of NixPy and P in Mn0.3Cd0.7S nanorods toward photocatalytic H2 evolution from water. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 1046, 184922 (2025). First author. Combines cocatalyst loading and phosphorus doping through a one-step phosphating process to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over sulfides.

  5. Yanling Han; Jiari He; Lihua Hu; Hongquan Fu; Haifeng Dang; Shuai Wei; Jing Li; Shaopeng Tian; Yuanyuan Liu; Peng Wang. In-situ growth 2D Fe2P nanosheets on the surface of 1D Cd0.9Zn0.1S nanorods for remarkably improved photocatalytic H2 evolution. Applied Catalysis A: General, 677, 119661 (2024). First author. Grows two-dimensional iron phosphide nanosheets on one-dimensional sulfide nanorods to regulate interfacial charge transfer and enhance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

University–industry research project

Development of bifunctional hydrophilic films with photocatalytic self-cleaning properties

  • Jiangsu Province University–Industry Research Collaboration Project, BY20240305; principal investigator.
  • Project period recorded in the approval schedule: 2024–2025.
  • Lead institution: Xuzhou University of Technology; industry partner: Jiangsu Weina Optical Film Technology Co., Ltd.
  • The project targets self-cleaning architectural glass through the growth of titanium dioxide nanofilms, control of band structure and hydrophilic surface groups, and evaluation of photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties. Approval schedule, page 155.

Development of green multifunctional modified copolyester fibres

  • Jiangsu Province University–Industry Research Collaboration Project, BY20240304. Han is a project participant; the principal investigator is Lulu Lian.
  • Period in the approval schedule: 2024–2025.
  • Lead institution: Xuzhou University of Technology; partner: Xuzhou Si’erke Fibre Technology Co., Ltd. (徐州斯尔克纤维科技股份有限公司)
  • University–industry collaboration on modified functional copolyester fibres. Approval schedule, page 154.

Research platform and technical collaboration

  • 2023: Named as a member of the university’s Institute of Hydrogen Energy Catalytic Materials.
  • 2024: Selected for Jiangsu Province’s “Science and Technology Vice General Manager” programme, working with Jiangsu Weina Optical Film Technology Co., Ltd.

Patents

Granted invention patent

Preparation of a carbon nitride catalytic material through precursor pretreatment. Application 202310106393.3; grant publication CN116174006B, 15 September 2023. Han is a co-inventor, listed sixth; the grant document names Xuzhou University of Technology as the patentee. Grant document.

Published invention patent application

Preparation of a Pd-loaded walnut-shell-doped carbon nitride catalyst by deposition–precipitation and its application to hydrogen production from formic acid. Application 202510463396.1, filed 14 April 2025; application publication CN120394058A, 1 August 2025. Han is a co-inventor, listed fifth; the applicant is Xuzhou University of Technology. Published application.

Teaching and student development

Participates in student supervision for chemical engineering design competitions. The university’s 2025 competition report names Han among the supervisors for the 19th National College Student Chemical Engineering Design Competition, supporting students’ engineering design and practical training.

  • Student competition supervision, 2024: Co-supervised Xuzhou University of Technology’s “Chunchun Yudong” (醇醇欲动) team with Lulu Lian, Changchun He, Chunling Shi and Fengjuan Ge. The team received third prize in the East China regional competition of the 18th National College Student Chemical Engineering Design Competition. This is a student-team award, with Han serving as a co-supervisor. Confirmed award list.
  • Practical teaching development, 2024: Participated in preparations for on-site explanations and teaching-achievement displays at the Green Chemical Engineering Virtual Simulation Comprehensive Training Centre during the university’s education and teaching review. School report.
  • Student competition supervision, 2025: Co-supervised Xuzhou University of Technology’s “Zhuifengzhe” (追砜者) team with Changchun He, Chunling Shi, Lulu Lian and Yuanyuan Liu. The team received second prize in the East China regional competition of the 19th National College Student Chemical Engineering Design Competition. This is a student-team award, with Han serving as a co-supervisor. Confirmed award list, page 8.