研究主题：纳米催化与能源转化 (Nanocatalysis and Energy conversion)
我们研究目标是基于无机合成化学设计和合成新型的无机纳米结构，探索其在能源存储与转化领域（光催化CO2还原、光解水、电解水、燃料电池、金属-空气电池、超级电容器等方面）的应用，揭示纳米结构组分、形貌及结构缺陷与性能之间的内在关系，开发先进的光/电催化和超级电容材料。经过12年的发展和积累，我们组形成了以下三个稳定的研究方向。
Our research goal is designing and synthesizing new nanostructures based on inorganic synthesis chemistry, exploring their potential applications in the field of energy storage and transformation (photocatalytic reduction of CO2, water splitting, electrolysis of water, fuel cell, metal-air batteries, supercapacitors, etc), demonstrating the relationships between composition, morphology and structure defects of nanostructures and performances, and developing advanced optical/electrical catalytic and supercapacitor materials. After 12 years of development and accumulation, our group has formed the following three stable research directions.
光催化 (Photocatalysis)
光催化技术利用半导体将太阳能转化为化学能，如光催化水分解制氢，光催化CO2还原成CH4等，不仅可以生成清洁燃料，缓解日益严峻的能源危机，而且可以降低大气中的CO2，减缓温室效应。单组分半导体能带结构固定、光生电子-空穴复合速率高、表面反应效率低，显示低的光催化活性。贵金属修饰的光催化剂通常具有较好的光催化活性，但成本高且通常需要牺牲剂，这些因素显著限制它们的商业化进程。为了开发高效、廉价的光催化剂，针对不含贵金属半导体发展了多种光活性增强策略，如缺陷工程、表面工程、异质结工程等。目前，多策略一体化的光催化剂展现出与贵金属可比甚至更优异的性能，其设计与组装已经成为当下的研究热点。
Photocatalytic technologies use semiconductors to convert solar energy into chemical energy, such as photocatalytic water splitting to hydrogen and photoreduction of CO2 to CH4, which can not only generate clean fuels and alleviate the increasing energy crisis, but also reduce atmospheric CO2 and slow down the greenhouse effect. Single-component semiconductors show low photocatalytic activity due to fixed energy band structure, high recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and sluggish surface reactions. Precious metal-contained photocatalysts generally have better photocatalytic activity. However, high cost and the need of sacrifice agents are the factors that significantly limit their commercialization process. In order to develop efficient and cost-effective photocatalysts, various strategies such as defect engineering, surface engineering and heterojunction engineering have been proposed for semiconductors without precious metals to improve their photoactivity. At present, the multi-strategy integrated photocatalysts have shown comparable or even better performances than precious metals-containing catalysts, and its design and assembly have become the current research hotspot.
电催化 (Electrocatalysis)
燃料电池、金属-空气电池和水分解系统的绿色纳米技术的发展，已成为解决现代社会日益增长的能源需求和环境问题的一个有前途的途径。在上述系统中，析氢(HER)、析氧(OER)和氧还原反应(ORR)是重要的半反应，决定了装置的能量储存与转换过程。为了促进这些反应的进行，急需发展稳定的、电化学活性优异的电极材料。其中，贵金属催化剂具有优异的电催化性能。然而，传统贵金属的价格昂贵、资源稀缺且稳定性差，显著地阻碍了大规模的商业应用。因此，开发具有多功能/双功能的廉价纳米催化剂是目前电催化领域的研究热点。
The development of green nanotechnologies such as fuel cells, metal-air cells, and water decomposition systems has emerged as a promising way to address the growing energy needs and environmental problems of modern society. In the above systems, hydrogen evolution (HER), oxygen evolution (OER) and oxygen reduction reactions are important half reactions, which govern the energy storage and conversion processes of devices. In order to facilitate these reactions, it is urgent to develop stable electrode materials with excellent electrochemical activity. Among them, precious metal catalysts possess excellent electrocatalytic performance. However, high cost, scarcity, and poor stability of traditional precious metals significantly hinder large-scale commercial applications. Therefore, the development of cost-effective nano-catalysts with multi-/bi-functions is a research hotspot in the field of electrocatalysis.
超级电容器 (Supercapacitors)
超级电容器具有功率密度高、充放电快、循环寿命长和安全性高的特点，在移动电子和再生制动系统中具有广泛的应用前景。然而，超级电容器相对较低的能量密度极大地限制了其未来的广泛应用。为了在不牺牲功率密度的前提下进一步提高超级电容器的能量密度，构建混合型超级电容器是一个不错的选择。因此，组装高性能混合型超级电容器的关键是设计和研发新型高效的电极材料。
Supercapacitors have a wide application prospect in mobile electronics and regenerative braking systems due to the following merits: high power density, fast charge and discharge, long cycle life and high safety. However, the relatively low energy density greatly limits their applications in the future. In order to improve the energy density of supercapacitors without sacrificing the power density, it is a good choice to build hybrid supercapacitors. Therefore, the key to assemble high-performance hybrid supercapacitors is to design and develop new and efficient electrode materials.