Overview of Our Research

Our research focuses on the design of nanostructured electrocatalysts with precisely controlled atomic structures and chemical environments. By understanding how the atomic structure of catalytic active sites governs reaction pathways, activity, and selectivity, we seek to develop new catalysts and electrochemical processes for sustainable energy conversion and chemical production. Electrochemical reactions involve complex networks of competing pathways, and the properties of a catalyst are ultimately determined by its atomic structure and local chemical environment. Our group combines nanomaterials synthesis, atomic-scale catalyst design, electrochemistry, and mechanistic studies to establish fundamental relationships between catalyst structure and catalytic function. Our long-term goal is to steer electrochemical reactions toward desired products by controlling catalytic active sites at the atomic scale, thereby overcoming conventional limitations in catalytic activity and selectivity.

Atomic-Scale Catalyst Design

We develop catalysts with precisely controlled atomic structures, including single-atom catalysts, atomically dispersed metal sites, and intermetallic nanoparticles. Particular emphasis is placed on controlling the coordination environment, electronic structure, and spatial distribution of active sites to establish structure–activity–selectivity relationships.

Nanostructured Materials and Catalytic Interfaces

We design mesoporous and nanostructured materials that provide controlled environments for catalytic active sites. Nanoconfinement, pore architecture, surface chemistry, and catalyst–support interactions are exploited to enhance catalyst utilization, mass transport, stability, and catalytic performance.

Steering Electrochemical Selectivity

We investigate the fundamental factors that determine the selectivity of electrochemical reactions. By manipulating the atomic structure and local environment of catalytic sites, we aim to steer competing reaction pathways and overcome scaling relationships that constrain conventional electrocatalysts.

Sustainable Electrochemical Chemical Production

We translate advances in catalyst design into electrochemical technologies for renewable-energy conversion and sustainable chemical production. Current research includes hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis, chlorine evolution, oxygen reduction, water electrolysis, and related electrochemical transformations.