"The increasing accumulation of CO₂ from fossil fuel combustion is the main cause of global warming, which raises serious environmental concerns. To date, various catalysts have been extensively explored for CO₂ reduction and water splitting. However, most of these traditional semiconductors still suffer from very low efficiencies. I mainly focus on the design and synthesis of atomically thin 2D layers, with efforts to largely improve the photo-/electro- catalytic efficiencies."

Biographical sketch

Since 2020  Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, IPODI Fellow, Electrochemistry

2017—2020 University of Science and Technology of China, China, Postdoctoral Researcher, Inorganic Chemistry

2012—2017 University of Science and Technology of China, China, Doctor of Philosophy, Inorganic Chemistry

2008—2012 Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry

Research interests

2D nanostructured materials, electro-/photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction, water splitting

Contact

E-Mail: liang.liang at campus.tu-berlin.de

Atomic-Precision Design of 2D Metal Sheets Confined in Graphene for CO₂ Electroreduction

Duration: September 2020 - September 2022

Mentor: Prof. Dr. Peter Strasser, Faculty II, Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division

Abstract: Conversion of CO₂ to valuable hydrocarbons is a promising method to address the issues of global warming and energy crisis. We aim to design the sandwich-like structure of 2D metal sheets (e.g., copper, nickel, cobalt etc.) in the confined space of graphene, to achieve effective charge transport, increased selectivity and activity for electroreduction of CO₂. Moreover, we want to provide a knob for understanding the relationship between the structure and the property of electroreduction of CO₂, thus achieving electrochemical reduction of CO₂ with high performance.