Research

To establish a sustainable hydrogen (H2) ecosystem, H2 transportation and storage are as significant as production (e.g., electrolysis, photocatalysis) and utilization (e.g., fuel cell, combustion). Ammonia (NH3) is a promising hydrogen carrier due to its high hydrogen density  (17.65 wt.% and 108 kg H2/m3). Therefore, advancing technologies for H2 storage and extraction via NH3 is essential. Our group focuses on mechanochemical methods to synthesize NH3 from H2, aiming to circumvent the harsh conditions of the conventional Haber-Bosch process.  Furthermore, the extraction of H2 from NH3 also requires the development of NH3 decomposition technologies with high rates and nearly 100% selectivity to prevent NH3 slip in downstream applications.

To achieve carbon neutrality, carbon dioxide (CO2) should be captured either directly from the atmosphere (DAC: Direct air capture) or or from industrial flue gas emissions. Our group works on developing materials for CO2 capture using various types of functionalized mesoporous and microporous materials with tailored adsorption properties to enhance efficiency and selectivity.  due to its thermodynamic stability and low reactivity, CO2 conversion into valuable chemicals requires advanced catalytic strategies: CO (reverse water gas shift reactions; RWGS), CH4 (Sabatier reaction),  CH3OH, HCOOH, etc. Each of these reactions demands specifically designed catalysts and reaction conditions. Therefore, these technologies necessitate a multidisciplinary approach involving catalyst development, reaction engineering, and process integration to maximize efficiency and economic feasibility.

Plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental challenges due to its non-biodegradability and persistent accumulation in landfills and marine ecosystems. While mechanical recycling efforts can help reduce plastic waste, they are often limited by material degradation, contamination, and inefficient recovery rates. To address this issue, chemical upcycling offers a promising alternative by breaking down plastics into valuable chemical feedstocks. Plastics can be selectively oxidized into oxygenates, which serve as key building blocks for new polymer synthesis, enabling a circular plastic economy. Alternatively, hydrogenolysis can convert plastic waste into light alkanes, which can be used as fuels or chemical intermediates. The efficiency of these transformations depends on the design of highly selective and robust catalysts, as well as the optimization of reaction conditions to maximize yield and minimize unwanted byproducts.