2026
60. Y Zhu, X Tian, X Huang, M Chen, Q Ai, Y Feng, Y Yan, Y Liu, B Shin, Y Liu, T Xie, W Tu, T Zhai, Q Fang, D Steinbach, Y Han, Q Li, J Lou "Superior anti-scaling performances of pH-responsive polymer-coated carbon nanotubes." Nature Communications, Under Revision.
59. Y Zhu, Y Yan, Z Wang, S Faraji, T Zhai, G Gao, Y Feng, X Zhang, V Kumar, J Zhang, P M Ajayan, M Liu, J Lou;. "Defective hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets supported metal nanoclusters as efficient and scalable electrocatalysts for ammonia synthesis." ACS Nano, Under Revision
58. J Murukeshan, X Zhang, Y Zhu, K Ngan, D Hernandez, T Pieshkov, P Ganguly, Z Ng, V Kumar, A Giangiorgi, X Shuai, R Vajtai, E Teo, S Lei, S Sun, J Lou, P M. Ajayan. "Scalable and Lithography-Free Fabrication of High-Aspect-Ratio Diamond Nanowires for Quantum and Electrochemical Applications." Advanced Materials, Under Revision
57 peer-reviewed journal publications, including 35 first-author or corresponding-author publications
First-, co-first-, and corresponding-author publications (35)
1. Y Zhu, T Xie, Q Ai, B Shin, J Lee, Y Feng, Y Yan, Z Wang, X Zhang, Y Han, S Yang, M Liu, M Tang, P Ajayan, J Lou “Chemical vapor deposition of Li-ion conductive covalent organic framework coatings on solid-state electrolytes”. Nano Energy, 2026, 151,11834.
2. Y Feng, X Tian, Y Zhu+*, Q Fang, R Cantu, B Shin, X Huang, X Weng, X Zhang, Y Zhang, D Steinbach, Q Ai, T Chen, Y Han, Q Li, J Lou “Mechanically Strengthened Graphene Oxide: Covalent Organic Framework Membranes for Monovalent/Divalent Cation Selectivity via Electrodialysis”. ACS Nano, 2026, 20, 4, 3632–3641. Co-first author, Co-Corresponding author
3. B Shin, Y Zhu,+* Q Ai, T Xie, T Lin, J Lee, Q Fang, H Zhang, R Cantu, Y Zhong, H Zhu, Y Han, J Lou. “Mechanical toughening of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks enabled by graphene-based sandwich-structured nanocomposites” ACS Materials Letter, 2026, 8, 1, 130–136. Co-first author, Co-Corresponding author.
4. X Weng, W Li, A Kang, Y Zhang, Y Zhu*, Q Li*, J Lou*. “Beyond isolated capacity values: A multivariant framework for the evaluation of urea adsorption performance.” Advanced Sustainable Systems, 2026, Accepted, Co-Corresponding author.
5. Y Zhu, Y Feng, Y Yan, Z Wang, X Zhang, S Faraji, Q Ai, T Xie, X Weng, L Zhou, T Zhai, Y Liu, X Huang, S Glass, B Shin, C Lin, Y Han, A Martí, P.M. Ajayan, M Liu, Q Li, J Lou “Covalent Organic Framework/Hexagonal Boron Nitride Heterostructure Photocatalysts for Efficient Degradation of Emerging Contaminants” Materials Today, 2025, 91, 253-260.
6. X Zhang,+ Y Zhu,+ E Oliveira, T Pieshkov, Q Ai, T Zhai, M Chen, Y Yan, T Xie, R Vajtai, J Lou, P.M. Ajayan. “Nitrogen-Terminated Diamond Films for Anti-Scaling Coatings”. ACS Nano, 2025, 19, 46, 39903–39914. Co-first author.
7. Y Zhu, Y Liu, X Weng, J Lee, Y Feng, Y Liu, W Tu, T Xie, Q Li, J Lou. “Structure Engineering of Covalent Organic Frameworks as Metal-Free Sorbents for Urea Recovery” Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2025,13, 33775-33783.
8. V Kumar, Y Zhu,* B Shin, Y Han, J Lou “Covalent Organic Framework (COF)/Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) heterostructures for visible-light-driven hydrogen peroxide synthesis”. ACS Applied Materials &Interface, 2025, 17, 51, 69579–69589. Co-Corresponding author
9. Y Feng,+ Y Zhu,+ W Chen, X Huang, X Weng, M Meyer, T Chen, Z He, C Hou, K Zuo, K Gong, J Lou, Q Li. “A rationally designed scalable thin film nanocomposite cation exchange membrane for precise lithium extraction” Nature Communications, 2025, 16, 8618. Co-first author.
10. X Tian,+ Y Zhu,+* X Huang,+ Y Liu, G Gao, Q Ai, M Chen, X Weng, Y Feng, B Zhang, T Zhai, Q Fang, J Lou,* Q Li,* “Temperature-responsive Polymers Grafted Carbon Nanotubes for Active Control of Mineral Scaling.” ACS Nano 2025, 19, 23, 21506–21514. Co-first author, Co-Corresponding author.
11. Y Zhu, M Chen, Y Feng, Q Ai, Y Liu, Y Yan, Q Li, J Lou. “Hierarchical Porous PbO2 Electrode for Electro-Degradation of Various Contaminants” Small Structures, 2025, 6, 2400389.
12. N Mehrotra,+ Y Zhu,+ W Tu, G Gao, X Zhang, P.M. Ajayan, C Shin, G Acharya, J Lou “Ultra-stable Perovskite Quantum Dots for Enhanced Bioimaging” ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2025, 8, 47, 22845–22852. Co-first author.
13. D Steinbach,+ Y Zhu,+ J.C.Philipps, W Tu, T Xie, X Tian, J Gahl, J Brockman, J Lou, “Neutron-Radiation-Induced Strengthening and Toughening of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheet/Covalent Organic Framework Composites for Polymer Coatings in Radiative Environments” ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2025, 8, 19, 10160–10167. Co-first author.
14. Ayesha Tariq,+ Qing Ai,+ Yifan Zhu,+ Katlyn Schmeltzer, Tianyou Xie, Jun Lou “Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Evolution: Could Entire Cell Regeneration Be the Next Step?” Next Energy, 2025, 7,100234. Co-first author.
15. D Guo,+ Y Zhu,+ X Xu,+ J Zhai, H N Alshareef, J Lou. “Piezotronics and Piezo-phototronics in Atomically Thin Materials”. MRS Bulletin, 2025, 50, 138–146, Co-first author.
16. Y Zhu, H Shen, Q Ai, Y Feng, B Shin, M Gonzales, Y Yan, Z He, X Zhang, Y Han, P.M. Ajayan, Q Li, J Lou. “Double Layer SiO2-Coated Water-Stable Halide Perovskite as a Promising Antimicrobial Photocatalysts under Visible Light” Nano Letters, 2024, 24, 43, 13718–13726.
17. Y Zhu, Q Ai, Q Fang, X Huang, Y Liu, B Shin, Y Yan, Y Feng, M Chen, X Zhang, Y Han, Q Li, P.M. Ajayan, J Lou “Photoinduced Synthesis of Polymer-Coated Covalent Organic Framework Microspheres for Highly Efficient Lithium Recovery” Nano Energy, 2024, 130, 110111.
18. Y Liu,+ J Li,+* Y Zhu,+* Q Ai, R Xu, R Yang, B Zhang, Q Fang, T Zhai, C Xu, T Terlier, H Zhu, C.P. Grigoropoulos, J Lou* “Spatially Resolved Anion Diffusion and Tunable Waveguides in Bismuth Halide Perovskites” Nano Letters, 2024, 24, 17, 5182–5188. Co-first author, Co-Corresponding author.
19. Y Zhu, Y Yan, Y Feng, Y Liu, C Lin, Q Ai, T Zhai, B Shin, R Xu, H Shen, Q Fang, X Zhang, D Bhagwandin, Y Han, H Zhu, N. R. Glavin, P.M. Ajayan, Q Li, J Lou “A General Synthesis Method for Covalent Organic Framework and Inorganic 2D Materials Hybrids” Precision Chemistry, 2024, 2, 8, 398–405.
20. J Zhang, Y Zhu*. “Exploiting the Photo-Physical Properties of Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Bioimaging” ChemBioChem, 2024, 25, e202300683. Corresponding author.
21. D Zhu,+ Y Chen,+ Y Zhu,+* CY Liu, Q Yan, X Wu, K Ling, X Zhang, PM Ajayan, T P Senftle,* R Verduzco* “Versatile Metal-Free Photocatalysts Based on 3D Covalent Organic Frameworks Capable of Reductive and Oxidative Organic Transformations and Polymerizations” Macromolecules, 2024, 57, 1038−1049. Co-first author, Co-Corresponding author.
22. Y Zhu,* J Zhang “Antimony-Based Halide Perovskite Nanoparticles as Lead‐Free Photocatalysts for Controlled Radical Polymerization” Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2024, 45, 2300695. Corresponding author.
23. D Zhu,+ Y Zhu,+ Y Chen, Q Yan, H Wu, C Liu, X Wang, L Alemany, G Gao, T Senftle, Y Peng, X Wu, R Verduzco. “Three-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks With PTO and MHQ-Z Topologies Based on Tri- and Tetratopic Linkers” Nature Communications, 2023, 14, 2865. Co-first author.
24. Y Zhu,* J Zhang. “Novel Catalysis Systems for the Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks.” Chemistry Select, 2023,8, e202303959. Corresponding author.
25. Y Zhu, Y Liu, Q Ai, G Gao, L Yuan, Q Fang, X Tian, X Zhang, E Egap, P Ajayan, J Lou “In Situ Synthesis of Lead-Free Halide Perovskite-COF Nanocomposites as Photocatalysts for Photoinduced Polymerization in Both Organic and Aqueous Phases” ACS Materials Letters, 2022, 4, 464-471. Most cited papers in 2023 in ACS Materials Letters certified by the journal.
26. Y Zhu, D Zhu, Y Chen, Q Yan, C Liu, K Ling, Y Liu, D Lee, X Wu, T Senftle, R Verduzco “Porphyrin-Based Donor-Acceptor COFs as Efficient and Reusable Photocatalysts for PET-RAFT Polymerization Under Broad Spectrum Excitation” Chemical Science, 2021, 12, 16092-16099. Most cited papers from 2023 in Chemical Science certified by the journal.
27. Y Zhu, E Ramadani, E Egap. “Thiol Ligand Capped Quantum Dot as an Efficient and Oxygen Tolerant Photoinitiator for Aqueous Phase Radical Polymerization and 3D Printing Under Visible Light” Polymer Chemistry, 2021,12, 5106-5116.
28. Y Zhu, T Jin, T Lian, E Egap. “Enhancing the Efficiency of Semiconducting Quantum Dot Photocatalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization by Ligand Shell Engineering” The Journal of Chemical Physics, 2021,154, 204903.
29. Y Zhu, E Egap. “Light-Mediated Polymerization Induced by Semiconducting Nanomaterials: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives” ACS Polymers Au, 2021, 1, 76-99.
30. Y Zhu, D Zhu, Q Yan, G Gao, J Xu, Y Liu, S Alahakoon, M Rahman, P Ajayan, E Egap, R Verduzco “Metal Oxide Catalysts for the Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks and One-Step Preparation of Covalent Organic Framework-Based Composites” Chemistry of Materials, 2021, 33, 6158-6165.
31. D Zhu,+ Y Zhu,+ Q Yan, M Barnes, F Liu, P Yu, C Tseng, N Tjahjono, P Huang, M Rahman, E Egap, P Ajayan, R Verduzco. “Pure Crystalline Covalent Organic Framework Aerogels” Chemistry of Materials, 2021, 33, 4216–4224. Co-first author. Top 10 downloaded papers of Chemistry of Materials in 2021. Highlighted in Rice News, Jun 8, 2021.
32. Y Zhu, E Egap. “PET-RAFT Polymerization Catalyzed by Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots (QDs): Grafting-From QDs Photocatalysts to Make Polymer Nanocomposites” Polymer Chemistry, 2020,11, 1018-1024.
33. Y Zhu, Y Liu, KA Miller, H Zhu, E Egap. “Lead Halide Perovskites Nanocrystals as Photocatalysts for PET-RAFT Polymerization Under Visible and Near-Infrared Irradiation.” ACS Macro Letters, 2020, 9, 5, 725-730.
34. Y Liu,+ Y Zhu,+ S Alahakoon, E Egap. “Synthesis of Imine-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks Catalyzed by Metal Halides and In Situ Growth of Perovskite@COF Composites” ACS Materials Letters, 2020, 2, 12, 1561–1566. Co-first author.
35. Y Huang,+ Y Zhu,+ E Egap. “Semiconductor Quantum Dots as Photocatalysts for Controlled Light-Mediated Radical Polymerization” ACS Macro Letters, 2018, 7 (2), 184-189 Co-first author. Highlighted in Rice News, Feb 8, 2018.
Co-authored publications (22)
36. Q Ai, B Zhang, X Liu, B Shin, W Guo, G Gao, L Zhao, X Weng, Q Fang, T Zhai, D Steinbach, Y Zhu, Y Liu, F Wang, X Tian, H Guo, Y Zhang, X Zhao, Y Han, M Tang, Y Yao, T Zhu, H Gao, J Lou “Strong and brittle lithium dendrites” Science, 2026, 391, 6790, 1125-1129.
37. Y Liu, Y Tang, W Chen, Y Zhu, W Li, J Lou, K Gong, P Alvarez, Q Li “Aqueous Adsorption of Rare Earth Elements by Organophosphonate-Ligand-Modified Metal-Organic Frameworks: The Role of Ligand Loading in Surface Complexation” ACS Applied Materials &Interface, 2026, Accepted.
38. Y Feng, X Huang, Z He, T Chen, M Meyer, Y Zhu, Y Zhang, C Hou, K Zuo, Q Li “A Thin Film Composite Cation Exchange Membrane for Separation between Monovalent and Divalent Cation in Electrodialysis” Environmental Science & Technology, 2026, 60, 7, 5830–5841.
39. H Shen, Y Feng, W Kung, S Glass, Y Zhu, J Yang, J Lou, Q Li “F-doped Porous Ti/SnO2-Sb Electrode for Electrochemical Oxidation of Fluorinated and non-Fluorinated Surfactants: Impact on Direct and Indirect Oxidation” ACS Applied Engineering Materials, 2026, 4, 1, 402–413.
40. J Zhang, T Zhai, Y Yan, Q Fang, Y Liu, Y Zhu, W Tu, C Lin, Y Wang, J Lou “Scalable Mechanical Exfoliation of Two-dimensional Nanosheets by Polymer-assisted Dry Ball-mill of Layered Materials and Insights from Machine Learning” Materials Today Nano, 2025, 30, 10060
41. X Tian, J Zhang, K Rigby, Daniel J Rivera, G Gao, Y Liu, Y Zhu, T Zhai, E Stavitski, C Muhich, J Kim, Q Li, J Lou. “Tuning Local Atomic Structures in MoS2 Based Catalysts for Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction” Small, 2025, 2310562.
42. Q Fang, K Yi, T Zhai, S Luo, C Lin, Q Ai, Y Zhu, B Zhang, G Alvarez, Y Shao, G Gao, Y Liu, R Xu, X Zhang, Y Wang, X Tian, Y Han, H Zhu, Y Zhao, Y Zhong, Z Liu, J Lou. “High-Performance 2D Electronic Devices Enabled by Strong and Tough Two-Dimensional Polymer with Ultra-Low Dielectric Constant” Nature Communications, 2024, 15 (1), 10780.
43. Y Liu, Q Ai, G Ye, Z Ye, J Hrubý, F Wang, T Orlando, Y Wang, J Luo, Q Fang, B Zhang, T Zhai, C Lin, C Xu, Y Zhu, T Terlier, S Hill, H Zhu, R He, J Lou “Spin-Phonon Coupling in Iron Doped Ultrathin Bismuth Halide Perovskite Derivatives” ACS Nano, 2024, 18, 19, 12560–12568.
44. J Zhang, T Zhai, F Arifurrahman, Y Wang, A Hitt, Z He, Q Ai, Y Liu, CY Lin, Y Zhu, M Tang, J Lou “Toward Controlled Synthesis of 2D Crystals by CVD: Learning from the Real-Time Crystal Morphology Evolutions” Nano Letters, 2024, 24, 8, 2465–2472.
45. Q Ai, Z Chen, B Zhang, F Wang, Y Liu, Y Zhu, T Terlier, Y Liang, H Guo, Z Fan, M Tang, Y Yao, J Lou “High-Spatial-Resolution Quantitative Chemomechanical Mapping of Organic Composite Cathodes for Sulfide-Based Solid-State Batteries” ACS Energy Letters, 2023, 8, 2, 1107–1113.
46. Q Fang, Z Pang, Q Ai, Y Liu, T Zhai, G Gao, Y Zhu, T Li, J Lou “Superior Mechanical Properties of Multi-Layer Covalent-Organic-Frameworks Enabled by Rationally Tuning Molecular Interlayer Interaction” Submitted to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023 Vol. 120, No. 15, e2208676120.
47. T Jin, S He, Y Zhu, E Egap, T Lian “Bright State Sensitized Triplet Energy Transfer from Quantum Dot to Molecular Acceptor Revealed by Temperature Dependent Energy Transfer Dynamics” Nano Lett, 2022, 22, 10, 3897–3903.
48. D Zhu, J Zhang, X Wu, Q Yan, F Liu, Y Zhu, X Gao, B Yakobson, R Verduzco "Understanding Fragility and Engineering Robustness in Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks" Chemical Science, 2022, 13, 9655-9667.
49. D Zhu, Q Yan, Y Zhu, R Verduzco “Solvent Induced Incremental Pore Collapse in Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks” ACS Materials Letters, 2022, 4, 11, 2368–2374.
50. D Zhu, G Xu, M Barnes, Y Li, C Tseng, Z Zhang, J Zhang, Y Zhu, S Khalil, M Rahman, R Verduzco, P Ajayan “Covalent Organic Frameworks for Batteries” Advanced Functional Materials, 2021, 31, 2100505.
51. T Jin, N Uhlikova, Z Xu, Y Zhu, Y Huang, E Egap, T Lian. “Competition of Dexter, Förster, and charge transfer pathways for quantum dot sensitized triplet generation” The Journal of Chemical Physics, 2020,152 (21), 214702.
52. T Jin, N Uhlikova, Z Xu, Y Zhu, Y Huang, E Egap, T Lian. “Enhanced Triplet State Generation Through Radical Pair Intermediates in BODIPY-Quantum Dot Complexes” The Journal of Chemical Physics, 2019,151 (24), 241101.
53. F Zhao, N Li, Y Zhu, ZY Han. “Enantioselective Construction of Functionalized Tetrahydrocarbazoles Enabled by Asymmetric Relay Catalysis of Gold Complex and Chiral Brønsted Acid” Organic Letters, 2016, 18 (7), 1506-1509.
54. X Wu, DF Chen, SS Chen, Y Zhu. “Synthesis of Polycyclic Amines Through Mild Metal-Free Tandem Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling/Intramolecular Hydroarylation of N-Aryltetrahydroisoquinolines and Crotonaldehyde” European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015 (3), 468-473.
55. YL Du, Y Hu, Y Zhu, XF Tu, ZY Han, LZ Gong. “Chiral Gold Phosphate Catalyzed Tandem Hydroamination/Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation Enables Access to Chiral Tetrahydroquinolines” The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 80 (9), 4754-4759.
56. JZ Huang, CL Zhang, Y Zhu, LL Li, DF Chen, ZY Han, LZ Gong. “Organocatalytic Highly Enantioselective Substitution of 3-(1-Tosylalkyl) Indoles with Oxindoles Enables the First Total Synthesis of (+)-Trigolutes B” Chemistry–A European Journal, 2015, 21 (23), 8389-8393.
57. YL Du, Y Zhu, ZY Han. “Pd(II)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization/Dipolar Cycloaddition Cascade of N-Arylnitrone Alkynes with Olefins” The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 80 (15), 7732-7738.