导师风采 Supervisor's Information

Dr. Zhiqiang Niu is currently an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering of Tsinghua University. He received his B.S. degree and Ph.D. degree from Peking University in 2007 and Tsinghua University in 2012, respectively. His doctoral research was guided by Prof. Yadong Li and focused on the design and synthesis of nanomaterials for catalysis. Zhiqiang carried out postdoctoral studies with Professor Shoushan Fan at Tsinghua University and then with Professor Peidong Yang at UC Berkeley, respectively. His postdoctoral research was centered on the development of high-performance oxygen reduction catalysts. In the meantime, Zhiqiang also worked in California Research Alliance (CARA) by BASF on transparent conductors. He joined the faculty in the department of chemical engineering at Tsinghua University in 2019. His current research interest focuses on electrochemical energy conversion and sustainable waste recycling.

2003-2007 B.S. Peking University
2007-2012 Ph.D. Tsinghua University
2012-2014 Postdoc Tsinghua University
2014-2017 Postdoc UC Berkeley & CARA by BASF
2017-2019 Infinity Innovation (Suzhou)
2019-2022 Assistant Professor, Tsinghua University
2022-now Associate Professor, Tsinghua University

Contact: niuzq@tsinghua.edu.cn

Physical Chemistry I

(1) Renewable energy

Electrocatalysts are at the forefront of renewable energy technologies such as water electrolysis and fuel cells to reduce our carbon footprint. We are actively employing the materials-by-design approach for electrocatalyst discovery and understanding. We have developed low-platinum and highly-durable catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, which holds great potential to accelerate the realization of affordable hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cells. We are developing new concepts that can break the scaling relations of electrocatalysis, like extended surface catalysis and single atom catalysis. We aim to activate chemically-inert molecules at an industrially-viable rate by conceiving multi-functional electrochemical interfaces.

Selected Publications:
(1) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 4819–4827.
(2) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202214516.
(3) Nat. Mater. 2016, 15, 1188‒1194.

(2) Sustainable waste recycling

Plastic wastes are posing threats to the ecosystems and human health, which urges the development of chemical recyling/upcycling processes. Plastics need to be durable and stable when in use, but this inertness makes the chemical recycling/upcycling have to take place under demanding conditions, often times involving high temperature, high pressure, corrosive acids and bases. Consequently, the processes come with additional carbon footprint and are not competitive in economy. We aims to develop cataltyic systems that can digest plastic wastes into valuable products under mild or even ambient environmental conditions. We take inspirations from enzymes and borrow the concepts of biocatalysis in material design.

Selected Publications:
(1) Nat. Sustain. 2023, 6, 965–973.
(2) Chem. Sci. 2023, 14, 6558–6563.

(40) Shengbo Zhang†, Mei Li†, Zhenyang Zuo†, Zhiqiang Niu*. “Recent advances in plastic recycling and upgrading under mild conditions” Green Chem. 2023, DOI: 10.1039/D3GC01872E.

(39) Shengbo Zhang†, Yingying Xue†, Yanfen Wu†, Yu-Xiao Zhang, Ting Tan*, Zhiqiang Niu*. “PET Recycling under Mild Conditions via Substituent-modulated Intramolecular Hydrolysis” Chem. Sci. 2023, 14, 6558–6563. DOI: 10.1039/D3SC01161E.

(38) Shengbo Zhang†, Qikun Hu†, Yu-Xiao Zhang†, Haoyue Guo, Yanfen Wu, Mingze Sun, Xingsong Zhu, Jiangang Zhang, Shuyan Gong, Ping Liu, Zhiqiang Niu*. “Depolymerization of Polyesters by a Binuclear Catalyst for Plastic Recycling” Nat. Sustain. 2023, 6, 965–973. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01118-4.

(37) Yu-Xiao Zhang†, Shengbo Zhang†, Helai Huang†, Xiaolong Liu, Beibei Li, Yiyang Lee, Xingdong Wang, Yun Bai, Mingze Sun, Yanfen Wu, Shuyan Gong, Xiangwen Liu, Zhongbin Zhuang, Ting Tan, Zhiqiang Niu*. “General Synthesis of a Diatomic Catalyst Library via a Macrocyclic Precursor-Mediated Approach” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 4819–4827. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13886.

(36) Shuyan Gong†, Mingze Sun†, Yiyang Lee, Nigel Becknell, Jiangwei Zhang, Zhongqi Wang, Liang Zhang*, Zhiqiang Niu*. “Bulk‐like Pt (100)‐oriented Ultrathin Surface: Combining the Merits of Single Crystals and Nanoparticles to Boost Oxygen Reduction Reaction” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202214516. DOI: 10.1002/anie.202214516.

(35) Mingze Sun†, Shuyan Gong†, Yu-Xiao Zhang, Zhiqiang Niu*. “A Perspective on the PGM-free Metal–nitrogen–carbon Catalysts for PEMFC” J. Energy Chem. 2022, 67, 250–254. DOI: 10.1016/j.jechem.2021.10.014.

(34) Shengbo Zhang†, Yanfen Wu†, Yu-Xiao Zhang†, Zhiqiang Niu*. “Dual-atom Catalysts: Controllable Synthesis and Electrocatalytic Applications” Sci. China. Chem. 2021, 64, 1908–1922. DOI: 10.1007/s11426-021-1106-9.

(33) Shuyan Gong, Yu-Xiao Zhang, Zhiqiang Niu*. “Recent Advances in Earth-abundant Core/Noble-metal Shell Nanoparticles for Electrocatalysis” ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 10886–10904. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c02587.

(32) Zhiqiang Niu†, Shouping Chen†, Yi Yu, Teng Lei, Ahmad Dehestani, Kerstin Schierle-Arndt, Peidong Yang*. “Morphology-Controlled Transformation of Cu@Au Core−Shell Nanowires into Thermally Stable Cu3Au Intermetallic Nanowires” Nano Res. 2020, 13, 2564–2569. DOI: 10.1007/s12274-020-2900-z.

(31) Zhi Li, Shufang Ji, Yiwei Liu, Xing Cao, Shubo Tian, Yuanjun Chen, Zhiqiang Niu*, Yadong Li*. “Well-Defined Materials for Heterogeneous Catalysis: From Nanoparticles to Isolated Single-Atom Sites” Chem. Rev. 2020, 120, 623‒682.DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00311.

(30) Chenlu Xie†, Zhiqiang Niu†, Dohyung Kim†, Mufan Li, and Peidong Yang*. “Surface and Interface Control in Nanoparticle Catalysis” Chem. Rev. 2020, 120, 1184‒1249. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00220.

(29) Shouping Chen†, Zhiqiang Niu†, Chenlu Xie, Mengyu Gao, Minliang Lai, Mufan Li, and Peidong Yang*. “Effects of Catalyst Processing on the Activity and Stability of Pt–Ni Nanoframe Electrocatalysts” ACS Nano 2018, 12, 8697‒8705. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b04674.

(28) Zhiqiang Niu†, Fan Cui†,  Elisabeth Kuttner, Chenlu Xie, Hong Chen, Yuchun Sun, Ahmad Dehestani, Kerstin Schierle-Arndt, and Peidong Yang*. “Synthesis of Silver Nanowires with Reduced Diameters Using Benzoin-Derived Radicals to Make Transparent Conductors with High Transparency and Low Haze” Nano Lett. 2018, 18, 5329‒5334. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b02479.

(27)  Zhiqiang Niu†, Fan Cui†, Yi Yu, Nigel Becknell, Yuchun Sun, Garo Khanarian, Dohyung Kim, Letian Dou, Ahmad Dehestani, Kerstin Schierle-Arndt, Peidong Yang*. “Ultrathin Epitaxial Cu@Au Core-Shell Nanowires for Stable Transparent Conductors” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 7348‒7354. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b02884.

(26)  Guofeng Zhao†, Fan Yang†, Zongjia Chen†, Qingfei Liu, Yongjun Ji, Yi Zhang, Zhiqiang Niu*, Junjie Mao, Xinhe Bao, Peijun Hu, Yadong Li*. “Metal/Oxide Interfacial Effects on the Selective Oxidation of Primary Alcohols” Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 14039. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14039.

(25)  Nigel Becknell†, Yoonkook Son†, Dohyung Kim, Dongguo Li, Yi Yu, Zhiqiang Niu, Teng Lei, Brian T Sneed, Karren L More, Nenad M Markovic, Vojislav R Stamenkovic*, Peidong Yang*. “Control of Architecture in Rhombic Dodecahedral Pt–Ni Nanoframe Electrocatalysts” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 11678‒11681. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b05584.

(24)  Fan Cui, Letian Dou, Qin Yang, Yi Yu, Zhiqiang Niu, Yuchun Sun, Hao Liu, Ahmad Dehestani, Kerstin Schierle-Arndt, Peidong Yang*. “Benzoin Radicals as Reducing Agent for Synthesizing Ultrathin Copper Nanowires” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 3027‒3032. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b11900.

(23)  Zhiqiang Niu†, Nigel Becknell†, Yi Yu, Dohyung Kim, Chen Chen, Nikolay Kornienko, Gabor A Somorjai, Peidong Yang*. “Anisotropic Phase Segregation and Migration of Pt in Nanocrystals en route to Nanoframe Catalysts” Nat. Mater. 2016, 15, 1188‒1194. DOI: 10.1038/nmat4724.

(22)  Hongpan Rong, Junjie Mao, Pingyu Xin, Dongsheng He, Yuanjun Chen, Dingsheng Wang*, Zhiqiang Niu, Yuen Wu, Yadong Li. “Kinetically Controlling Surface Structure to Construct Defect‐Rich Intermetallic Nanocrystals: Effective and Stable Catalysts” Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 2540‒2546. DOI: 10.1002/adma.201504831.

(21)  Hongpan Rong, Zhiqiang Niu*, Yafan Zhao, Zhi Li, Jun Li, Yadong Li*. “Structure Evolution and Associated Catalytic Properties of Pt–Sn Bimetallic Nanoparticles” Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 12034‒12041. DOI: 10.1002/chem.201501442.

(20)  Bin Xiao†, Zhiqiang Niu†, Yang-Gang Wang, Wei Jia, Jian Shang, Lan Zhang, Dingsheng Wang, Yao Fu, Jie Zeng, Wei He, Kai Wu, Jun Li, Jinlong Yang, Lei Liu*, Yadong Li*. “Copper Nanocrystal Plane Effect on Stereoselectivity of Catalytic Deoxygenation of Aromatic Epoxides” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 3791‒3794. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b01391.

(19)  Zhiqiang Niu, Yadong Li*. “Removal and Utilization of Capping Agents in Nanocatalysis” Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 72‒83. DOI: 10.1021/cm4022479.

(18)  Chao Hou, Guofeng Zhao, Yongjun Ji, Zhiqiang Niu, Dingsheng, Wang, Yadong Li*. “Hydroformylation of Alkenes over Rhodium Supported on The Metal-Organic Framework ZIF-8” Nano Res. 2014, 7, 1364‒1369. DOI: 10.1007/s12274-014-0501-4.

(17)  Haohong Duan, Ning Yan, Rong Yu, Chun-Ran Chang, Gang Zhou, Han-Shi Hu, Hongpan Rong, Zhiqiang Niu, Junjie Mao, Hiroyuki Asakura, Tsunehiro Tanaka, Paul Joseph Dyson, Jun Li*, Yadong Li*. “Ultrathin Rhodium Nanosheets” Nat. Commun. 2014, 5, 3093. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4093.

(16)  Jie Zhao, Zhiqiang Niu, Hua Fu*, Yadong Li*. “Ligand-Free Hydroboration of Alkynes Catalyzed by Heterogeneous Copper Powder with High Efficiency” Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 2058‒2060. DOI: 10.1039/c3cc48670b.

(15)  Hongpan Rong, Shuangfei Cai, Zhiqiang Niu*, Yadong Li*. “Composition-Dependent Catalytic Activity of Bimetallic Nanoparticles: AgPd-Catalyzed Hydrodechlorination of 4-Chlorophenol” ACS Catal. 2013, 3, 1560‒1563. DOI: 10.1021/cs400282a.

(14)  Qi Zhang, Shuangfei Cai, Linsen Li, Yifeng Chen, Hongpan Rong, Zhiqiang Niu, Junjia Liu, Wei He*, Yadong Li*. “Direct Syntheses of Vinyl Ethers from Benzyl Alcohols via Ag Nano-particles Catalyzed Tandem Aerobic Oxidation” ACS Catal. 2013, 3, 1681‒1684. DOI: 10.1021/cs400295h.

(13)  Linsen Li, Zhiqiang Niu, Shuangfei Cai, Yun Zhi, Hao Li, Hongpan Rong, Lichen Liu, Lei Liu, Wei He*, Yadong Li*. “A PdAg Bimetallic Nanocatalyst for Selective Reductive Amination of Nitroarenes” Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 6843‒6845. DOI: 10.1039/c3cc00249g.

(12)  Shuangfei Cai, Dingsheng Wang, Zhiqiang Niu, Yadong Li*. “Progress in Organic Reactions Catalyzed by Bimetallic Nanomaterials” Chin. J. Catal. 2013, 34, 1964‒1974. DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(12)60701-3.

(11)  Zhiqiang Niu, Qing Peng, Zhongbin Zhuang, Wei He*, Yadong Li*. “Evidence of an Oxidative-Addition-Promoted Pd-Leaching Mechanism in the Suzuki Reaction by Using a Pd-Nanostructure Design” Chem. Eur. J. 2012, 18, 9813‒9817. DOI: 10.1002/chem.201201224.

(10)  Zhiqiang Niu, Dingsheng Wang, Rong Yu, Qing Peng, Yadong Li*. “Highly Branched Pt-Ni Nanocrystals Enclosed by Stepped Surface for Methanol Oxidation” Chem. Sci. 2012, 3, 1925‒1929. DOI: 10.1039/c2sc00004k.

(9)  Yuen Wu, Dingsheng Wang, Zhiqiang Niu, Pengcheng Chen, Gang Zhou, Yadong Li*. “A Strategy for Designing a Concave Pt–Ni Alloy through Controllable Chemical Etching” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 12524‒12528. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201207491.

(8)  Zhiqiang Niu, Qing Peng, Ming Gong, Hongpan Rong, Yadong Li*. “Oleylamine-Mediated Shape Evolution of Palladium Nanocrystals” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 6315‒6319. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201100512.

(7)  Zhiqiang Niu, Yu-Rong Zhen, Ming Gong, Qing Peng, Peter Nordlander and Yadong Li*. “Pd Nanocrystals with Single-, Double-, and Triple-Cavities: Facile Synthesis and Tunable Plasmonic Properties” Chem. Sci. 2011, 2, 2392‒2395. DOI: 10.1039/c1sc00449b.

(6)  Ming Gong, Zhiqiang Niu, Qing Peng, Yadong Li*. “Copper-Mediated Synthesis of PdI2 Colloidal Spheres” Sci. China Chem. 2011, 54, 1027‒1031. DOI: 10.1007/s11426-011-4297-8.

(5)  Fan Gao, Cai Tie, Xin-Xiang Zhang*, Zhiqiang Niu, Xiaojin He, Yuguo Ma*. “Star-Shaped Polymers for DNA Sequencing by Capillary Electrophoresis” J. Chromatogr. A 2011, 1218, 3037‒3041. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2011.03.027.

(4)  Xun Hong, Dingsheng Wang, Rong Yu, Hui Yan, Yi Sun, Lin He, Zhiqiang Niu, Qing Peng, Yadong Li*. “Ultrathin Au–Ag Bimetallic Nanowires with Coulomb Blockade Effects” Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 5160‒5162. DOI: 10.1039/c1cc10903k.

(3)  Yuen Wu, Dingsheng Wang, Peng Zhao, Zhiqiang Niu, Qing Peng, Yadong Li*. “Monodispersed Pd-Ni Nanoparticles: Composition Control Synthesis and Catalytic Properties in the Miyaura-Suzuki Reaction” Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50, 2046‒2048. DOI: 10.1021/ic102263b.

(2)  Ting Xie, Ming Gong, Zhiqiang Niu, Xiaoyu Yan, Yadong Li*. “Shape-Controlled CuCl Crystallite Catalysts for Aniline Coupling” Nano Res. 2010, 3, 174‒179. DOI: 10.1007/s12274-010-1020-6.

(1)  Jia Luo, Yan Zhou, Zhiqiang Niu, Qi-Feng Zhou, Yuguo Ma*, Jian Pei*. “Three-Dimensional Architectures for Highly Stable Pure Blue Emission” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 11314‒11315. DOI: 10.1021/ja073466r.