Dr. Hongyuan Chuai
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China
Title: Discovery of carbon reduction reaction
Abstract:
The electrochemical conversion of CO2 into high-value hydrocarbons has garnered extensive attention for its potential in reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations and mitigating societal energy challenges. Currently, the predominant form of electrocatalysts is in a powdered state, which is prepared into electrodes through coating techniques. However, the issue of catalyst detachment is inevitable during long-term operation. To address this challenge, we have designed a self-supported carbon-based electrode. This electrode anchors nickel-nitrogen-carbon (Ni-Nx-C) active sites and combines organic and inorganic pore-forming agents to regulate the pore structure, thereby optimizing the performance of the carbon-based electrode. During the study of the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using a carbon-based electrode, we discovered a novel carbon reduction reaction, pioneering a new direction for the electrochemical reforming of carbon materials to produce high carbon chemicals. We proposed the hydrogen dissociation-delocalized π-electron synergistic mechanism and established a new paradigm for organic synthesis involving carbon-carbon bond cleavage and reconstruction. These findings hold profound significance for the resource utilization of carbon-containing waste and the progress of chemical science.
Biography:
Dr. Hongyuan Chuai obtained her PhD degree from Nankai University in 2019. During her PhD study, she worked as a joint PhD student in Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CRPP, CNRS, supervisor Rodolphe Clérac) from October 2016 to October 2018. Then she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Tianjin University and now she is working as a research fellow at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has long been dedicated to research in inorganic synthesis and catalysis, achieving a series of original breakthroughs and making significant pioneering contributions to the field of chemistry. She first discovered a novel carbon reduction reaction, pioneering a new direction for the electrochemical reforming of carbon materials to produce high carbon chemicals. She proposed the hydrogen dissociation-delocalized π-electron synergistic mechanism, establishing a new paradigm for organic synthesis based on carbon-carbon bond cleavage and reconstruction. Her work has provided new perspectives for the development of future energy and chemical science.
As a corresponding author/first author, she has published 14 papers in renowned journals, including ACS Catalysis, and has obtained/applied for 2 patents. She has been invited to serve as an organizing committee member, academic committee member, and conference chair for international academic conferences, and has delivered plenary/keynote speeches on multiple conferences. She has been honored with the Best Researcher Award from International Research Awards on Science Health and Engineering. She was also selected by the Advanced Materials Congress (AMC), Stockholm Assembly 2025, to receive the Advanced Materials Research & Innovation in recognition of her outstanding contributions and pioneering work in the field of Advanced Materials.