MSE Seminar – Prof. YANG Jiarui (19 August 2026)
19 Aug 2026 (Wed) | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
MSE Seminar – Prof. YANG Jiarui (19 August 2026)
| Title: | Electrocatalytic Halogen Activation and Application |
| Speaker: | Prof. YANG Jiarui Department of Chemistry City University of Hong Kong |
| Date: | 19 August 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Time: | 10:00 am – 11:00 am |
| Venue: | Hong Kong Institute For Clean Energy 6/F, Mong Man-Wai Building |
| Abstract: | The halogen cycle, encompassing essential geochemical and biological processes, is critical for both green chemistry and sustainable industry. Traditional halogen-related industrial processes, such as the chlor-alkali process, face significant challenges, including high energy consumption and heavy reliance on scarce noble-metal catalysts. This series of work presents a comprehensive “three-plus-three” strategy to address these challenges by systematically constructing a sustainable halogen cycle encompassing activation, utilization, and recycling. We explore the rational design of metal-free organic molecular catalysts, single-atom catalysts, and their hybrid materials for efficient halogen activation. Notably, some organocatalyst, functioning via a non-covalent interaction mechanism and intermediate radicals, demonstrates comparable activity and superior selectivity to state-of-the-art dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs) at a fraction of the cost. Furthermore, we leverage the highly reactive halogen radicals for challenging organic transformations, such as the ambient-temperature electrochemical dehydrogenation of propane to propylene. Inspired by biological ion channels, we also developed self-assembling organo-electrocatalysts for continuous, large-scale, high-value organic synthesis. Finally, to close the loop, we designed single-atom catalysts that utilize a universal electronic metal-support interaction to enable efficient halogen recycling and waste treatment. These findings provide a new paradigm for designing cost-effective, highly durable, and selective electrocatalysts, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient halogen economy. |
| Enquiries: | mse@cityu.edu.hk |