Academic Education:
1998-2002: B.S. Chemistry, Shandong University, Jinan, China
2002-2007: Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing, China
Professional Experience:
2007-2009: Postdoc of Tsinghua University
2010-2014: Postdoc of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
2014- : Associate professor of Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
Research Interests:
☆ Synthesis and application of thermally stable small-sized precious metal catalysts
Supported platinum group metal catalysts are essential and are not readily substituted for many industrially important catalytic processes. Enhancement in the thermal stability of small-sized precious metal nanoparticles would be crucial to prolonging the catalyst life and minimizing the cost. We recently discovered that magnesium aluminate spinel {111} nano-facets optimally stabilize the small sizes of Rh, Ir and Pt nanoparticles even after severe high temperature aging treatments. We further rationalized the exceptional stabilization originates from lattice matching, and the correspondingly strong attractive interactions at interfaces between the spinel {111} surface oxygens and epitaxial metals\metal oxides. On this basis, we’d continue to work on synthesizing capable oxide support materials to stabilize other precious metal nanoparticles. On the other side, thermally stable supported Rh, Ir and Pt catalysts are widely used in the fields of chemical conversion, environmental catalysis . For example, catalytic conversion of methane, catalytic combustion, automotive exhaust purification, and catalytic hydrazine decomposition, and etc. We’ll optimize the stable Rh, Ir and Pt catalysts for a specific reaction with high reactivity, selectivity, stability and low cost as well.
☆ structure-function relationship of model catalysts for probe reactions
Unlike homogenous catalysts with uniform molecular structure, supported solid catalysts usually have multiple microstructures, which together provide catalytic reactivity. Such integrated structure and reactivity information makes it difficult to establish accurate structure-function relationship in practice. We are trying to synthesize model catalyst with distinct active structures and quantities, and then test probe reactions with well-established mechanism and reaction rate equation for obtaining kinetic data. Furthermore, we want to get each kinetic parameter among the rate equation by simulating the real kinetic data. We can also obtain the activation energy for rate determining step and the heat of adsorption of reactants on active sites from the respective temperature dependence. Thus, it is possible to establish the structure-function relationship accurately in some model catalytic systems. We are interesting in supported transition metal oxide catalysts for selective oxidation of alcohols, supported precious metal catalysts for CO oxidation or water-gas shift reactions.
Selected Publications:
1. Wei-Zhen Li, Libor Kovarik, Donghai Mei, Jun Liu, Yong Wang, Charles H. F. Peden*, "Stable Pt Nanoparticles on specific MgAl2O4 Spinel Facets at High Temperatures in Oxidizing Atmospheres", Nat. Commun., 2013, 4, 2481.
2. Wei-Zhen Li, Ke-Qiang Sun*, Zhun Hu, Bo-Qing Xu*, "Characteristics of Low Platinum Pt-BaO Catalysts for NOx Storage and Reduction", Catal. Today, 2010, 153, 103-110.
3. Weizhen Li, Hua Huang, Hongjia Li, Wei Zhang, Haichao Liu*, “Facile Synthesis of Pure Monoclinic and Tetragonal Zirconia Nanoparticles and Their Phase Effects on the Behavior of Supported Molybdena Catalysts for Methanol-selective Oxidation”, Langmuir, 2008, 24, 8358-8366.
4. Weizhen Li, Haichao Liu*, Enrique Iglesia, “Structures and Properties of Zirconia-supported Ruthenium Oxide Catalysts for the Selective Oxidation of Metlhanol to Methyl Formate”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 2006, 110, 23337-23342.
