Tao Zhang at the 2024 Future Science Prize Award Ceremony.
Photo provided by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics.
By Sun Danning, Science Times
For proposing the concept of "single - atom catalysis," Academician Tao Zhang, a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was awarded the 2024 Future Science Prize in the category of Physical Sciences.
"Employing the tiniest scale of chemistry to study and fathom the mechanisms and essence of catalytic reactions, instead of operating in the dark as in the past, I firmly believe that proposing this concept was of utmost necessity," Tao Zhang stated. "Putting forward a novel concept demands both capability and opportunity. Decades of arduous efforts and copious amounts of sweat from everyone have nurtured the original scientific concept of'single - atom catalysis' that hails from China."
Crossing the Hills to Uncover New Narratives
Born in 1963 in a mountain - enclosed rural village in Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, Tao Zhang often pondered as a child what lay beyond the mountains. "I yearned to leave the mountains and catch a glimpse of the ocean," he reminisced.
In March 1978, Guo Moruo, then President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a speech titled "The Spring of Science" at the closing ceremony of the National Science Conference. At that time, the 15 - year - old Tao Zhang was brimming with passion: "In that era of burning enthusiasm, 'Master math and science, and you can conquer the world' was our battle cry. Many young people were eager to rejuvenate the nation through science, and I was determined to become a scientist."
Amid the societal call for "early and expeditious talent cultivation," a policy permitted the top 2% of high - school sophomores to take the college entrance exam ahead of time. Tao Zhang, one of the 11 top students selected from Ankang High School, applied for mathematics - related majors. However, due to not having studied the advanced high - school courses, he was ultimately assigned to the Department of Chemistry at Shaanxi University of Technology.
Upon first delving into chemistry, Tao Zhang was entranced by its mysteries and gradually developed a deep - seated love for the subject.
Nevertheless, the limited research capabilities of local universities at that time, including the dearth of experimental equipment, left Tao Zhang, who had long - harbored the aspiration to be a scientist, feeling lost: "What could I do without experimental experience?"
His initial attempt at postgraduate entrance examinations ended in failure. In 1982, Tao Zhang was assigned to teach at his alma mater, Ankang High School, yet he never abandoned his pursuit of further education. "Living and studying in the Qinling and Bashan mountains of southern Shaanxi made me long for the world beyond, especially the ocean. Thus, when choosing a graduate school, I had two crucial criteria: it had to be by the sea, and it had to be the preeminent research institute in China," Tao Zhang said.
In 1983, Tao Zhang realized his dream by moving to the beautiful coastal city of Dalian and enrolling at DICP for his master's and doctoral studies. "This was one of the most pivotal and correct decisions in my life," Tao Zhang remarked.
Three Decades of Devotion to Propose an Internationally Original Concept
DICP, a renowned hub for catalytic research in China, was everything Tao Zhang had ever dreamed of. Here, "talent knows no bounds of origin" - as long as one possessed genuine talent, one could concentrate on research wholeheartedly.
"I met my esteemed mentors, Academician Liwu Lin and Researcher Jingling Zang, who introduced me to the captivating field of catalytic chemistry," Tao Zhang said. Upon arriving at DICP, he commenced working with his mentors on highly dispersed metal catalysts, which served as the cornerstone for single - atom catalysts.
In 1995, the aerospace catalyst research direction at DICP was in a state of upheaval, facing a severe talent shortage. "The leadership said, 'Let's give the young people a shot,'" Tao Zhang recollected. At the age of 32, he was appointed as the head of a research group.
Tao Zhang then spearheaded the development of aerospace catalysts. The hydrazine fuel decomposition catalyst he invented was successfully applied to national missions, expanding the application of propellant catalytic decomposition technology in China's aerospace sector. He also developed anthropomorphic oxygen - consumption materials and components for life - support systems in spacecraft, which were utilized in the Shenzhou series. Additionally, his high - efficiency deoxidizers were extensively applied in petrochemical fields.
While building up his research group, Tao Zhang began ruminating on new research directions. Guided by the principle of "serving national needs," the concept of single - atom catalysis took root in his mind.
In numerous instances, chemical reactions necessitate harsh conditions. For example, hydrogen and oxygen do not spontaneously react to form water at room temperature, but the addition of platinum as a catalyst enables the reaction. Substances like platinum that modify reaction conditions are known as catalysts, often regarded as the "engine" of the chemical industry. However, the high cost and low atomic utilization of precious metals impede the development of metal catalysts.
"The key to scientifically resolving this issue lies in figuring out how to make atoms, which have a tendency to cluster, arrange themselves individually so that each atom can contribute to catalysis," Tao Zhang elucidated.
Over the years, Tao Zhang and his team ceaselessly explored the limits of highly dispersed metal catalysts. In 2011, they were the first in the world to prepare a single - atom catalyst and measure its catalytic performance, proposing the original concept of "single - atom catalysis." In this catalyst, all platinum atoms are individually dispersed, not only achieving high stability but also demonstrating catalytic activity several times higher than traditional nanocatalysts. Single - atom catalysis is of great significance for understanding heterogeneous catalysis at the atomic level and holds promise for developing low - cost, high - efficiency industrial catalysts using precious metals.
The concept of "single - atom catalysis" triggered a global research upsurge upon its introduction. Tao Zhang noted that single - atom catalysis has promising applications in diverse chemical fields, such as clean energy conversion, carbon dioxide reduction, environmental pollution treatment, bulk chemical synthesis, and fine chemical synthesis.
Long - term Vision: Research for Both "Market Shelves" and "Textbooks"
From macroscopic catalytic concepts to nanocatalysis, and now to single - atom catalysis, Tao Zhang believes a significant stride has been taken. The next step is to propel the industrialization of single - atom catalysts.
"For us researchers, there are two primary pursuits. One is to 'put products on market shelves,' signifying that our research should yield tangible products. Hence, I hope to drive the concept of single - atom catalysis towards widespread industrial application, achieving real - world impact. The other pursuit is to 'put knowledge in textbooks.' In the future, the concept of single - atom catalysis might integrate with artificial intelligence to enable rational design and precise preparation of catalysts, forming a systematic theory of single - atom catalysis. If this theory can be incorporated into textbooks, it will demonstrate its universality and importance, highlighting the contributions of Chinese scientists to global science," Tao Zhang said.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Tao Zhang frequently returns to his hometown, Ankang, to deliver popular science lectures to high - school students, sharing his experiences and insights from his scientific research journey.
Tao Zhang wholeheartedly concurs with the notion that "science knows no borders, but scientists have a homeland." He believes it is natural for young people to have their own interests and pursuits, yet they should strive to contribute to society and national development. He hopes more young people will create miracles in the future world of science.
China Science Daily (December 18, 2024, Front - Page News)
