In 2024, Professor Tao Zhang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as DICP), won the "Physical Science Award" of the 2024 Future Science Prize for proposing the new concept of "single-atom catalysis".
Academician Tao Zhang Won the "Physical Science Award" of the 2024 Future Science Prize
The growth path of this young man who entered university at the age of 15 has become known to more people. From the depths of the mountains in Ankang, Shanxi Province, to the famous coastal city of Dalian, from a so-called "non-Project 211 and non-Project 985 university" to a first-class scientific research institution, and then to proposing the original concept of "single-atom catalysis", this path can be "referenced and learned from", and it also gives more young people inspiration and courage. Recently, the reporter had the honor to interview Academician Tao Zhang and listened to him talk about his "counterattack life".
An Unexpected Starting Point: From a Dream of Mathematics to a Journey in Chemistry
In 1978, Moruo Guo delivered the speech "The Spring of Science" at the closing ceremony of the National Science Conference, which inspired the scientific enthusiasm of countless young people, including Tao Zhang, who was only 15 years old at that time.
"During that passionate era, 'Learn mathematics, physics and chemistry well, and you won't be afraid anywhere in the world' was our slogan for striving," Tao Zhang recalled. "Mr. Moruo Guo's speech made everyone excited, and it was at that time that the dream of serving the country through science was planted in our hearts."
Under the requirement of "cultivating talents early and quickly" at that time, 2% of outstanding students were allowed to be selected from the first grade of senior high school to take the college entrance examination in advance. Ankang Middle School selected 11 excellent first-year senior high school students, and Tao Zhang was among them. However, since he hadn't studied the courses of the second and third grades of senior high school, his college entrance examination results were not outstanding. In the end, he, who loved mathematics, was transferred to the Department of Chemistry of Hanzhong Normal College (now Shanxi University of Technology).
Academician Tao Zhang's Interview with the Reporter
This "unexpected" adjustment in major, however, enabled Tao Zhang to discover the mysteries of chemistry. During his study at Shaanxi University of Technology, he was gradually attracted to chemistry. The mysteries of substances and the joy of synthesizing new substances made him gradually fall in love with this subject.
Recalling this experience, Tao Zhang said, "At first, I was a bit reluctant and unwilling, but as time went by, I found that the world of chemistry was full of charm. It showed me the infinite possibilities of material creation."
Traversing Mountains and Seas: From a Small Town in Southern Shaanxi to a Famous Coastal City
Tao Zhang was born in Ankang City, southern Shaanxi, a small town surrounded by mountains. Since childhood, he had been full of curiosity about the world outside the mountains. He often climbed to the top of the mountain to look into the distance, imagining the world beyond the mountains.
"I was always curious about what was outside the mountains. But when I climbed to the top, I found that there were still mountains outside." After graduating from university at the age of 19, he returned to his alma mater, Ankang Middle School in Shanxi, and taught middle school chemistry for one year while preparing for the postgraduate entrance examination. He set two key coordinates for himself: one was to be by the sea, and the other was to choose the best research institute in China.
"After the two coordinates intersected, in 1983, I came to the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences as I wished to start my postgraduate study," he said. There, Academician Liwu Lin and Researcher Jingling Zang introduced him to the research field of catalytic chemistry and began to engage in the research of highly dispersed metal catalysts.
"Choosing to study for a postgraduate degree at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics was one of the most important and correct choices in my life," Tao Zhang said. "The first-class scientists, first-class research facilities, and first-class research atmosphere here have all provided good conditions and a foundation for my growth, enabling me to grow step by step from a student to a scientist."
Innovative Breakthrough: The Birth and Challenges of Single-Atom Catalysis
During his master's and doctoral studies, Tao Zhang began to research highly dispersed metal catalysts. At that time, he already had a preliminary understanding of the dispersion and activity of catalysts. Later, the rise of nanocatalysis made the nanoscale effect widely concerned. The decrease in the scale of metals could significantly improve catalytic activity. This inspired Tao Zhang. He began to think: If the metal is dispersed to an even smaller scale, even reaching the single-atom level, will the catalytic activity be further improved?
Academician Tao Zhang InstructsStudents
This idea seemed simple, but it was full of difficulties when it came to implementation. First of all, how to prepare a stable single-atom catalyst was a huge challenge. Metal atoms are extremely prone to agglomeration at an extremely small scale and it is difficult to maintain a single-dispersed state. In addition, how to characterize and identify single-atom catalysts was also a tough problem. At that time, the electron microscopy technology could not directly observe individual atoms.
Facing these challenges, Tao Zhang and his team, after countless attempts and failures, finally found a way to prepare stable single-atom catalysts. They used chemical means to dissolve metal atoms in a solution, and then loaded them onto a support through a specific method. After that, they processed them into active catalysts through a series of complex procedures. At the same time, they also cooperated with international electron microscopy experts and successfully observed individual atoms in single-atom catalysts.
"Our thinking and research were in place, and the development level of world instruments was also in place, enabling us to clearly see individual atoms from the aberration-corrected electron microscope." Combining other catalyst preparation and characterization techniques, in 2011, Tao Zhang's team for the first time reported an heterogeneous catalyst in which platinum (Pt) was embedded in iron oxide (FeOx) in the state of isolated single metal atoms in the international arena, and put forward the original concept of "single-atom catalysis", which attracted widespread attention in the international academic community.
Single-atom catalysis not only subverted the traditional catalytic concept to some extent, but also provided the possibility for the development of low-cost and high-efficiency noble metal industrial catalysts. "Studying and understanding the mechanism and essence of catalytic reactions at the smallest scale of chemistry, instead of 'cooking in a black box' as in the past, I think it is very necessary and important to put forward this concept," Tao Zhang said. "We hope to promote the development of the catalytic field through this concept and contribute to solving global problems."
Serving the Country through Scientific Research: It Should Reach Both the Bookshelves and the Market Shelves
After remaining at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Tao Zhang was once in charge of the research and development of aerospace catalysts. He and his team developed a catalyst for the decomposition of hydrazine hydrate fuel, which was applied to the propulsion system of spacecraft, making contributions to China's aerospace cause. In addition, he also completed the research and development of anthropomorphic oxygen-consuming materials and components in the life support system of spacecraft, which were applied on the "Shenzhou" series of spacecraft.
Academician Tao Zhang InstructsStudents
In addition to aerospace catalysts, Tao Zhang also led his team to develop a variety of highly efficient deoxidizers, which are widely used in the petrochemical industry. These deoxidizers can effectively remove oxygen impurities in petrochemical products and improve the quality and stability of products.
"For those of us engaged in scientific research, there are mainly two pursuits. One is to'reach the market shelves'. The things we develop should be able to be turned into products. So I hope to promote the concept of single-atom catalysis to wide industrial applications and achieve real transformation of achievements. The other pursuit is to'reach the bookshelves'. In the future, the concept of single-atom catalysis may be combined with artificial intelligence to achieve the rational design and precise preparation of catalysts and form a systematic theory of single-atom catalysis. If this theory can guide the development of this field, be written into textbooks and placed on the bookshelves, it can better reflect the universality and importance of the theory, and also demonstrate the contributions of Chinese scientists to world science," said Tao Zhang.
In addition to scientific research work, Tao Zhang also attaches great importance to talent cultivation and team building. "I have always encouraged students to be brave in innovation and to challenge authority," Tao Zhang said. "I hope they can keep exploring and moving forward on the path of scientific research."
"Science is endless, and each generation has its own pursuits," Tao Zhang said. "I believe that the younger generation will surely stand on our shoulders to solve new problems and contribute more to the country's scientific and technological progress." (Reporters: Yajuan Song, Chunfang Xiao from Guangming Net)[Responsible Editor: Xinzhe Li]
