Recently, a research team from the School of Materials Science and Engineering published a scientific paper entitled “The influence of crystal facet on the catalytic performance of MOFs- derived NiO with different morphologies for the total oxidation of propane: The defect engineering dominated by solvent regulation effect” in Journal of Hazardous Materials, a top international journal in the field of materials (SCI Zone 1, TOP) with an impact factor of 13.6. The first author of the paper is Qianqian Chai, a graduate student of the School, and the corresponding authors are Prof. Xuhu Zheng and Prof. Chuanqiang Li of our university.

Short-chain saturated alkanes (SSCs) are a common pollutant in the atmosphere, mainly from transportation emissions and industrial emissions, etc. Efficient treatment technologies and principles for SSCs are the focus of current research. This thesis focuses on the catalyst, which is the core material in the catalytic treatment technology of short-chain saturated alkanes, and innovatively finds that the catalyst can be prepared with different morphologies by fine-tuning the solvent molecules, and the morphology of the catalyst determines the characteristics of the main exposed crystalline surfaces, which further affects the surface defects and catalytic performance. The catalytic oxidation of propane was used as a probe reaction, and the chemical evolution of reactant molecules on the catalyst surface was revealed with the help of density functional theory calculations, and the catalytic reaction mechanism was explored with the help of in-situ techniques.

The research team led by Prof. Zheng Xuhu has been engaged in scientific research on nanomaterial design, catalyst surface and defect engineering, transportation carbon reduction, new energy materials, etc. In the past five years, the team has published more than 30 academic papers in domestic and international journals such as Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal of Cleaner Production, Applied Surface Science, Chemical Engineering Science, etc., and 10 patents for invention have been authorized, 5 rewards such as the Second Prize of Chongqing Scientific and Technological Advancement have been awarded and 2 achievements have been technologically transformed.