RESEARCH INTERESTS

The group focuses on tackling the fundamental scientific problems and major application challenges of functional porous materials towards high-efficiency electrochemical energy storage and conversion, intelligent thermal management, etc. Based on the intrinsic properties of functional porous materials, such as large specific surface area, tunable pore structures and rich surficial/interfacial chemical sites, the group aims to design and synthesize high-performance catalysts, electrodes, electrolytes, phase change composite etc. The group also explores applications of the designed materials in supercapacitors, batteries, and thermal management devices, targeting the high-efficiency utilization of clean and sustainable energies.

EDUCATION

2004–2008, PhD, Kobe University

2001–2004, M.S., College of Chemistry, Nankai University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2023–present, Professor, Dean, School of Advanced Materials, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School

2022–present, Professor, Dean, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University

2021–2022, Professor, Vice Dean, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University

2020–2021, Professor, Vice Dean, College of Engineering, Peking University

2019–Present, Professor, Dean, Institute of Clean Energy, Peking University

2019–2021, Professor, College of Engineering, Peking University

2010–2019, Associate Professor, College of Engineering, Peking University

2012–2016, Associate Professor, Singapore Peking University Research Centre for a Sustainable Low-Carbon Future, Peking University

2008–2010, Director's Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Neutron Science Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory

2006–2008, JSPS Research Fellow, Department of Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology & Kobe University

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Y. Wan, W. Chen, S. Wu, S. Gao, F. Xiong, W. Guo, L. Feng, K. Cai, L. Zheng, Y. Wang, R. Zhong*,R. Zou*,Confinement Engineering of Zinc Single‐Atom Triggered Charge Redistribution on Ruthenium Site for Alkaline Hydrogen Production. Adv. Mater. 2024, 36,  2308798.

2. L. Gao, X. Zhang, J. Zhu, S. Han*, H. Zhang, L. Wang, R. Zhao, S. Gao, S. Li, Y. Wang, D. Huang, Y. Zhao, R. Zou*, Boosting Lithium Ion Conductivity of Antiperovskite Solid Electrolyte by Potassium Ions Substitution for Cation Clusters. Nat. Commun. 2023, 14,  6807.

3. A. Usman, F. Xiong, W. Aftab, M, Qin, R. Zou*, Emerging Solid-to-Solid Phase-Change Materials for Thermal-Energy Harvesting, Storage, and Utilization. Adv. Mater. 2022, 34, 2202457.

4. W. Xia, Y. Zhao, F. Zhao, K. Adair, R. Zhao, S. Li, R. Zou*, Y. Zhao*, X. Sun*, Antiperovskite Electrolytes for Solid-State Batteries. Chem. Rev. 2022, 122, 3763-3819.

5. W. Aftab, A. Usman, J. Shi, K. Yuan, M. Qin, R. Zou*, Phase Change Material-Integrated Latent Heat Storage Systems for Sustainable Energy Solutions. Energy Environ. Sci. 2021, 14, 4268-4291.

6. T. Qiu, S. Gao, Z. Liang, D. Wang, T. Hassina, R. Zhong, R. Zou*, Pristine Hollow Metal-Organic Frameworks: Design, Synthesis and Application. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 17314-1733.

7. Y.-S. Wei, M. Zhang, R. Zou*, Q. Xu*, Metal-Organic Framework-Based Catalysts with Single Metal Sites.Chem. Rev. 2020, 120,  12089-12174.

8. H. Zhang, W. Xia, H. Shen, W. Guo, Z. Liang, K. Zhang, Y. Wu, B. Zhu, R. Zou*, Antiperovskite Intermetallic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 1871-1877.

9. A. Mahmood, S. Li, Z. Ali, H. Tabassum, B. Zhu, Z. Liang, W. Meng, W. Aftab, W. Guo, H. Zhang, M. Yousaf, S. Gao, R. Zou*, Y. Zhao*, Ultrafast Sodium/Potassium-Ion Intercalation into Hierarchically Porous Thin Carbon Shells. Adv. Mater. 2019, 31,  1805430.

10. H. Tabassum, R. Zou*, A. Mahmood, Z. Liang, Q. Wang, H. Zhang, S. Gao, C. Qu, W. Guo, S. Guo*, A Universal Strategy for Hollow Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Encapsulated into B/N Co‐doped Graphitic Nanotubes as High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Battery Anodes. Adv. Mater. 2018, 30, 1705441.