Jiajun Zhang

Academic Qualifications

2018.08 – present: PhD Candidates, Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia

2011.06-2015.06: Bachelor of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, China

                             Bachelor of Science, Collage of Chemistry, Nankai University, China

Project：Simultaneous hydrogen production, and organic synthesis via organic photoreforming.

Conversion of biomass into chemicals and energy has received significant attention to reduce the fossil fuels demands and carbon dioxide emissions. Photocatalytic HER has shown great activity with hole scavengers. However, the energetic photogenerated holes was wasted to oxidize valuable hole scavengers, which blocked the future application of this research. On the other hand, the biomass industry suffered from the high cost in purification, e.g. bio-ethanol dehydration and byproduct management, cruel glycerol from bio- diesel production. Utilizing  photogenerated holes in biomass and/or biomass-related feedstock valorisation offers a promising approach towards an efficient and economic production of solar fuel and value-added product. Unfortunately, the applications remain in the laboratory sphere due to the lack of high-performance photocatalysts. Therefore, this project aims to develop a hybrid photocatalyst with excellent activity, selectivity, and stability for the simultaneous production of valuable chemicals and hydrogen fuel from biomass. Ultimately, the findings of this project will enable the development of a solar biorefinery system where waste biomass is transformed into material and energy products.

Awards and achievements:

• 2018 – CSC Scholarships

Publications:

• Guo, W., Fan, K., Zhang, J. J., & Xu, C. J. (2018). 2D/2D Z-scheme Bi2WO6/Porous-g-C3N4 with synergy of adsorption and visible-light-driven photodegradation. Applied Surface Science, 447, 125-134. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.03.080
• Guo, W., Zhang, J. J., Li, G. N., & Xu, C. J. (2019). Enhanced photocatalytic activity of P-type (K, Fe) co-doped g-C3N4 synthesized in self-generated NH3 atmosphere. Applied Surface Science, 470, 99-106. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.10.234
• Li, G. N., Zhang, J. J., Li, W. S., Fan, K., & Xu, C. J. (2018). 3D interconnected hierarchical porous N-doped carbon constructed by flake-like nanostructure with Fe/Fe3C for efficient oxygen reduction reaction and supercapacitor. Nanoscale, 10(19), 9252-9260. doi:10.1039/c8nr02337a
• Zhang, J. J., Li, W. S., Li, Y., Zhong, L., & Xu, C. J. (2017). Self-optimizing bifunctional CdS/Cu2S with coexistence of light-reduced Cu-0 for highly efficient photocatalytic H-2 generation under visible-light irradiation. Applied Catalysis B-Environmental, 217, 30-36. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.05.074

Supervisor:

Prof. Rose Amal,  Assoc. Prof. Jason Scott, Dr. Cui Ying Toe (now at Univ of Newcastle)