Research Interest:
Carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU), Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction, Operando characterizations such as SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) and SEIRAS (surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy)
Featured Publications:
1. Chen, C.; Ma, Y.; Huang B.; Sun J.*; Zhao Y.*, Ultrathin two-dimensional H0.68Ti1.83O4/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets with adjustable interlayer spacing as a stable anode for potassium-ion batteries, Journal of Energy Storage, 2026, 147, 120169.
2. Han, Y.; Wang J.; Guo Z.; Zhao, Y.*, Chen X, Chen C, Zhou X, Li L, Sun J. Topography-confined dual-gradient 3D scaffold design for stable and dendrite free sodium metal anodes. Science China Chemistry, 2025, 68, 6039-6047.
3. Ma, L.; Wang, X.; Chen, X.*; Gao, J.; Wang, Y.; Song, Y.; Zhao, Y.*; Gao, S.; Li, L.*; Sun, J.*, Boosting the zinc storage performance of vanadium dioxide by integrated morphology engineering and carbon nanotube conductive networks. Nano Research 2024, 17, 7136–7143.
4. Hasa, B.†; Zhao, Y.†; Jiao, F. In Situ/Operando Characterization Techniques of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction. Annual Review of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 2023, 14, 165-185.
5. Overa, S.†; Ko, B. H.†; Zhao, Y.†; Jiao, F., Electrochemical approaches for CO2 conversion to chemicals: a journey towards practical applications. Accounts of Chemical Research 2022, 55, 638-648.
6. Zhao, Y.†; Chang, X.†; Malkani, A. S.; Yang, X.; Thompson, L.; Jiao, F.; Xu, B., Speciation of Cu Surfaces During the Electrochemical CO Reduction Reaction. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2020, 142, 9735-9743. (Cover story; ESI highly cited paper.)
7. Zhao, Y.; Du, L.; Li, H.; Xie, W.; Chen, J., Is the Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reaction in the Presence of Pd Nanoparticles Heterogeneously or Homogeneously Catalyzed? An Interfacial Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Study. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2019, 10, 1286-1291.
8. Zhao, Y.; Li, R.; Jiang, P.; Zhang, K.; Dong, Y.; Xie, W., Mechanistic Study of Catalytic Hydride Reduction of −NO2 to −NH2 Using Isotopic Solvent and Reducer: The Real Hydrogen Source. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2019, 123, 15582-15588.
9. Zhao, Y.; Xie, W., SERS Detection of Heterogeneous Reactions at Catalytic Interfaces Using Bifunctional Metal Nanoparticles. Scientia Sinica Chimica 2019, 49, 801-810.
10. Sun, J.†; Zhao, Y.†; Yang, H.; Chen, C.; Chen, J., Na-CO Batteries: Devices to Trap CO. Chemical Communication 2017, 53, 9312-9315.