My research focuses on the rational design and characterisation of atomically precise metal clusters in zeolites. Such as Molecular assembly of (1) multinuclear Cux in ZSM-5 (x = 1, 2, 3), (2) dual-atom Cu-M catalyst in hierarchical USY zeolites and (3) genome engineering of trinuclear metal clusters in ZSM-5 zeolites (MA-MB-MC/ZSM-5, M = 3d metal ions). I am also interested in the structure-activity correlations of supported metal clusters in reactions by exploiting a combination of in-situ/operando diffraction and spectroscopic techniques. For instance: (1) synchrotron X-ray/neutron diffraction combined with Rietveld refinement, x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and (2) X-ray/neutron total scattering (Pair-distribution function analysis, PDF).

I have published more than 40 papers with total google scholar citations 1400+ ().

🔥 News

📝 Publications

Selected Publications

• (1) Chen, Tianxiang#; Yu, Wenhua#; Wun, Ching Kit Tommy; Wu, Tai Sing; Sun, Mingzi; Day, Sarah J.; Li, Zehao; Yuan, Bo; Wang, Yong; Li, Mingjie; Wang, Zi; Peng, Yung Kang; Yu, Wing Yiu; Wong, Kwok Yin; Huang, Bolong*; Liang, Taoyuan*; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict*. Cu-Co Dual-Atom Catalysts Supported on Hierarchical USY Zeolites for an Efficient Cross-Dehydrogenative C(Sp2)-N Coupling Reaction. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145 (15), 8273–8734.
• (2) Chen, Tianxiang; Huang, Bolong; Day, Sarah; Tang, Chiu Chung; Tsang, Shik Chi Edman; Wong, Kwok-yin; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict*. Differential Adsorption of L- and d-Lysine on Achiral MFI Zeolites as Determined by Synchrotron X-Ray Powder Diffraction and Thermogravimetric Analysis. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59 (3), 1093–1097.
• (3)
• (4)
• (5)

2025

• (16)Liu, Hao; Zhang, Ying; Liu, Liyang; Chen, Tianxiang*; Zhang, Xingcong; Hu, Peng; Xiong, Chao; Zhou, Jie; Zhang, Hao; Dong, Lihui; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Nan, Bing*; He, Xiaohui*; Ji, Hongbing*. Platinum Clusters Stabilized by Zincosilicate Zeolite for Efficient Propane Dehydrogenation. Chinese J. Catal. 2025, 71, 208–219.
• (15) He, Zhe#; Li, Kailang#; Chen, Tianxiang#; Feng, Yunchao; Villalobos-Portillo, Eduardo; Marini, Carlo; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict*; Yang, Fuyuan*; Zhang, Liang*; Liu, Lichen*. High-Purity Hydrogen Production from Dehydrogenation of Methylcyclohexane Catalyzed by Zeolite-Encapsulated Subnanometer Platinum-Iron Clusters. Nat. Commun. 2025, 16 (1), 92.

2024

• (14) Fu, Guozhang; Li, Yunong; Hou, Zhuoqun; Wang, Shasha; Jiang, Shaohua; Chen, Tianxiang*; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict*; Chen, Xiuwen*. Diatomic Cobalt–Catalyzed Cyclization of o-Aminobenzyl Alcohol with Amidine for the Synthesis of Quinazolines. J. Catal. 2024, 115889.
• (13) Liu, Hao#; Chu, Bingxian#; Chen, Tianxiang#; Zhou, Jie; Dong, Lihui; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Li, Bin*; He, Xiaohui*; Ji, Hongbing*. Modulation of the Cobalt Species State on Zincosilicate to Maximize Propane Dehydrogenation to Propylene. Chinese J. Catal. 2024, 66, 168–180.
• (12) Zhu, Chaofeng#; Li, Wenying#; Chen, Tianxiang#; He, Zhe; Villalobos, Eduardo; Marini, Carlo; Zhou, Jian; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Xiao, Hai; Liu, Lichen*. Boosting the Stability of Subnanometer Pt Catalysts by the Presence of Framework Indium(III) Sites in Zeolite. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.. 2024, 63 (41), e202409784.

2023

• (11) Chen, Tianxiang#; Yu, Wenhua#; Wun, Ching Kit Tommy; Wu, Tai Sing; Sun, Mingzi; Day, Sarah J.; Li, Zehao; Yuan, Bo; Wang, Yong; Li, Mingjie; Wang, Zi; Peng, Yung Kang; Yu, Wing Yiu; Wong, Kwok Yin; Huang, Bolong ; Liang, Taoyuan *; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict. Cu-Co Dual-Atom Catalysts Supported on Hierarchical USY Zeolites for an Efficient Cross-Dehydrogenative C(Sp2)-N Coupling Reaction. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145 (15), 8273–8734.
• (10) Li, Zehao *#; Chen, Tianxiang#; Chen, Yufei; Chen, Xiaoyuan; Li, Le; Kuang, Siya; Gao, Jing; Guo, Yuxuan; Benedict Lo, Tsz Woon; Du, Jimin; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Du, Jimin. Improved H2O2 Photogeneration on Rb-Doped-Polymeric Carbon Nitride via Enhanced O2 Adsorption. J. Mater. Chem. A 2023, 11 (11), 5925–5936.
• (9) Xue, Qi#; Wun, Ching Kit Tommy#; Chen, Tianxiang#; Kawaguchi, Shogo; Day, Sarah; Tang, Chiu; Wu, Tai-Sing; Soo, Yun-Liang; Lin, Cong; Peng, Yung-Kang; Yin, Jun; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict *. Controlled Synthesis of Cu, Fe Dual-Atom Catalysts Restrained on Metal–Organic Frameworks for Efficient O 2 Activation. J. Mater. Chem. A 2023, 11 (26), 14204–14212.

2022

• (8) Chen, Tianxiang#; Wang, Yong#; Xue, Qi; Wun, Ching Kit Tommy; So, Pui Kin; Yung, Ka Fu; Wu, Tai-Sing; Soo, Yun-Liang; Taniya, Keita; Day, Sarah; Tang, Chiu C.; Li, Zehao; Huang, Bolong ; Tsang, Shik Chi Edman; Wong, Kwok-yin *; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict. Atomically Precise Bimetallic Metal Ensembles with Tailorable Synergistic Effects. Cell Reports Phys. Sci. 2022, 3 (4), 100850.
• (7) Wun, Ching Kit Tommy#; Mok, Ho Kit#; Chen, Tianxiang#; Wu, Tai Sing; Taniya, Keita; Nakagawa, Keizo; Day, Sarah; Tang, Chiu C.; Huang, Ziru; Su, Haibin; Yu, Wing Yiu *; Lee, Terence Kin Wah *; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict *. Atomically Dispersed 3d Metal Bimetallic Dual-Atom Catalysts and Classification of the Structural Descriptors. Chem Catal. 2022, 2 (9), 2346–2363.
• (6) Lu, Yuanhui#; Chen, Tianxiang#; Xiao, Xiaoyu; Huang, Ninghua; Dou, Yadong; Wei, Wanxing; Zhang, Zhuan; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict *; Liang, Taoyuan *. Copper Dual-Atom Catalyst Mediated C3–H Amination of Indoles at Room Temperature. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2022, 12 (17), 5390–5396.

2021

• (5) Chen, Tianxiang; Ye, Lin; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict. Designing the Electronic and Geometric Structures of Single-Atom and Nanocluster Catalysts. J. Mater. Chem. A 2021, 9 (35), 18773–18784.

2020

• (4) Chen, Tianxiang; Huang, Bolong; Day, Sarah; Tang, Chiu Chung; Tsang, Shik Chi Edman; Wong, Kwok-yin; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict. Differential Adsorption of L- and d-Lysine on Achiral MFI Zeolites as Determined by Synchrotron X-Ray Powder Diffraction and Thermogravimetric Analysis. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59 (3), 1093–1097.
• (3) Chen, Tianxiang; Wun, Ching Kit Tommy; Day, Sarah J.; Tang, Chiu C.; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict. Enantiospecificity in Achiral Zeolites for Asymmetric Catalysis. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2020, 22 (34), 18757–18764.
• (2) Chen, Tianxiang; Xue, Qi; Leung, Kwan‐Chee; Lo, Benedict T. W. Recent Advances of Precise Cu Nanoclusters in Microporous Materials. Chem. Asian J. 2020, 15 (12), 1819–1828.

2017

• (1) Chen, Tianxiang; Chen, Chengcheng; Liu, Qiong; Zhang, Zhengguo; Fang, Xiaoming. A One-Step Process for Preparing a Phenyl-Modified GC 3 N 4 Green Phosphor with a High Quantum Yield. RSC Adv. 2017, 7 (81), 51702–51710.

2025

• (24) Lin, Yuqun; Hou, Zhuoqun; Yu, Tong; Lin, Meiyi; Fu, Guozhang; Chen, Tianxiang; Li, Lanyu; Zhu, Zhongzhi; Chen, Xiuwen. Skeleton Editing of Benzothiazoles to Spiro[Benzothiazole-n-Alkanes] by Carbon-to-Carbon Single-Atom Swapping. J. Org. Chem. 2025.
• (23) Liu, Qiong; Cheng, Hui; Wun, Ching Kit Tommy; Chen, Tianxiang; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Wang, Fuxian. Oxygen-Tolerant Photocatalytic Conversion of Simulated Flue Gas to Ethylene. Chem 2025, 102391.
• (22) Dou, Xiaomeng; Yan, Tao; Li, Wenying; Zhu, Chaofeng; Chen, Tianxiang; Lo, Benedict Tsz Woon; Marini, Carlo; Xiao, Hai; Liu, Lichen. Structure–Reactivity Relationship of Zeolite-Confined Rh Catalysts for Hydroformylation of Linear α-Olefins. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025.

2024

• (21) Li, Yaxing#; Li, Xiaoyu#; Zhang, Haotian; He, Jiayi; Su, Kaining; Chen, Tianxiang; Zhang, Ruolin; Xu, Hua; Wu, Yuchao *; Yang, Weisheng *; Liu, Lichen *. Tuning the Spatial Distribution and Chemical Nature of Acid Sites in MCM-22 Zeolite by Atomically Dispersed Lanthanum Species for Alkylation of 2-Methylnaphthalene. ACS Catal. 2024, 623–638.
• (20) Zhang, Jinwen; Ding, Hongxin; Hui, Hehua; Yao, Qingying; Feng, Wenhua; Chen, Tianxiang; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Ren, Yuanhang; Ye, Lin; Yue, Bin; He, Heyong. Confined Cu Single Sites in ZSM-5 for Photocatalytic Hydroxylation of Benzene to Phenol. Small 2024, 2405150.
• (19) Wun, Ching Kit Tommy; Wang, Zi; Kawaguchi, Shogo; Kobayashi, Shintaro; Wu, Tai-Sing; Chen, Tianxiang; Lin, Cong; Tang, Chiu C.; Yin, Jun; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict. Investigating Synergistic Cooperativity of Metal-Brønsted Acid Site Pair in MFI-Type Zeolites by Synchrotron X-Ray Powder Diffraction. J. Mater. Chem. A 2024, 12 (37), 25442–25448.
• (18) Feng, Yunchao; Wang, Hongtao; Chen, Tianxiang; Lopez-Haro, Miguel; He, Feng; He, Zhe; Marini, Carlo; Lo, Benedict Tsz Woon; Liu, Lichen. Water-Promoted Oxidative Coupling of Aromatics with Subnanometer Palladium Clusters Confined in Zeolites. Nat. Commun. 2024, 15 (1), 9373.
• (17) Huang, Jiaming; Fu, Jiehao; Yuan, Bo; Xia, Hao; Chen, Tianxiang; Lang, Yongwen; Liu, Heng; Ren, Zhiwei; Liang, Qiong; Liu, Kuan; Guan, Zhiqiang; Zou, Guangruixing; Chandran, Hrisheekesh Thachoth; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Lu, Xinhui; Lee, Chun-Sing; Yip, Hin-Lap; Peng, Yung-Kang; Li, Gang#. 19.5% Inverted Organic Photovoltaic with Record Long-Lifetime via Multifunctional Interface Engineering Featuring Radical Scavenger. Nat. Commun. 2024, 15 (1), 10565.
• (16) Zhang, Shengpei; Zhao, Chao; Reyes, Yves Ira A.; Xiong, Pei; Chen, Tianxiang; Cheng, Tianqi; Yi, Xianfeng; Chou, Shang-Wei; Chien, Chia-Ying; Yang, Ya-Yun. Facile Gram-Scale Synthesis of Size-Tunable MgO Nanosheets Enclosed by (111) Surface with Remarkable Stability and Uniform Host Sites for Atom Dispersion. Chem. Mater. 2024, 36 (9), 4204–4214.
• (15) Liang, Baihui; Cai, Xiangya; Liu, JingYu; Huang, Jie; Chen, Youzhi; Deng, Haiyin; Zhou, Quanquan; Chen, Tianxiang; Chen, Xiuwen; Zhu, Zhongzhi. Syntheses of 3 H-1, 2, 4-Triazol-3-Ones by Copper-Promoted Oxidative N–N Bond Formation of Amidines with Isocyanates. Org. Chem. Front. 2024, 11 (2), 343–347.
• (14) Chen, Xia; Shi, Jianyi; Lin, Yuqun; Li, Yibiao; Jiang, Shaohua; Chen, Tianxiang; Zhu, Zhongzhi; Ma, Aijun. Direct Synthesis of N‐Alkyl‐2‐Pyridones Using 2‐Halogenated Pyridines. European J. Org. Chem. 2024, 27 (6), e202301184.

2023

• (13) Xu, Shengting; Zhu, Zhongzhi; Yang, Zhendong; Mai, Zuyu; Chen, Tianxiang; Ma, Aijun; Chen, Xiuwen. Ring‐Opening‐Recombination Strategy Based on 2‐Methylbenzothiazole Salts: Syntheses of Thiazinopyrrole Fused‐Ring Derivatives. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2023, 365 (22), 3819–3823.
• (12) Liang, Baihui; Cai, Xiangya; Liu, Jing Yu; Huang, Jie; Chen, Youzhi; Deng, Haiyin; Zhou, Quanquan; Chen, Tianxiang; Chen, Xiuwen; Zhu, Zhongzhi. Syntheses of 3H-1,2,4-Triazol-3-Ones by Copper-Promoted Oxidative N-N Bond Formation of Amidines with Isocyanates. Org. Chem. Front. 2023, 11 (2), 343–347.
• (11) Liu, Hao; Zhou, Jie; Chen, Tianxiang; Hu, Peng; Xiong, Chao; Sun, Qingdi; Chen, Shenwei; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Ji, Hongbing. Isolated Pt Species Anchored by Hierarchical-like Heteroatomic Fe-Silicalite-1 Catalyze Propane Dehydrogenation near the Thermodynamic Limit. ACS Catal. 2023, 13 (5), 2928–2936.
• (10) Ying, Bixian; Fitzpatrick, Jack R.; Teng, Zhenjie; Chen, Tianxiang; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Siozios, Vassilios; Murray, Claire A.; Brand, Helen E. A.; Day, Sarah; Tang, Chiu C.; Weatherup, Robert S.; Merz, Michael; Nagel, Peter; Schuppler, Stefan; Winter, Martin; Kleiner, Karin. Monitoring the Formation of Nickel-Poor and Nickel-Rich Oxide Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Synchrotron Radiation. Chem. Mater. 2023, 35 (4), 1514–1526.
• (9) Fan, Yongbo; Xu, Shengting; Cai, Xinxin; Hou, Zhijing; Chen, Tianxiang; Fu, Guozhang; Zhu, Zhongzhi; Chen, Xiuwen. Bifunctionalization of Styrene through Ring-Opening-Recombination Strategy of Phenylpropathiazole Salt. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2023, 21 (37), 7593–7596.

2022

• (8) Xie, Yi; Ou, Pengfei; Wang, Xue; Xu, Zhanyou; Li, Yuguang C.; Wang, Ziyun; Huang, Jianan Erick; Wicks, Joshua; McCallum, Christopher; Wang, Ning; Wang, Yuhang; Chen, Tianxiang; Lo, Benedict T. W.; Sinton, David; Yu, Jimmy C.; Wang, Ying; Sargent, Edward H. High Carbon Utilization in CO2 Reduction to Multi-Carbon Products in Acidic Media. Nat. Catal. 2022, 5 (6), 564–570.
• (7) Liu, Qiong; Cheng, Hui; Chen, Tianxiang; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Ma, Jiliang; Ling, Anqi; Wang, Fuxian. Regulating The *OCCHO Intermediate Pathway towards Highly Selective Photocatalytic CO 2 Reduction to CH 3 CHO over Locally Crystallized Carbon Nitride. Energy Environ. Sci. 2022, 15 (1), 225–233.

2021

• (6) Xue, Qi; Chan, Ka Hin; Yim, Cheuk Ki; Ng, Bryan Kit Yue; Chen, Tianxiang; Day, Sarah J.; Tang, Chiu; Kawaguchi, Shogo; Wong, Kwok-Yin; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict. Guest-Anion-Induced Rotation-Restricted Emission in UiO-66-NH2and Advanced Structure Elucidation. Chem. Mater. 2021, 33 (13), 5422–5429.
• (5) Duan, Xin-ping; Chen, Tianyi; Chen, Tianxiang; Huang, Lele; Ye, Li; Lo, Benedict T. W.; Yuan, Youzhu; Tsang, Shik Chi Edman. Intercalating Lithium into the Lattice of Silver Nanoparticles Boosts Catalytic Hydrogenation of Carbon–Oxygen Bonds. Chem. Sci. 2021, 12 (25), 8791–8802.
• (4) Liu, Qiong; Cheng, Hui; Chen, Tianxiang; Lo, Tsz Woon Benedict; Ma, Jiliang; Ling, Anqi; Wang, Fuxian. Boosted CO Desorption Behaviors Induced by Spatial Dyadic Heterostructure in Polymeric Carbon Nitride for Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion. Appl. Catal. B Environ 2021, 295, 120289.

2017

• (3) Liu, Qiong; Chen, Tianxiang; Guo, Yarong; Zhang, Zhengguo; Fang, Xiaoming. Grafting Fe (III) Species on Carbon Nanodots/Fe-Doped g-C3N4 via Interfacial Charge Transfer Effect for Highly Improved Photocatalytic Performance. Appl. Catal. B Environ 2017, 205, 173–181.

2016

• (2) Guo, Yarong; Chen, Tianxiang; Liu, Qiong; Zhang, Zhengguo; Fang, Xiaoming. Insight into the Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Potassium and Iodine Codoped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts. J. Phys. Chem. C 2016, 120 (44), 25328–25337.
• (1) Liu, Qiong; Chen, Tianxiang; Guo, Yarong; Zhang, Zhengguo; Fang, Xiaoming. Ultrathin G-C3N4 Nanosheets Coupled with Carbon Nanodots as 2D/0D Composites for Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Evolution. Appl. Catal. B Environ 2016, 193, 248–258.

🎖 Honors and Awards

• FS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award 2022/23 at PolyU

📖 Educations

• Sep. 2019 – Oct. 2022, PhD, Chemistry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong), Prof. Lo Tsz Woon Benedict
• Apr. 2022 – Aug. 2022, Visiting PhD student,Chemistry, University of Manchester (United Kingdom), Prof. Yang Sihai
• Sep. 2015 ‐ May. 2018, M.E., Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology (China), Prof. Fang Xiaoming
• Sep. 2012 ‐ July 2015, B.S., Applied Chemistry, Guangxi University (China), Prof. Li Bin

💬 Invited Talks