🚀 News

May. 2026: Dr. Xuezhen Feng joined our group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. 🎉

Feb. 2026: Dr. Zheng Zhou joined our group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. 🎉

Jan. 2026: Dr. Lingfeng Jia joined our group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. 🎉

Dec. 2025: Joined the ABCT, PolyU as a Research Assistant Professor! 🎉

About Me

I am a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. My research focuses on the molecular-level design of programmable multinuclear metal clusters within porous materials, utilizing integrated synchrotron methodologies (XRPD/NPD, PDF, and XAS) to decode electronic-structural dynamics under operando conditions.

Research Focus

My research harnesses state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation facilities to drive innovation in the full-cycle development of catalysts—from atomically precise synthesis and dynamic characterization to performance optimization. Centered on programmable multinuclear metal clusters within porous materials, I developed a molecular-level design framework to tailor catalytic architectures for energy and sustainability challenges.

To decode structure-activity relationships, I have developed an integrated synchrotron methodology combining:

• X-ray/Neutron Diffraction (Rietveld refinement)

• Total Scattering Analysis with atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis

• X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS)

This enables tracking of electronic-structural dynamics and host-guest synergies under operando conditions.

🎯 Work Experience

🎓 Education

🔬 Research Achievements

I have published 45 peer-reviewed papers (h-index = 18) with 2000+ total citations.

My work features high-impact publications in prestigious journals, including Nat. Catal., Nat. Synth., Nat. Commun., Chem, JACS, and Angew. Chem.. Among these, 19 papers were as first (co-first) or corresponding author (Nat. Commun. (1), JACS (2), Angew. Chem. (2), Chem. Catal. (1), and JMCA (3)).

📚 Publication Highlights

1. Trinuclear Metal Cluster Engineering

   Chen, T.; et al. “Unraveling the Nuclearity Effect of Atomically Choreographed Triatom Cu₃ Clusters Supported on Zeolites.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147(20), 17170–17180.

2. Cu-Co Dual-Atom Catalysts

   Chen, T.; et al. “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), 8464–8473.

3. Chiral Recognition in Zeolites

   Chen, T.; et al. “Differential Adsorption of L- and D-Lysine on Achiral MFI Zeolites.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59(3), 1093–1097.

4. Atomically Precise Bimetallic Catalysts

   Chen, T.; et al. “Atomically Precise Bimetallic Metal Ensembles with Tailorable Synergistic Effects.” Cell Reports Phys. Sci. 2022, 3(4), 100850.

📝 Full Publication List

I. First, Co-first (#) & Corresponding Author (*) Papers (19/45)

1. Shan, L.#, Chen, T.#, Li, S.#, Tang, B., Yang, Y., Rao, P., Li, J., Wun, C. K. T., Lee, D., Li, M., Lo, T. W. B., Yang, S. “Exceptional Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia Promoted by Concerted Electron–Proton Transfer in Cu-Decorated MFI Zeolites.” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2025, 17(39), 54807–54815.

2. Chen, T.#, Li, Y.#, Ho, P.-L.#, Leung, K. C., Liu, J., Wun, C. K. T., Li, Z., Tang, C. C., Kawaguchi, S., Wu, T.-S., Soo, Y.-L., Yin, J., Edman Tsang, S. C., Lo, T. W. B.* “Unraveling the Nuclearity Effect of Atomically Choreographed Triatom Cu3 Clusters Supported on Zeolites.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2025, 147(20), 17170–17180.

3. Li, Y., Wun, C. K. T., Chen, T.*, Lo, T. W. B. “Investigating Size-Dependent Selectivity in Benzaldehyde Reductive Amination via Ni Nanoparticles.” Mater. Today Catal., 2025, 9, 100100.

4. Liu, H., Zhang, Y., Liu, L., Chen, T.*, Zhang, X., Hu, P., Xiong, C., Zhou, J., Zhang, H., Dong, L., Lo, T. W. B., Nan, B., He, X., Ji, H. “Platinum Clusters Stabilized by Zincosilicate Zeolite for Efficient Propane Dehydrogenation.” Chinese J. Catal., 2025, 71, 208–219.

5. He, Z.#, Li, K.#, Chen, T.#, Feng, Y., Villalobos-Portillo, E., Marini, C., Lo, T. W. B., Yang, F., Zhang, L., Liu, L. “High-Purity Hydrogen Production from Dehydrogenation of Methylcyclohexane Catalyzed by Zeolite-Encapsulated Subnanometer Platinum-Iron Clusters.” Nat. Commun., 2025, 16(1), 92.

6. Fu, G., Li, Y., Hou, Z., Wang, S., Jiang, S., Chen, T.*, Lo, T. W. B., Chen, X. “Diatomic Cobalt–Catalyzed Cyclization of o-Aminobenzyl Alcohol with Amidine for the Synthesis of Quinazolines.” J. Catal., 2025, 442, 115889.

7. Liu, H.#, Chu, B.#, Chen, T.#, Zhou, J., Dong, L., Lo, T. W. B., Li, B., He, X., Ji, H. “Modulation of the Cobalt Species State on Zincosilicate to Maximize Propane Dehydrogenation to Propylene.” Chinese J. Catal., 2024, 66, 168–180.

8. Zhu, C.#, Li, W.#, Chen, T.#, He, Z., Villalobos, E., Marini, C., Zhou, J., Woon Lo, B. T., Xiao, H., Liu, L. “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.

9. Chen, T.#, Yu, W.#, Wun, C. K. T., Wu, T. S., Sun, M., Day, S. J., Li, Z., Yuan, B., Wang, Y., Li, M., Wang, Z., Peng, Y. K., Yu, W. Y., Wong, K. Y., Huang, B., Liang, T., Lo, T. W. B.* “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), 8464–8473.

10. Li, Z.#, Chen, T.#, Chen, Y., Chen, X., Li, L., Kuang, S., Gao, J., Guo, Y., Lo, T. W. B., Du, J. “Improved H2O2 Photogeneration on Rb-Doped-Polymeric Carbon Nitride via Enhanced O2 Adsorption.” J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023, 11(11), 5925–5936.

11. Xue, Q.#, Wun, C. K. T.#, Chen, T.#, Kawaguchi, S., Day, S., Tang, C., Wu, T.-S., Soo, Y.-L., Lin, C., Peng, Y.-K., Yin, J., Lo, T. W. B. “Controlled Synthesis of Cu,Fe Dual-Atom Catalysts Restrained on Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient O2 Activation.” J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023, 11(26), 14204–14212.

12. Chen, T.#, Wang, Y.#, Xue, Q., Wun, C. K. T., So, P. K., Yung, K. F., Wu, T.-S., Soo, Y.-L., Taniya, K., Day, S., Tang, C. C., Li, Z., Huang, B., Tsang, S. C. E., Wong, K. Y., Lo, T. W. B.* “Atomically Precise Bimetallic Metal Ensembles with Tailorable Synergistic Effects.” Cell Reports Phys. Sci., 2022, 3(4), 100850.

13. Wun, C. K. T.#, Mok, H. K.#, Chen, T.#, Wu, T. S., Taniya, K., Nakagawa, K., Day, S., Tang, C. C., Huang, Z., Su, H., Yu, W. Y., Lee, T. K. W., Lo, T. W. B. “Atomically Dispersed 3d Metal Bimetallic Dual-Atom Catalysts and Classification of the Structural Descriptors.” Chem Catal., 2022, 2(9), 2346–2363.

14. Lu, Y.#, Chen, T.#, Xiao, X., Huang, N., Dou, Y., Wei, W., Zhang, Z., Lo, T. W. B., Liang, T. “Copper Dual-Atom Catalyst Mediated C3-H Amination of Indoles at Room Temperature.” Catal. Sci. Technol., 2022, 12(17), 5390–5396.

15. Chen, T., Ye, L., Lo, T. W. B.* “Designing the Electronic and Geometric Structures of Single-Atom and Nanocluster Catalysts.” J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9(35), 18773–18784.

16. Chen, T., Huang, B., Day, S., Tang, C. C., Tsang, S. C. E., Wong, K. Y., Lo, T. W. B.* “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.

17. Chen, T., Wun, C. K. T., Day, S. J., Tang, C. C., Lo, T. W. B.* “Enantiospecificity in Achiral Zeolites for Asymmetric Catalysis.” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22(34), 18757–18764.

18. Chen, T., Xue, Q., Leung, K., Lo, B. T. W.* “Recent Advances of Precise Cu Nanoclusters in Microporous Materials.” Chem. Asian J., 2020, 15(12), 1819–1828.

19. Chen, T., Chen, C., Liu, Q., Zhang, Z., Fang, X.* “A One-Step Process for Preparing a Phenyl-Modified g-C3N4 Green Phosphor with a High Quantum Yield.” RSC Adv., 2017, 7(81), 51702–51710.

II. Collaborative Publications (26/45)

1. He, F., Lopez-Haro, M., Chen, T., Marini, C., Dou, X., Wang, Q.-M., Liu, L. “A Gold Catalyst Stabilized in an Open-Porosity TS-1 Zeolite for the Direct Epoxidation of Propylene.” Nat. Synth., 2026.

2. He, Z., Li, W., Chen, T., Marini, C., Lopez Haro, M., Xiao, H., Liu, L. “Managing the Atom Migration in Zeolite-Encapsulated K–Pt–Sn Clusters for Non-Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane.” Nat. Catal., 2026.

3. Feng, Y., Wang, H., Chen, T., Gao, M., He, Z., Yuan, G., Liu, L. “Shape-Selective Conversion of High-Density Polyethylene into Benzene with Zeolite-Encapsulated Subnanometer Pt Catalysts.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2026, 148(11), 11503–11514.

4. Lin, Y., Hou, Z., Yu, T., Lin, M., Fu, G., Chen, T., Li, L., Zhu, Z., Chen, X. “Skeleton Editing of Benzothiazoles to Spiro[Benzothiazole-n-Alkanes] by Carbon-to-Carbon Single-Atom Swapping.” J. Org. Chem., 2025, 90(11), 3877–3887.

5. Liu, Q., Cheng, H., Wun, C. K. T., Chen, T., Lo, T. W. B., Wang, F. “Oxygen-Tolerant Photocatalytic Conversion of Simulated Flue Gas to Ethylene.” Chem, 2025, 11(5), 102391.

6. Dou, X., Yan, T., Li, W., Zhu, C., Chen, T., Lo, B. T. W., Marini, C., Xiao, H., Liu, L. “Structure–Reactivity Relationship of Zeolite-Confined Rh Catalysts for Hydroformylation of Linear α-Olefins.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2025, 147(3), 2726–2736.

7. Li, Y., Li, X., Zhang, H., He, J., Su, K., Chen, T., Zhang, R., Xu, H., Wu, Y., Yang, W., Liu, L. “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., 2025, 15(2), 623–638.

8. Zhang, J., Ding, H., Hui, H., Yao, Q., Feng, W., Chen, T., Lo, T. W. B., Ren, Y., Ye, L., Yue, B., He, H. “Confined Cu Single Sites in ZSM-5 for Photocatalytic Hydroxylation of Benzene to Phenol.” Small, 2024, 20(49), 2405150.

9. Wun, C. K. T., Wang, Z., Kawaguchi, S., Kobayashi, S., Wu, T.-S., Chen, T., Lin, C., Tang, C. C., Yin, J., Lo, T. W. B. “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.

10. Feng, Y., Wang, H., Chen, T., Lopez-Haro, M., He, F., He, Z., Marini, C., Lo, B. T. W., Liu, L. “Water-Promoted Oxidative Coupling of Aromatics with Subnanometer Palladium Clusters Confined in Zeolites.” Nat. Commun., 2024, 15(1), 9373.

11. Huang, J., Fu, J., Yuan, B., Xia, H., Chen, T., Lang, Y., Liu, H., Ren, Z., Liang, Q., Liu, K., Guan, Z., Zou, G., Chandran, H. T., Lo, T. W. B., Lu, X., Lee, C.-S., Yip, H.-L., Peng, Y.-K., Li, G. “19.5% Inverted Organic Photovoltaic with Record Long-Lifetime via Multifunctional Interface Engineering Featuring Radical Scavenger.” Nat. Commun., 2024, 15(1), 10565.

12. Zhang, S., Zhao, C., Reyes, Y. I. A., Xiong, P., Chen, T., Cheng, T., Yi, X., Chou, S.-W., Chien, C.-Y., Yang, Y.-Y., Chen, J. L., Lo, T. W. B., Li, M. M. J., Chen, H. Y. T., Zheng, A., Peng, Y.-K. “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.

13. Liang, B., Cai, X., Liu, J. Y., Huang, J., Chen, Y., Deng, H., Zhou, Q., Chen, T., Chen, X., Zhu, Z. “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.

14. Chen, X., Shi, J., Lin, Y., Li, Y., Jiang, S., Chen, T., Zhu, Z., Ma, A. “Direct Synthesis of N-Alkyl-2-Pyridones Using 2-Halogenated Pyridines.” European J. Org. Chem., 2024, 27(6), e202301184.

15. Xu, S., Zhu, Z., Yang, Z., Mai, Z., Chen, T., Ma, A., Chen, X. “Ring-Opening-Recombination Strategy Based on 2-Methylbenzothiazole Salts: Syntheses of Thiazinopyrrole Fused-Ring Derivatives.” Adv. Synth. Catal., 2023, 365(22), 3819–3823.

16. Liu, H., Zhou, J., Chen, T., Hu, P., Xiong, C., Sun, Q., Chen, S., Lo, T. W. B., Ji, H. “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.

17. Ying, B., Fitzpatrick, J. R., Teng, Z., Chen, T., Lo, T. W. B., Siozios, V., Murray, C. A., Brand, H. E. A., Day, S., Tang, C. C., Weatherup, R. S., Merz, M., Nagel, P., Schuppler, S., Winter, M., Kleiner, K. “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.

18. Fan, Y., Xu, S., Cai, X., Hou, Z., Chen, T., Fu, G., Zhu, Z., Chen, X. “Bifunctionalization of Styrene through Ring-Opening-Recombination Strategy of Phenylpropathiazole Salt.” Org. Biomol. Chem., 2023, 21(37), 7593–7596.

19. Liu, Q., Cheng, H., Chen, T., Lo, T. W. B., Xiang, Z., Wang, F. “Regulating the *OCCHO Intermediate Pathway towards Highly Selective Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction to CH3CHO over Locally Crystallized Carbon Nitride.” Energy Environ. Sci., 2022, 15(1), 225–233.

20. Xie, Y., Ou, P., Wang, X., Xu, Z., Li, Y. C., Wang, Z., Huang, J. E., Wicks, J., McCallum, C., Wang, N., Wang, Y., Chen, T., Lo, B. T. W., Sinton, D., Yu, J. C., Wang, Y., Sargent, E. H. “High Carbon Utilization in CO2 Reduction to Multi-Carbon Products in Acidic Media.” Nat. Catal., 2022, 5(6), 564–570.

21. Liu, Q., Cheng, H., Chen, T., Lo, T. W. B., Ma, J., Ling, A., Wang, F. “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.

22. Xue, Q., Chan, K. H., Yim, C. K., Ng, B. K. Y., Chen, T., Day, S. J., Tang, C., Kawaguchi, S., Wong, K.-Y., Lo, T. W. B. “Guest-Anion-Induced Rotation-Restricted Emission in UiO-66-NH2 and Advanced Structure Elucidation.” Chem. Mater., 2021, 33(13), 5422–5429.

23. Duan, X., Chen, T., Chen, T., Huang, L., Ye, L., Lo, B. T. W., Yuan, Y., Tsang, S. C. E. “Intercalating Lithium into the Lattice of Silver Nanoparticles Boosts Catalytic Hydrogenation of Carbon-Oxygen Bonds.” Chem. Sci., 2021, 12(25), 8791–8802.

24. Liu, Q., Chen, T., Guo, Y., Zhang, Z., Fang, X. “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.

25. Liu, Q., Chen, T., Guo, Y., Zhang, Z., Fang, X. “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.

26. Guo, Y., Chen, T., Liu, Q., Zhang, Z., Fang, X. “Insight into the Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Potassium and Iodine Codoped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts.” J. Phys. Chem. C, 2016, 120(44), 25328–25337.

🏆 Honors and Awards

• 2022/23 FS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

🎤 Invited Talks

1. Invited talk - 2026 International Forum on Carbon Neutrality and Catalysis, Wuhan, China

2. Invited talk - 2025 1st global Overseas Young Chinese Top Talent Forum, Namur, Belgium

📊 Academic Meetings & Conferences

• 2025 1st global Overseas Young Chinese Top Talent Forum
• 2022 5th Annual UK Porous Materials Conference
• 2022 UK Catalysis Hub Summer Conference
• 2021 ACS Publications Symposium — Hong Kong: The Power of Chemical Transformations
• 2020 27th Symposium on Chemistry Postgraduate Research in Hong Kong

💰 Funding and Beamtime

Research Grants

– PolyU start-up fund (2025/26)

🛠️ Expertise

Synchrotron Techniques

• X-ray & Neutron Diffraction — Structural elucidation using TOPAS refinement
• X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy — XANES & EXAFS analysis (Athena & Artemis)
• Total-Scattering Analysis — PDF analysis using PDFgui

Catalysis & Materials

• Atomically precise metal cluster synthesis and characterization
• Zeolite-supported catalyst design and optimization
• Operando synchrotron spectroscopy and diffraction
• Structure-activity relationship elucidation