Tianxiang Chen（陈天翔）

Tianxiang Chen（陈天翔）

Chen Tianxiang Research Assistant Professor Mail: txchen@polyu.edu.hk, tianxiangchen1993@gmail.com Tel: 852-5261 3893 Web: https://tianxiangchen1993.github.io/  Education and work experiences Post-doc Research Fellow, Oct. 2022 ‐ present The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong), Prof. Lo Tsz Woon Benedict PhD, Chemistry, Sep. 2019 – Oct. 2022 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong), Prof. Lo Tsz Woon Benedict Visiting PhD student, Chemistry, Apr. 2022 – Aug. 2022 University of Manchester (United Kingdom), Prof. Yang Sihai Research Assistant, May 2018 – Apr. 2019 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong), Prof. Lo Tsz Woon Benedict M.E., Chemical Engineering, Sep.2015 ‐ May. 2018 South China University of Technology (China), Prof. Fang Xiaoming B.S., Applied Chemistry, Sep. 2011 ‐ July 2015 Guangxi University (China), Prof. Li Bin  Research interest 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 with atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS), enabling the tracking of electronic-structural dynamics and host-guest synergies under operando conditions. Research Achievement

  1. Postdoctoral period, Oct. 2022- present, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Supervisor: Dr. Lo Tsz Woon Benedict. Project 1: Atomic-precise supported metal clusters for industrial reactions Standing based on my previous work during my PhD, I am further expanding the application of atomically precise metal cluster catalysts for industrial reactions, and the work I am currently working on is as follows: a. Cox@MFI for ethane dehydrogenation. In this work, we proposed a ligand-mediated strategy for controlling the dispersion of sub-nanometer Co clusters. Highly dispersed Co clusters achieved excellent intrinsic activity of 350.2 molC2H4 molCo h-1 in the ethane dehydrogenation reaction. Moreover, the as-prepared Cox@MFI demonstrates ultra-stability, which remains 95% selectivity of ethene after 9 reaction cycles. (Collaborator: Tsinghua University, Prof. Liu Lichen) Manuscript in preparation b. Dual-atom Cu-Co@ZSM-5 for efficient deNOx reaction. In this work, we aim to explore the potential application of dual-atom Cu-Co@ZSM-5 for efficient deNOx reaction. Thanks to the synergistic interaction between heteronuclear atoms, the as-prepared dual-atom Cu-Co@ZSM-5 exhibits superior catalytic reactivity and stability than the commercial Cu-CHA zeolitic catalyst. Under investigation Project 2: Supported Dual-atom for C-X bond construction c. Dual-atom Cu2-USY for denitrative coupling reactions. The main novelties are: (1) mild catalytic conditions, low catalyst dosage (~1 mg) and cyclability, (2) a wide scope of substrates, and a series of C-X couplings can be catalyzed. (Co-investigation with Dr. Liang Taoyuan from Guangxi University) Manuscript in preparation
  2. PhD period, Sep. 2020- Oct. 2022, PolyU Supervisor: Dr. Lo Tsz Woon Benedict and Prof. Yu Wing-yiu Project 1: XRD techniques in the characterisation of porous materials A combined synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetric technique was used to characterise the differential adsorption behaviour of chiral L- and D-lysine on non-chiral MFI zeolites. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2020, 59(3), 1093-1097. Project 2: Controlled assembly of atomically supported metal clusters in zeolites During my PhD, I mainly developed a ligand-mediated modular assembly strategy to achieve the precise assembly of Cu-based cluster catalysts with accurate nucleation in zeolite channels. The main results of the work are as follows: a. Atomically precise bimetallic catalysts with customisable synergistic effects. The first example in molecular assembly strategy for the synthesis of ligand-mediated Cu-based multinuclear cluster catalysts was reported, and (2) a multimodal characterization strategy for determining the nuclearity, metal composition, and spatial distribution of cluster catalysts was developed. Cell Reports Physical Science, 2022, 3(4), 100850 (first author). Chem Catalysis, 2022, 2(9), 2346-2363 (co-first author). b. Cu–Co Dual-Atom Catalysts Supported on Hierarchical USY Zeolites for an Efficient Cross-Dehydrogenative C(sp2)–N Coupling Reaction. The catalytic mechanism of “co-adsorption-co-activation” of Cu-Co dual-atom catalysts in cross-dehydrogenation coupling (CDC) reactions was revealed from a molecular perspective. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2023, 145(15), 8464-8473 (first author). c. Developing atomically precise trinuclear metal nanoclusters and classifying two degrees of isolation structural descriptors. The first example of metal-metal bond-mediated trinuclear metal cluster catalysts in genome engineering was reported. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025. (online, first author). d. Cu-Al/ZSM-5 for highly efficient electrocatalytic nitrate reduction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example in zeolite-supported Cu-Al dual-atom catalysts for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction, high reactivity (2.76 mol gcat-1 h-1 cm-2) and high Faradaic efficiency (>99%) were achieved. A concerted electron-proton transfer mechanism was revealed among the Cu-Brønsted acid sites(BAS) pair. Collaborated with Prof. Yang Sihai from the University of Manchester and the Peaking University, manuscript submitted to Advanced Functional Materials (co-first author) Project 3: Unravelling the nitrogen radical isomerisation process on 2D copper-imidazole frameworks under photo-irradiation. We have observed for the first time a light-induced rearrangement of nitrogen radicals on a two-dimensional Cu-imidazole material. Manuscript in preparation. Besides, I also provide characterisation support to other research teams at home and abroad, such as Synchrotron XRD refinement for structural analysis of MOF, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) data processing (XANES and EXAFS), and synchrotron scattering techniques for structural analysis of carbon nitride materials. See the list of publications.  List of publications (co-first#) First and corresponding() author (18/42) (1) 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.. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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), 8273–8734. (5) 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. (6) Fu, G.; Li, Y.; Hou, Z.; Wang, S.; Jiang, S.; Chen, T.; Benedict Lo, T. W.; Chen, X.* Diatomic Cobalt–Catalyzed Cyclization of o-Aminobenzyl Alcohol with Amidine for the Synthesis of Quinazolines. J. Catal. 2025, 442, 115889. (7) 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. (8) 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. (9) 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. (10) 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. (11) Chen, T.; Chen, C.; Liu, Q.; Zhang, Z.; Fang, X. 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. (12) 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. (13) 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. (11) 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. (14) 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. (15) 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 O 2 Activation. J. Mater. Chem. A 2023, 11 (26), 14204–14212. (16) 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 and Stability on Rational Tailored Polymeric Carbon Nitride via Enhanced O2 Adsorption. J. Mater. Chem. A 2022, 10 (28), 15051–15061. (17) 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. (18) 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.

Collaborations (24/42) (19) 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, 102391. (20) 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. (21) 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. (22) 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. 2024, 623–638. (23) 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, 2405150. (24) 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. (25) 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. (26) 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. (27) 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. 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. (28) Liang, B.; Cai, X.; Liu, J.; Huang, J.; Chen, Y.; Deng, H.; Zhou, Q.; Chen, T.; Chen, X.; Zhu, Z. 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. (29) 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. (30) 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. (31) 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. (32) 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. (33) 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. (34) 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. (35) Liu, Q.; Cheng, H.; Chen, T.; Lo, T. W. B.; Xiang, Z.; Wang, F. 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. (36) 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. (37) 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. (38) 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. (39) 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. (40) 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. (41) 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. (42) 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.  ACADEMIC MEETING

  1. Chen, T. et al; 2022, 5th Annual UK Porous Materials Conference.
  2. Chen, T. et al; 2022, UK Catalysis Hub Summer Conference.
  3. Chen, T. et al; 2021, ACS Publications Symposium - Hong Kong The Power of Chemical Transformations.
  4. Chen, T. et al; 2020, The 27th Symposium on Chemistry Postgraduate Research in Hong Kong.  EXPERTISE Synchrotron X-ray and Neutron diffraction (Structural elucidation using TOPAS) X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS, XANES and EXAFS) (Athena and Artemis) Total-scattering analysis (Pair-distribution function analysis using PDFgui)  Award FS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award 2022/23 at PolyU