Research Interests

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) conversion to value-added chemicals

CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere via the combustion of fossil fuels and from many industrial processes pollute the environment, causing the earth to heat up which results in global warming. The reduction of CO₂ to economically relevant products represents an eco-friendly and green route toward value-added CO₂ emissions mitigation. In this theme, we focus on the heterogeneous catalytic conversion of CO₂ (by hydrogenation) into liquid fuels and chemicals in high demand for a variety of applications.

• Oxidation of pollutants in air

Oxidation of molecules at low temperatures is an effective technique for controlling gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere and for synthesizing chemical feedstocks. We focus on the oxidative removal of pollutants such as  CO and VOCs from the environment.

• Wastewater treatment

Wastewater treatment is crucial to ensure that water is clean, safe to use, and protective of ecosystems. We focus on developing photoactive materials for efficient water purification and in-situ membrane fouling control. The optimum delivery and utilization of light in photocatalytic membrane reactors treating high-strength industrial wastewater is our key point. We also strive to decipher molecular transformations under such conditions to better under the fouling mechanism, thereby implementing effective control measures.