His research spans multiple disciplines, including environmental science, chemistry, energy, materials, and electronics, to develop efficient heterojunction catalysts and composite fiber fabrics. The research work addresses cutting-edge challenges in the environment and energy sectors, specifically covering green hydrogen production, advanced oxidation processes for treating antibiotic and heavy metal wastewater, flexible fiber sensors for wearable devices, and photocatalytic textiles for ecological environment management, among others.
Key research achievements in recent years include the following:
(1) Water Splitting for Hydrogen Production Technology (Focusing on the R&D of green hydrogen production technology based on seawater, encompassing photocatalytic, PEM electrocatalytic, and photothermal catalytic hydrogen production pathways):
1. He, Z.; Kim, C.; Lin, L.H.; Jeon, T.H.; Lin, S.; Wang, X.C.; Choi, W. Formation of heterostructures via direct growth CN on h-BN porous nanosheets for metal-free photocatalysis. Nano Energy 2017, 42, 58-68.
2. He, Z.; Kim, C.; Jeon, T.H.; Choi, W. Hydrogenated heterojunction of boron nitride and titania enables the photocatalytic generation of H2 in the absence of noble metal catalysts. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 2018, 237, 772-782.
3. Xiao, L.H.; Li, X.; Zhang, J.; He, Z.L. MgB4 MXene-like nanosheets for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. ACS Applied Nano Materials 2021, 4, 12779-12787.
4. Li, X.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, S.J.; Xu, S.S.; Wu, X.G.; Chang, J.C.; He, Z.L. Hexagonal boron nitride composite photocatalysts for hydrogen production. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 2021, 864, 158153.
5. Dai, M.; He, Z.; Zhang, P.; Li, X.; Wang, S. ZnWO4-ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution. Journal of Materials Science & Technology 2022, 122, 231-242.6. Cao, W.R.; He, Z.L.; Dai, M.; Wang, G.Z.; Huang, G.H.; Wang, S.G. Electronic structure modulation of bimetallic sulfides for efficient sacrificial-agent-free photocatalytic H2 evolution. ACS Applied Energy Materials 2023, 6, 4715-4723.
7. Dai, M.; He, Z.; Cao, W.; Zhang, J.; Chen, W.; Jin, Q.; Que, W.; Wang, S. Rational construction of S-scheme BN/MXene/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction with interface engineering for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production and chlorophenols degradation. Separation and Purification Technology 2023, 309, 123004.
(2) Photocatalytic Advanced Oxidation Water Treatment Technology (Primarily including photocatalytic treatment of antibiotic wastewater, organic industrial wastewater, and wastewater containing heavy metals):
1. He, Z.; Zhang, J.; Li, X.; Guan, S.; Dai, M.; Wang, S. 1D/2D heterostructured photocatalysts: From design and unique properties to their environmental applications. Small 2020, 16, 2005051.
2. Zhang, S.J.; He, Z.L.; Xu, S.S.; Li, X.; Zhang, J.; Zhan, X.P.; Dai, M.; Wang, S.G. In situ liquid-phase growth strategies of g-C3N4 solar-driven heterogeneous catalysts for environmental applications. Solar RRL 2021, 5, 2100233.
3. Yu, H.; Xu, S.; Zhang, S.; Wang, S.; He, Z. In-situ construction of core–shell structured TiB2-TiO2@g-C3N4 for efficient photocatalytic degradation. Applied Surface Science 2022, 579, 152201.
4. Dai, M.; Yu, H.; Chen, W.; Qu, K.-A.; Zhai, D.; Liu, C.; Zhao, S.; Wang, S.; He, Z. Boosting photocatalytic activity of CdLa2S4/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunctions with spatial separation of photoexcited carries. Chemical Engineering Journal 2023, 470, 144240.
5. Jin, Q.; Zheng, Z.; Feng, Y.; Tian, S.; He, Z. Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified NiCo2S4 for the Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium. C-Journal of Carbon 2023, 9, 99.
6. Chen, W.; Dai, M.; Xiang, L.; Zhao, S.; Wang, S.; He, Z. Assembling S-scheme heterojunction between basic bismuth nitrate and bismuth tungstate with promoting charges' separation for accelerated photocatalytic sulfamethazine degradation. Journal of Materials Science & Technology 2024, 171, 185-197.
7. Feng, Y.X.; Yu, H.J.; Lu, T.G.; Zheng, Z.Y.; Tian, S.; Xiang, L.; Zhao, S.; Wang, S.G.; He, Z.L. Synergistic Cu single-atoms and clusters on tubular carbon nitride for efficient photocatalytic performances. Rare Metals 2024, 43, 5891-5904.
(3) Heterojunction Catalyst Design (Constructing heterojunction catalysts with special crystal structures, energy band structures, and micro-morphologies, focusing on component interactions, charge transport and separation, catalytic reaction mechanisms, etc.):
1. He, Z.; Zhang, J.; Li, X.; Guan, S.; Dai, M.; Wang, S. 1D/2D heterostructured photocatalysts: From design and unique properties to their environmental applications. Small 2020, 16, 2005051.
2. Zhang, J.; Dai, M.; Zhang, S.; Dai, M.; Zhang, P.; Wang, S.; He, Z. Recent Progress on Carbon‐Nanotube‐Based Materials for Photocatalytic Applications: A Review. Solar RRL 2022, 6, 2200243.
3. Dai, M.; He, Z.; Cao, W.; Zhang, J.; Chen, W.; Jin, Q.; Que, W.; Wang, S. Rational construction of S-scheme BN/MXene/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction with interface engineering for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production and chlorophenols degradation. Separation and Purification Technology 2023, 309, 123004.
4. Dai, M.; Yu, H.; Chen, W.; Qu, K.-A.; Zhai, D.; Liu, C.; Zhao, S.; Wang, S.; He, Z. Boosting photocatalytic activity of CdLa2S4/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunctions with spatial separation of photoexcited carries. Chemical Engineering Journal 2023, 470, 144240.
5. Yu, H.; Dai, M.; Zhang, J.; Chen, W.; Jin, Q.; Wang, S.; He, Z. Interface engineering in 2D/2D heterogeneous photocatalysts. Small 2023, 19, 2205767.
6. Qin, S.; Xu, R.; Jin, Q.; Wang, S.; Ren, Y.; Huang, Y.; Zheng, Z.; Xiao, L.; Zhai, D.; Wang, S.; et al. Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium by NiCo2S4/BiOBr Heterogeneous Photocatalysts. Coatings 2024, 14, 1492.
7. Ren, Y.; Huang, Y.L.; Zheng, Z.Y.; Dai, M.; Li, H.S.; Chang, J.C.; Lu, T.G.; Gu, K.; Wang, S.G.; He, Z.L. Construct a heterojunction interface to induce and complete hole-dominated cascade reaction, Small, 2025, e08444
(4) Composite Fiber Fabric Devices (Including but not limited to strain sensors, humidity sensors, photocatalytic fabrics, lithium batteries, supercapacitors, and various functional devices):
1. He, Z.; Byun, J.-H.; Zhou, G.; Park, B.-J.; Kim, T.-H.; Lee, S.-B.; Yi, J.-W.; Um, M.-K.; Chou, T.-W. Effect of MWCNT content on the mechanical and strain-sensing performance of Thermoplastic Polyurethane composite fibers. Carbon 2019, 146, 701-708.
2. He, Z.; Zhou, G.; Byun, J.H.; Lee, S.K.; Um, M.K.; Park, B.; Kim, T.; Lee, S.B.; Chou, T.W. Highly stretchable multi-walled carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyurethane composite fibers for ultrasensitive, wearable strain sensors. Nanoscale 2019, 11, 5884-5890.
3. Zhang, S.; He, Z.; Zhou, G.; Jung, B.-M.; Kim, T.-H.; Park, B.-J.; Byun, J.-H.; Chou, T.-W. High conductive free-written thermoplastic polyurethane composite fibers utilized as weight-strain sensors. Composites Science and Technology 2020, 189, 108011.
4. Qu, K.-A.; Chen, W.; Guo, J.; He, Z. A mini-review on preparation of functional composite fibers and their based devices. Coatings 2022, 12, 473.
5. Zhang, J.; Li, X.; Guo, J.; Zhou, G.H.; Xiang, L.; Wang, S.G.; He, Z.L. Novel TiO2/TPU composite fiber-based smart textiles for photocatalytic applications. Materials Advances 2022, 3, 1518–1526.
6. He, Z.; Zhou, G.; Oh, Y.; Jung, B.M.; Um, M.K.; Lee, S.K.; Song, J.I.; Byun, J.H.; Chou, T.W. Ultrafast, highly sensitive, flexible textile-based humidity sensors made of nanocomposite filaments. Materials Today Nano 2022, 18, 100214.
7. Xiao, L.; Zhang, J.; Lu, T.; Zhou, G.; Ren, Y.; Zheng, Z.; Yuan, X.; Wang, S.; He, Z. High-strength TiO2/TPU composite fiber based textiles for organic pollutant removal. NPJ Clean Water 2024, 7, 98.
(5) Photocatalytic Coupling Water Treatment Technologies (Addressing the needs of complex working-condition wastewater treatment, developing photocatalytic-adsorption, photocatalytic-membrane, photocatalytic-Fenton, photocatalytic-PMS, and other coupling technologies; and utilizing 3D printing technology to construct efficient customized reactors to optimize system mass transfer performance):
1. Tian, S.; Feng, Y.; Zheng, Z.; He, Z. TiO2-Based Photocatalytic Coatings on Glass Substrates for Environmental Applications. Coatings 2023, 13, 1472.
2. Zheng, Z.Y.; Tian, S.; Feng, Y.X.; Zhao, S.; Li, X.; Wang, S.G.; He, Z.L. Recent advances of photocatalytic coupling technologies for wastewater treatment. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 2023, 54, 88-136.
3. Feng, Y.-X.; Yu, H.-J.; Lu, T.-G.; Zheng, Z.-Y.; Tian, S.; Xiang, L.; Zhao, S.; Wang, S.-G.; He, Z.-L. Synergistic Cu single-atoms and clusters on tubular carbon nitride for efficient photocatalytic performances. Rare Metals 2024, 43, 5891-5904.
4. Xiao, L.; Zhang, S.; Cui, H.; Chang, J.; Feng, Y.; Wang, S.; He, Z. Promoted photocatalytic performances over Ti3+-B co-doped TiO2/BN with high carrier transfer and absorption capabilities driven by SWCNT addition. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing 2024, 177, 108364.
5. Qu, K.; Li, H.; Sun, J.; Wang, S.; He, Z.; Wang, S.G. Rationally designed assembled FeV3O8/g-C3N4 heterojunction improve carrier transport separation and efficiently promote the degradation of 2,4,6-TCP by photo-activated peroxymonosulfate. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing 2025, 194, 109541.
6. Xu, R.; Qin, S.; Lu, T.; Wang, S.; Chen, J.; He, Z. Engineering Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications. Catalysts 2025, 15, 947.
7. Zheng, Z.Y.; Ren, Y.; Dai, M.; Li, H.S.; Cui, H.; Wang, S.; Wang, S.G.; He, Z.L. An eco-friendly photocatalytic coupling capacitive deionization system for efficient chlorophenol wastewater treatment. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 2025, 79, 148-161.
Diligent and motivated postdoctoral researchers, doctoral candidates, master's candidates, undergraduate students, and high school students are welcome to join the research group to conduct related scientific work.
Sincere welcomes are extended to everyone to join the group and progress together in the days to come
Postdoctoral Researchers:
The research group annually recruits 2-3 postdoctoral researchers. PhDs with backgrounds in environmental science, chemistry, materials, electronics (including sensor and energy device directions), etc., are welcome to join. Specific benefits include special support, key support, or project support based on research capability. Specially supported postdocs who meet the training requirements upon completion can be transferred to faculty positions in related disciplines or participate in the selection for talent programs like the Qilu Young Scholar
PhD Candidates:
The group enrolls 1-2 PhD candidates each year. Priority is given to students with relevant research experience, diligence, motivation, and who comply with the laboratory's research planning and management. PhD admission quotas are typically confirmed around mid-December or late April each year; prospective applicants are advised to check for availability beforehand
Master's Candidates:
The group enrolls 1-2 master's candidates annually. Priority is given to diligent, motivated, hardworking students dedicated to making breakthroughs in research. A sincere welcome is extended to new members to inject fresh vitality into the research group
Graduation Requirements:
PhD Graduation Requirements:
Focus on innovation, systematicity, and completeness. Requires completion of research content for at least 4 chapters/chapters/sections (interpreted as substantial, publishable units), and publication of 2 Zone 1 papers or 4 Zone 2 papers, with at least 2 being research articles
Master's Graduation Requirements:
Primarily engaged in basic theory and applied research. Requires completion of 2 or more complete and interrelated research systems, and publication of 1 Zone 2 or above paper or 2 SCI papers, with at least 1 research article.
Our group advocates for healthy, organized research, emphasizing diligence, progress, humility, rigor, accumulating experience, and enhancing capabilities. Key principles include ensuring effective research time by completing assignments efficiently and on time, maintaining a positive research environment characterized by proactive effort, dedication, and pursuit of excellence, fostering good research literacy through persistent literature review, maintaining experimental records, and developing good habits, and promoting active communication and collaboration through discussions, cooperation, and integration into the group, with at least one weekly face-to-face discussion with the supervisor.