Education Background

2012.09 – 2020.01 Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, China.

2016.09 – 2018.09 Joint Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science, Arizona State University, Unites States.

2008.09 – 2012.06 B.S. in Material Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, China.

2008.09 – 2012.06 B.S. minor major in English, East China University of Science and Technology, China.

Working Experiences

2020.06 – 2026.01  Postdoctor, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian

Awards and Honors：

2018 Best Poster Award Nominee of 2018 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit, Phoenix, USA

2018 Micromeritics Best Poster Award of 2018 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit, Phoenix, USA

Research Interests

1.Advanced Heterogeneous Catalysts for Better Catalysis

Design and synthesis of well-defined supports with abundant surface defects and/or high surface-area 2D materials. Develop methods to disperse and stabilize metal species (including single atoms, clusters and nanoparticles) on the supports for better catalysis.

2. Energy Conversion and Storage

Transformation of small molecules including CO₂, CH₄, ethane and propane etc. into energy carriers and intermediates with tailored catalysts.

Publications

15. Mingxia Xu#, Yiran Kang#, Leilei Wang, Yunlong Zhang, Guang Jiang, Yafeng Cai, Yunchuan Tu, Qiao Zhao, Jun Chi, Wei Song, Hongmei Yu, Jingting Hu, Wei Liu, Rui Huang, Liang Yu*, Junling Lu*, Xinhe Bao, Dehui Deng*

Enriched asymmetric π electrons confining single-site Pt for acidic hydrogen evolution

Joule 2025, 9, 101968

DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2025.101968

14. Wenqiang Yang#, Huan Liu#, Xiaoxia Chang, Yunlong Zhang, Yafeng Cai, Yifan Li, Yi Cui, Bingjun Xu, Liang Yu*, Xiaoju Cui*, Dehui Deng*

Electrosynthesis of NH₃ from NO with ampere-level current density in a pressurized electrolyzer

Nature Communications 2025, 16, 1257

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56548-9

13. Mingxia Xu#, Qiming Bing#, Yunchuan Tu#, Yunlong Zhang, Mo Zhang, Yafeng Cai, Jinlei Li, Xianguang Meng, Jia Zhu, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*

Full-spectrum light-harvesting solar thermal electrocatalyst boosts oxygen evolution

Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202412049

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202412049

12. Jingting Hu, Yafeng Cai, Jinghao Xie, Deshan Hou, Liang Yu, Dehui Deng*

Selectivity control in CO₂ hydrogenation to one-carbon products

Chem 2024, 10, 1084-1117

DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.02.017

11. Yao Song#, Xiao Yang#, Huan Liu#, Suxia Liang, Yafeng Cai, Wenqiang Yang, Kaixin Zhu, Liang Yu*, Xiaoju Cui*, Dehui Deng*

High-pressure electro-Fenton driving CH₄ conversion by O₂ at room temperature

Journal of the American Chemical Society 2024, 146, 5834-5842

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10825

10. Jinchang Fan, Yunlong Zhang, Wei Liu, Mingrun Li, Yafeng Cai, Qinqin Ji, Zhenchao Zhao, Guangjin Hou, Aowen Li, Wu Zhou, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*

Ligand-confined two-dimensional rhodium hydride boosts hydrogen evolution

Matter 2023, 6, 3877-3888

DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2023.09.003

9. Zhao Chen#, Yao Song#, Zhenyu Zhang*, Yafeng Cai, Huan Liu, Wenxiang Xie, Dehui Deng*

Mechanically induced Cu active sites for selective C-C coupling in CO₂ electroreduction

Journal of Energy Chemistry 2022, 74, 198-202

DOI: 10.1016/j.jechem.2022.07.011

8. Yafeng Cai, Yun Guo*, Jingyue Liu*

Geometric Effect of Au Nanoclusters on Room Temperature CO Oxidation

Chemical Communications 2020, 56, 876

DOI: 10.1039/C9CC08381B

7. Yafeng Cai, Jia Xu, Yun Guo*, Jingyue Liu*

Ultrathin, Polycrystalline, Two-Dimensional Co₃O₄ for Low-Temperature CO Oxidation

ACS Catalysis 2019, 9, 2558

DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.8b04064

6. Yafeng Cai, Li Wang, Wangcheng Zhan, Yanglong Guo, Yun Guo*

Surface Pits Stabilized Au Catalyst for Low-temperature CO Oxidation

Rare Metals, Accepted

5. Yang Lou⁺, Yafeng Cai⁺, Wendu Hu⁺, Li Wang, Qiguang Dai, Wangcheng Zhan, Yanglong Guo, P. Hu Xiaoming Cao*, Jingyue Liu*, Yun Guo*. 

Identification of Active Area as Active Center for CO Oxidation over Single Au Atom Catalyst

ACS Catalysis, 2020, 10, 6094

DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c01303

4. Jian Ma, Yang Lou, Yafeng Cai, Zhenyang Zhao, Li Wang*, Wangcheng Zhan, Yanglong Guo, Yun Guo*

The Relationship between the Chemical State of Pd Species and the Catalytic Activity for Methane Combustion on Pd/CeO₂

Catalysis Science & Technology  2018, 8, 2567

DOI: 10.1039/c8cy00208h

3. Li Wang, Chunhua Pu, Lele Xu, Yafeng Cai, Yanglong Guo, Yun Guo*, Guanzhong Lu

Effect of Supports over Pd/Fe₂O₃ on CO Oxidation at Low Temperature

Fuel Processing Technology 2017, 160, 152

DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2017.02.037

2. Yanhui Zhang, Yafeng Cai, Yun Guo*, Haifeng Wang, Li Wang*, Yang Lou, Yanglong Guo, Guanzhong Lu, Yanqin Wang

The Effects of the Pd Chemical State on the Activity of Pd/Al₂O₃ Catalysts in CO Oxidation

Catalysis Science & Technology 2014, 4, 3973

DOI: 10.1039/c8cy00208h

1. Yang Lou, Jian Ma, Xiaoming Cao, Li Wang, Qiguang Dai, Zhenyang Zhao, Yafeng Cai, Wangcheng Zhan, Yanglong Guo, P. Hu, Guanzhong Lu*, Yun Guo*

Promoting Effects of In₂O₃ on Co₃O₄ for CO Oxidation: Tuning O₂ Activation and CO Adsorption Strength Simultaneously

ACS Catalysis 2014, 4, 4143

DOI: 10.1021/cs501049r