- Y849
- +852 3400 8696
- lawrence.ys.lee@polyu.edu.hk
ORCID ID
SCOPUS IDResearch Overview
Our research focuses on the creation and mechanistic investigation of innovative nanomaterials and nanocomposites for sustainable energy applications, harnessing advanced characterization techniques to accelerate the development of efficient, durable photo- and electrocatalysts and energy storage systems crucial for the global transition to green energy. Key (photo)electrochemical reactions include hydrogen evolution (HER), oxygen evolution (OER), oxygen reduction (ORR), carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR), and nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR), all vital for advancing renewable energy technologies.
Research Interests
Education and Academic Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, McGill University, Canada
Achievements
- World’s Top 2% Scientists in Nanoscience & Nanotechnology by Stanford University (2024)
- L. Y. S. Lee, M. Liu. Method of preparing an electrocatalyst. US Patent: US-2024-0067524-A1 (2024)
- Ye, X.; Fei, X.; Liu, M.; Gao, H.; Qiu, B.; Yin, H.; Zhang, Z.; Lee, L. Y. S. Laser-Induced Regeneration of Spent LiMn2O4 Cathode Into High-Performance Ni-Doped LiMn2O4 Cathode. Advanced Materials 2025, 37, 2416537. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202416537
- Li, Z.; Tao, W.; Wang, Y.; Ye, X.; Chen, Y.; Han, B.; Lee, L. Y. S. Corrosion-Resistant MoO3/Fe2O3/MoS2 Heterojunctions Stabilize OH- Adsorption for Efficient Light-Assisted Seawater Electrooxidation. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2025, 147. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c04085
- Chen, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Li, Z.; Feng, B.; Li, M.; Wu, Q.; Hu, Z.; Lee, L. Y. S. Harnessing Interfacial Cl− Ions for Concurrent Formate Production at Industrial Level via CO2 Reduction and Methanol Oxidation. Advanced Functional Materials 2025, n/a, 2505074. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202505074
- Wang, Y.; Paidi, V. K.; Wang, W.; Wang, Y.; Jia, G.; Yan, T.; Cui, X.; Cai, S.; Zhao, J.; Lee, K.-S.; Lee, L. Y. S.; Wong, K.-Y. Spatial engineering of single-atom Fe adjacent to Cu-assisted nanozymes for biomimetic O2 activation. Nature Communications 2024, 15, 2239. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46528-w
- Qiu, B.; Liu, M.; Qu, X.; Zhou, F.; Xie, H.; Wang, D.; Lee, L. Y. S.; Yin, H. Waste plastics upcycled for high-efficiency H2O2 production and lithium recovery via Ni-Co/carbon nanotubes composites. Nature Communications 2024, 15, 6473. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50679-1
- Li, Z.; Li, M.; Chen, Y.; Ye, X.; Liu, M.; Lee, L. Y. S. Upcycling of Spent LiFePO4 Cathodes to Heterostructured Electrocatalysts for Stable Direct Seawater Splitting. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202410396. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202410396
- Chen, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Li, Z.; Liu, M.; Wu, Q.; Lo, T. W. B.; Hu, Z.; Lee, L. Y. S. Amphipathic Surfactant on Reconstructed Bismuth Enables Industrial-Level Electroreduction of CO2 to Formate. ACS Nano 2024, 18, 19345–19353. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c06019
- Liu, M.; Yang, T.-C.; Pan, Z.; Lee, J.; An, L.; Qiu, B.; Yin, H.; Yang, C.-M.; Lee, L. Y. S. Bridging Li-Ion Batteries and Fuel Cells: From Cathode Leaching Residue to an Atomic-Scale Catalytic System. ACS Energy Letters 2023, 8, 1652–1661. DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.3c00109
- Liu, M.; Chun, H.; Yang, T.-C.; Hong, S. J.; Yang, C.-M.; Han, B.; Lee, L. Y. S. Tuning the Site-to-Site Interaction in Ru–M (M = Co, Fe, Ni) Diatomic Electrocatalysts to Climb up the Volcano Plot of Oxygen Electroreduction. ACS Nano 2022, 16, 10657–10666. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02324
- Zheng, W.; Lee, L. Y. S. Metal–Organic Frameworks for Electrocatalysis: Catalyst or Precatalyst? ACS Energy Letters 2021, 6, 2838–2843. DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.1c01350
- Y. Li, W. Zheng, and L. Y. S. Lee,* Functionalized Covalent Organic Frameworks for Improved Energy Applications. Chapter in Covalent Organic Frameworks: Chemistry, Properties, and Energy Applications for Sustainable Future (Eds. T. A. Nguyen, R. K. Gupta), CRC Press, 2022, Ch5.
- W. Zheng, Y. Li, and L. Y. S. Lee,* Earth-Abundant Metal-Based Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Water Splitting. Chapter in Functional Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (Eds. W.-Y. Wong and Q. Dong), Wiley-VCH, 2022, 1-39.
- Zhang, C.-S. Tsang, and L. Y. S. Lee*, Nanostructured Semiconductors for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction. Chapter in Handbook of Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications. (Ed. O. V. Kharissova, L. M. T. Martínez, B. I. Kharisov), Springer, 2020, 1-36.
- Liu, W. Zheng, L. Y. S. Lee*, and K.-Y. Wong, Highly-Efficient Electrocatalytic Water Splitting: Rational Design of Catalyst and Research Progress. Chapter in Handbook of Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications. (Ed. O. V. Kharissova, L. M. T. Martínez, B. I. Kharisov), Springer, 2020, 1-33.
- L. Y. S. Lee* and K.-Y. Wong, Recent Development in Water Oxidation Catalysts Based on Manganese and Cobalt Complexes. Chapter 13 in Organometallics and Related Molecules for Energy Conversion (Ed. W.-Y. Wong), Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2015, 365-394.
