Academic Staff

Education and Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor, Former Hangzhou University (Zhejiang University), 1995
• Doctor of Philosophy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2000

Professional Qualifications

• Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
• Fellow: Royal Society of Chemistry, UK

Academic and Professional Experience

• Editorial Board Member,: JMCA, Mater. Adv., Energy Mater.
• Advisory board member: Green Carbon
• Associate Editor: ACS Energy Fuels
• Associate Editor: Energy Reviews
• Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Materials Reports: Energy

Awards:

• Australian Research Council (ARC) Future fellow
• Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researcher for ten years, and in three fields in 2025: Chemistry, Materials Science, and Environment and Ecology
• World sustainability award, 2026
• Changjiang Distinguished Professor

• NSFC-Distinguished Youth Scholar
• Scopus Young Researcher Award (2011) 

Research Interests

My research sits at the intersection of advanced energy materials, chemical engineering, and urban environmental sustainability. I bridge fundamental material science and applied engineering to develop scalable technologies for next-generation smart cities. My specific expertise spans three core pillars: 

• Advanced Materials: Tailored perovskite and high-entropy materials designed for next-generation energy storage and conversion devices, including solid-state Li/Na batteries, metal-air batteries, and solar cells.
• Electrocatalysis & Thermocatalysis: Performance optimization and mechanistic studies of fuel cells and electrolysis cells (SOFCs, PCFCs, PEMFCs, PEMECs, and AEMECs).
• Process Intensification for Green Fuels: Sustainable fuel production (H2), methanol, ammonia, and e-fuels) via advanced membrane reactors and joule-heating integrated membrane technologies.
• Environmental Remediation & Monitoring: Wastewater treatment, DeNOx catalysis, and advanced environmental monitoring systems.

Selective Publications

2026

(1) Interlayer proton capture and transport mechanism in oxygen electrodes boosts proton ceramic electrolysis

Meijuan Fei, Zhaohui Cai, Peng Chen, Dongliang Liu, Cheng Huang, Jianqiu Zhu, Linjuan Zhang, Wei Wang, Chuan Zhou*, Wei Zhou*, Zongping Shao*

Energy Environ. Sci. 2026, 19, 349-368

(2) Proton nanosheets-based membranes enable high-power-density protonic fuel cells

 Kaiqiang He, Yuxiang Wang, Dehua Dong, Kevin Ung, Fanmengjing n Wang, Zhuyuan   Wang, Xiwang Zhang, Shanwen Tao, Jacek J. Jasieniak, Pual A. Webley, Douglas R.  Macfarlane, Jefferson Zhe Liu*, Zongpoing Shao, Huanting Wang

Sci. Adv. 2026, 12(20), eaea1569.

(3) Highly ionic-dispersed oxygen electrode for reversible proton ceramic electrochemical cells

Xiaoyu Wang, Zhaohui Cai,  Zeping Chen, Donliang Liu, Wanqing Chen, Jianqiu Zhu,  Wenhuai Li, Xixi Wang, Linjuan Zhang, Wei Wang, Chuan Zhou*, Wei Zhou*, Zongping Shao*

Nature Commun. 2026, 17, 3989

(4)  A constricted potassium evaporation strategy for developing superior air electrode for proton conducting ceramic fuel cells

  Shuo Zhai, Senran Hao, Idris Temitope Bello, Rubao Zhao, Yufei Song, Bin Chen, Tao Liu, Zongping Shao†, Meng Ni†, Heping Xie†

Joule 2026, 102435 

(5) Operando methods for investigating high-temperature electrocatalysis

Chun-Kuo Peng, Zongping Shao*

Nature Reviews Methods Primer 24-05-2025, accepted. 

(6) Outstanding low-temperature oxide ionic conductivity in atomically engineered Aurivilliu phases

Chuanrui Huo, Shiqing Deng*, Liyang Ma, Jizhe Cui, Kun Xu, Tianyu Li, Feixiang Long, Jianghua Chen, Yimei Zhu, Rong Yu, Zongping Shao, Shi Liu, Jun Chen*

Nature Energy 2026, accepted.

2025

(7) Cation-selective defects engineering in A-site ordered layered perovskites for high-performance reversible protonic ceramic cells

Yixiao Song, Yufei Song, Yuhao Wang, Meigui Xu*, Jianrong Zeng, Mingzhuang Liang, Haitao Huang, Wei Zhou, Ran Ran, Zongping Shao*

Adv. Mater. 2025, 37(44) e11519

(8) A core-shell perovskite composite air electrode with thermal expansion offset and mechanical support functions for highly durable reversible protonic ceramic cells

 Kanghua Shi, Yufei Song, Yixiao Song, Jianrong Zeng, Mingzhuang Liang, Dongliang Liu, Baocheng Xiong, Hang Shang, Ran Ran, Wei Zhou, Meigui Xu*, Zongping Shao*

Adv. Mater. 2025, 37(27), 2419224

(9) Evolution and reconstruction of air-electrode surface composition in reversible protonic ceramic cells, mechanisms, impacts on catalytic performance, and optimization strategies - A Review

Nai Shi, Yun Xie, Moses O. Tade, Zongping Shao*

Adv. Mater. 2025, 37(11), 2416528 

(10) Operando studies redirect spatiotemporal restructuration of model coordinated oxides in electrochemical oxidation

Daqin Guan, Hengyue Xu, Yu-Cheng Huang, Chao Jing, Yoshihiro Tsujimoto, Xiaomin, Zezhou Lin, Jiayi Tang, Zehua Wang, Xiao Sun, Hanwen Liu, Shangheng Liu, Chien-Te  Chen, Chih-Wen Pao, Meng Ni, Zhiwei Hu*, Zongping Shao*

Adv. Mater. 2025, 37(7), 2413073

(11)  Innovative electrode designs for low-temperature electrochemical CO₂ reduction with ampere-level performance

Xiaofeng Ke, Tao Li*, Xiaomin Xu*, Zongping shao*

Energy Environ. Sci. 2025, 18, 7792 - 7858

(12)  Recent advances in innovative systems for electrcatalytic water splitting

 Liangshuang Fei, Hainan Sun, Yu Li, Yuxing Gu, Wei Zhou*, Zongping Shao*

Energy Environ Sci. 2025, 18, 6456-6529. 

(13) Interface and grain boundary engineering towards better solid oxide cells: recent advances and perspectives

Jiafeng Cao, Nai Shi, Zongping Shao*

Joule 2025, 9(10), 102138

(14)  Perovskite-type ABO₃ oxides in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and solid oxide fuel cells: state of the arts and future prospects

Muhammad Humayun, Zhisahn Li, Muhammad Israr, Abbas Khan, Wei Luo, Chundong Wang*, Zongping Shao*

Chem. Rev. 2025, 125(6), 3165-3241

 (15) Strategic atomic trapping at heterointerfaces for protonic ceramic electrochemical cells

Zuoqing Liu, Ruixi Qiao, Desheng Feng, Jin Zhou, Haosong Di, Yuesheng Bai, Dongliang Liu, Nai Shi, Wei-Hsiang Huang, Min-Hsin Yeh, Chih-Wen Pao, Zhiwei Hu, Guangming Yang, Yuxiao Lin, Zhixin Luo, Ran Ran, Wei Zhou, Yinlong Zhu, Zongping Shao*

Nature Commun. 2025, 16, 10405

(16) Undoped ruthenium oxide as a stable catalyst for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction

Jiayi Tang, Daqin Guan, Leqi Zhao, Ushtar Arshad, Zijun Fang, Jianjiu Zhu, Manjin. Kim, Chi-Wen Pao, Zhiwei Hu, Changzhou Yuan, Junjie Ge, Zongping Shao*

Nature Commun. 2025, 16, 801. 

2024

(17) A semi-vapor electrolysis technology for hydrogen generation from wide water resources

Jiayi Tang, Ke Guo, Daqin Guan, Yong Hao, Zongping Shao*

 Energy Environ. Sci. 2024, 17, 7394 - 7402.

(18) Performance deviation analysis and reliability improvement during experimental development of lab-scale solid oxide cells

Zhixin Luo, Zhehua Wang, Tianjiu Zhu, Yufei Song, Zezhou Lin, Sanping Jiang, John. Zhu, Zongping Shao

Energy Environ. Sci. 2024, 17, 6873 - 6896 

(19) First observation of electrode-correlated protonic conductivity of perovskite-type electrolyte and way towards optimization

Zhixin Luo, Tianjiu Zhu, Jiayi Tang, Mose O Tade, Zhonghua Zhu, Zongping Shao*

 Energy Environ. Sci. 2024, 17, 4115-4125.

(20) A noble-metal-free heterostructured oxygen-evolving electrocatalyst

Jian Wang, Ying Wang, Junsik Cho, Ting-Shan Chan, Yang Ha, Shu-Chih Haw,  Cheng-Wei. Kao, Yunze Zhang,  Jiayi Tang,  Tong Liu,  Siyuan Zhao,  Yawen Dai,  Aleksandra Baron-Wiechec, Wenxiong Wang,  Chang Hyuck Choi, Zongping Shao*,  Meng Ni*

Energy Environ Sci. 2024, 17, 5972-5983.

(21) A iridium complex oxide containing inherent peroxide ions for catalyzing oxygen evolution reaction in acid

Jie Dai, Zihan Shen, Yu Chen, Jiayi Tang, Xixi Wang, Yu Li, Daqin Guan, Chuan Zhou, Hainan Sun, Zhiwei Hu, Yinlong Zhu*, Wei Zhou and Zongping Shao*

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 49, 33663-33674.

(22) Nanotechnologies in ceramic electrochemical cells

Jiafeng Cao, Yuexia Ji and Zongping Shao*

 Chem. Soc. Rev. 2024, 53, 450-501.

(23) A synergistic dual-phase air electrode enables ultrahigh and durable performance of reversible proton ceramic electrochemical cells

Zuoqing Liu, Yuesheng Bai, Hainan Sun, Daqin Guan, Wenhuai Li, Wei-Hsiang Huang, Chih-Wen Pao, Zhiwei Hu, Guangming Yang*, Yinlong Zhu*, Ran Ran, Wei Zhou, Zongping Shao*

Nature Commun. 2024, 15, 472.

(24) Flexible silicon solar cells with high power-to-weight ratios

Yang Li, Xiaoning Ru, Miao Yang, Yuhe Zheng, Shi Yin, Chengjian Hong, Minghao Qu, Chaowei Xue, Junxiong Lu, Liang Fang, Chao Su, Daifen Chen*, Junhua Xu, Chao Yan, Zhenguo Li, Xixiang Xu, Zongping Shao*

Nature 2024, 626, 105-110.

2023

(25) Tailoring surface cation configuration of Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites for controllable water oxidation performance

Yu Li, Gao Chen,  Hsiao-Chien Chen, Yanping Zhu, Liangshuang Fei, Longwei Xu, Jie Dai, Haitao Huang, Wei Zhou,^* and Zongping Shao^*

Energy Environ. Sci., 2023, 16， 3331-3338.

(26) Identifying a universal activity descriptor and a unifying mechanism concept for green hydrogen production

Daqin Guan, Hengyue Xu, Qingwen Zhang, Yu-Cheng Huang, Chenliang Shi, Yu-Chung. Chang, Xiaomin Xu, Jiayi Tang, Yuxing Gu, Chih-Wen Pao, Shu-Chih Haw, Jin-Ming Chen, Zhiwei Hu^*, Meng Ni^* & Zongping Shao^*

Adv. Mater., 2023, 35(34), 2305074.

(27) When nitrogen reduction meets single-atom catalysts

Yingping Pang, Chao Su*, Liqiang Xu*, and Zongping Shao*

Prog. Mater. Sci.,  2023, 132, 101044.

2022

(28) Perovskites for protonic ceramic fuel cells: A review

Jiafeng Cao*, Yuexia Ji, Zongping Shao^*

Energy Environ. Sci, 2022, 15, 2200-2232.

 (29) Electrochemistry and energy conversion features of protonic ceramic cells with mixed ionic-electronic electrolytes

Inna A. Zvonareva, Xian-Zhu Fu, Dmitry A. Medvedev^*, Zongping Shao^*

 Energy Environ. Sci., 2022, 15, 439-465

 (30) Design of superior protonic ceramic fuel cells cathode from exsolution concept under oxidizing atmosphere

Mingzhuang Liang, Yijun Zhu, Yufei Song, Daqin Guan, Guangming Yang*, Wei Zhou, Ran Ran, Zongping Shao*

Adv. Mater., 2022, 34(10), 2106379.

(31) Exceptional hydrogen evolution in acid enabled by a multi-function-site complex oxide via atomic-scale hydrogen spillover

Jie Dai, Yinlong Zhu *, Yu Chen, Xue Wen, Mingce Long, Xinhao Wu, Zhiwei Hu, Daqin Guan, Xixi Wang, Qian Lin, Yifei Sun, Huanting Wang, Wei Zhou, Zongping Shao*

Nature Commun., 2022, 13(10), 1-10.

(32) Combined ionic Lewis acid descriptor and machine learning for predicting efficient oxygen reduction electrodes for ceramic fuel cells 

Shuo Zhai, Heping Xie*, Peng Cui, Daqin Guan, Jian Wang, Siyuan Zhao, Bin Chen, Yufei Song, Zongping Shao*, Meng Ni*

Nature Energy, 2022, 7(9), 866-875. 

(33) Membrane-based seawater electrolysis for sustainable hydrogen generation

Heping Xie*, Zhiyu Zhao, Tao Liu, Yifan Wu, Cheng Lan, Wenchuan Jiang, Liangyu Zhu. Yunpeng Wang, Dongsheng Yang, Zongping Shao*

Nature, 2022, 612, 673-768.

2021

(34) Exceptionally robust face-sharing motifs enable efficient and durable water oxidation

Daqin Guan, Kaifeng Zhang, Zhiwei Hu, Xinhao Wu, Jeng-Lug Chen, Chih-Wen Pao, Yanan Guo, Wei Zhou, Zongping Shao*

Adv. Mater., 2021, 33(41)2103392

(35) High-Quality Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskite Film Formation for High-Performance  Perovskite Solar Cells

Pengyun Liu, Ning Han, Wei Wang, Ran Ran, Wei Zhou, Zongping Shao

Adv. Mater., 2021, 33(10), 2002582.

(36) Emerging two-dimensional nanomaterials for electrochemical nitrogen reduction

Yingping Pang, Chao Su, Guohua Jia, Liqiang Xu, Zongping Shao*

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2021, 50, 12744-12787 

(37) Fast operando spectroscopy tracking in-situ generation of rich defects in silver nanocrystals for highly selective electrochemical CO₂ reduction

Xinhao Wu , Yanan Guo , Zengsen Sun , Fenghua Xie , Daqin Guan , Jie Dai , Fengjiao Yu , Zhiwei Hu , Yu-Cheng Huang , Chih-Wen Pao , Jeng-Lung Chen , Wei Zhou, Zongping Shao*

 Nature Commun., 2021, 12, 660 

(38) Achieving high performance and thermo-mechanical compatibility in a solid-oxide fuel cell cathode by a thermal-expansion offset approach

Yuan Zhang, Bin Chen, Daqin Guan, Meigui Xu, Ran Ran, Meng Ni, Wei Zhou, Ryan O’Hayre and Zongping Shao

Nature, 591, 246–251(2021)

Others:

(39)  A thermally self-sustained micro-solid oxide fuel cell with high power density

Zongping Shao, Sossina.M.Haile, J.Ahn, P.Ronney, Z.L.Zhan, S.A.Barnett,

Nature 435 (2005) 795-798.

(40)  A high-performance cathode for next-generation of solid-oxide fuel cells

Zongping Shao, Sossina M. Haile

Nature 431 (2004) 170-173.