Prof. G.Q. Max LU of University of Surrey delivers 'Functional Nanomaterials for Green Hydrogen Production and Storage'
PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series
-
Date
20 May 2025
-
Organiser
PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
-
Time
14:30 - 16:00
-
Venue
Senate Room, M1603, 16/F Li Ka Shing Tower, PolyU (Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis)
Speaker
Prof. G.Q. Max LU
Enquiry
PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research info.pair@polyu.edu.hk
Summary
Abstract
Green hydrogen production and storage is deemed as a promising pathway to the net zero economy. The concept of net zero is about decarbonising the energy production and supply, with hydrogen considered being a promising clean vector. When economically produced, particularly from renewable energy sources, green hydrogen can fuel maritime, aviation and land transport without producing any pollutant or carbon dioxide.
Functional nanomaterials such as electrodes, membranes, catalysts and photocatalysts are fundamental to the performance of systems for green hydrogen production and storage. Research advances and innovation in developing such materials for electrolysis and photocatalysis are critical to the successful scaling up of green hydrogen production. Solid state hydrogen storage materials hold the promise for overcoming the bottleneck of hydrogen storage and infrastructure for transport and distribution. Some promising low-pressure and safe storage materials have advanced to large scale applications. More research and innovation will be required to further lower the cost and enhancing performance in green hydrogen technologies.
This talk will also offer an overview of the relevant nanomaterials, insights and perspectives into the technological challenges and opportunities and how researchers might go about commercialising promising materials to enable the transition to a cost-effective hydrogen infrastructure and delivery system, towards the net zero future around 2050.
Prof. G.Q. Max LU
President and Vice-Chancellor
University of Surrey, UK
Prof. Gaoqing Max LU has been President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey since April 2016. He has served as a member of Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology (CST) for eight years. He also served as Director of UKRI, UUK Board, and Board Director of National Physical Laboratory. He chaired the UK Forum for Responsible Research Metrics for five years. He will take up a new role as Vice-Chancellor and President of University of Wollongong from end of May 2025.
He lectured at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore from 1991 to 1994. And then he worked as senior lecturer, associate professor and chair professor at the University of Queensland. In 2003, he founded the Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials, serving as its founding Director for eight years, before becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and then Provost of University of Queensland till 2016. He was also visiting professor at Princeton, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Max is one of the leading scientists in the world being a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in the fields of Materials Science and Chemistry. Throughout his career, he has published over 600 peer-reviewed articles including in Nature, Science and other high impact journals (with h=161 and >107,100 citations). He is a co-inventor of some 25 granted international patents in renewable energy including green hydrogen production and storage, and nanoparticles for dsRNA delivery.
He has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards and prizes including Orica Award, RK Murphy Medal, Le Fevre Prize, ExxonMobil Award, China International Science and Technology Award, Japan Chemical Society Lecture Award, and PV Danckwerts Lecture. He also won the Chemeca Medal in 2011 — the highest honour in Australia and New Zealand in chemical engineering. He was awarded Australian Federation Fellowship twice (2003 and 2008). He is recipient of Honorary Doctorates from Universities of Strathclyde, Wollongong and Queensland. He was honoured with Medal of the Order (Officer) of Australia for his distinguished service to higher education and international research in 2017. He was named a Queensland Great in 2013 and one of Australia’s Top 100 Most Influential Engineers (2010-2014).
Prof. Lu is an elected Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering, Institution of Chemical Engineers, Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, World Academy of Science, US National Academy of Inventors, and Foreign Fellow of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Corresponding Member, National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, Argentina.
You may also like
