Speaker: Prof. Kang Zhenhui
Date: February 24, 2025 (Monday)
Time: 14:00
Venue: Lecture Hall 1517, Energy Research Institute
Host: Institute for Energy Research

Speaker Bio:
Prof. Zhenhui Kang is a Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University. His primary research focuses on carbon quantum dot functional materials, encompassing the large-scale controllable preparation of carbon dots, property regulation, and catalytic characteristics. He has established novel methods for characterizing the electron transfer dynamics at composite photoelectrocatalytic interfaces and developed a prototype for broadband time-domain in-situ photoelectrochemical transient characterization. He has published over 400 academic papers in prestigious journals such as Science, Science Advances, Nature Electronics, and Nature Communications, which have been cited more than 50,000 times. He has been consecutively selected as a Clarivate Analytics Global "Highly Cited Researcher" (Cross-Field) from 2018 to 2024. One of his papers was recognized as a "2015 Top 100 Most Influential International Academic Paper in China," and his research findings were awarded as a "2015 Top 10 Scientific Advance in China." Prof. Kang is a 2023 Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM), received the IAAM Medal in 2021, and was selected into the National "Ten Thousand Talents Program" for Leading Scientific and Technological Innovation in 2019. Other honors include being named a Leading Young and Middle-Aged Scientist by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2018, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in 2018, recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2017, the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars in 2014, selected into the Young Top-notch Talent Program of the CPC Central Organization Department in 2012, and receiving the National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award in 2008. His research has been frequently featured in special reports by international scientific media such as Science, Chemistry World, NPG Asia Materials, Current Science

Abstract:
Carbon dots (C-dots) are a novel class of carbon nanomaterials with sizes less than 10 nm. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the preparation, properties, and applications of C-dots. C-dots boast advantages such as abundant and low-cost raw materials, excellent photochemical properties, low toxicity, and ease of functionalization, making them ideal green alternatives for various photocatalytic reactions. However, understanding their intrinsic mechanisms remains insufficient due to the complexity of their microstructure. In this report, we will introduce the fundamental characteristics of C-dots, including their structure, composition, and morphological features, and delve into their photoelectrochemical properties, particularly key aspects like band gap, chirality, photogenerated potential, and electron trapping effects. Furthermore, we will introduce some emerging analytical techniques, such as Transient Photocurrent (TPC), Transient Photovoltage (TPV), and Machine Learning (ML), which provide new perspectives for uncovering the unique properties of C-dots. Although fundamental research on C-dots is still in its developmental stages, their application prospects are vast. Exploring their practical applications will not only address specific problems but also deepen the understanding of their intrinsic mechanisms, thereby facilitating the transition of C-dots from basic research to practical applications.

All faculty and students are warmly welcome!