PhD Researcher INRS, Canada
Tong Li.
Catalysis for a cleaner future.
Exploring the potential of light, plasma, and machine learning
to transform CO2 into possibility.
Materials. Molecules. New possibilities.CO2 utilization / Concept model
Photocatalysis
Plasma catalysis
CO2 utilization
Machine learning
Research
Small-scale science.
Real-world impact.
My research combines theoretical simulation with experimental validation to guide the design of catalytic materials and reaction pathways. I am especially interested in how light, plasma, and data-driven models can work together to improve CO2 conversion.
Current interests include photocatalysis, plasma catalysis, CO2 utilization, machine learning, and sustainable energy conversion.
01 / Light
Photocatalysis
Exploring light-driven catalytic materials and charge-transfer pathways for sustainable chemical conversion.
02 / Energy
Plasma catalysis
Studying plasma-assisted catalytic reactions where energetic species activate stable molecules under milder conditions.
03 / Carbon
CO2 utilization
Designing catalytic materials and reaction pathways to convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and fuels.
04 / Intelligence
Machine learning
Using data-driven methods to connect material descriptors, reaction performance, and catalyst design for CO2 conversion.
Selected Publications
Ideas, tested.
Findings, shared.
Selected first-author papers from Chemical Engineering Journal, Materials Today Energy, Electrochimica Acta, Solid State Sciences, and Electrocatalysis.
Cobalt single atom anchored on N-doped carbon nanoboxes as typical single-atom catalysts (SACs) for boosting the overall water splitting. (opens in a new tab)
First author · IF 13.3 · Highly cited paper.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.141435
Constructing Bi2O3/BiOIO3 triple heterojunction doped with Yb3+ ions as accelerating charge carriers transfer channel to enhance photocatalytic activity. (opens in a new tab)
First author · IF 3.4.
DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2023.107151
Bimetallic Ni-Hf tellurides as an advanced electrocatalyst for overall water splitting with layered g-C3N4 modification. (opens in a new tab)
First author · IF 9.0.
DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2022.101002
3D nanostructured nickel hydroxide as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction. (opens in a new tab)
First author · IF 2.7 · Cover paper.
DOI: 10.1007/s12678-022-00757-z
Ni(OH)2 microspheres in situ self-grown on ultra-thin layered g-C3N4 as a heterojunction electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction. (opens in a new tab)
First author · IF 5.5.
DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.139473
Education
PhD, Energy and Materials Science
Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre Energie Materiaux Telecommunications. Advisor: Prof. Dongling Ma.
M.Eng., Thermal Engineering
Shanghai University of Electric Power. Research on transition metal-based electrocatalysts for water electrolysis.
B.Eng., Energy and Power Engineering
Jilin University, College of Automotive Engineering. Thesis on high-pressure pulverized-coal boiler design.
Patents
Research into
application.
Four granted Chinese patents plus two pending applications, covering electrocatalyst preparation, heterostructure design, and mechanical instrumentation for laboratory work.
Preparation of an efficient all-electrolytic water catalyst with cobalt single-atom loading on nitrogen-rich carbon nanoboxes.
ZL 2022 1 0453978.8 · Co-inventor.
Method of preparing an all-electrolytic water electrocatalyst and its applications.
ZL 2022 1 0210455.0 · Co-inventor.
Preparation of Ni(OH)2-g-C3N4 heterostructure for efficient oxygen-evolution electrocatalyst.
Application 202210429065.2 · Co-inventor.
3D-structured nickel hydroxide OER electrocatalyst preparation method.
Application 202210453719.5 · Co-inventor.
An adaptive rotating electrode holder.
ZL 2021 2 0437971.8 · Co-inventor.
An intelligent garbage transport dumping vehicle.
ZL 2019 2 0525882.1 · Co-inventor.
Funded Projects
Progress through
collaboration.
Contributions span national R&D programs on heavy-metal control, foundation projects on photocatalysis, and innovation-team initiatives on energy storage and photovoltaics.
Shanghai Photovoltaic Innovation Team
"Photocatalysis and Energy Storage Technology" sub-team. Contributing to energy-storage technology development.
National Natural Science Foundation of China · 52076126
Photocatalytic-adsorption mechanism of g-C3N4-loaded sulfur-doped bismuth complexes for mercury and arsenic control in flue gas. Designed and prepared layered g-C3N4.
Shanghai High-Level Local University Platform
High-efficiency energy-storage materials preparation and integrated test platform. Developed non-precious-metal energy-storage materials.
Shanghai Natural Science Foundation · 18ZR1416200
Graphene-loaded sulfur-doped bismuth-based photocatalyst for mercury removal. Led graphene process development and pre-treatment.
National Key R&D Program · 2018YFB0605103-4
WESP heavy-metal removal technology development. Participated in heavy-metal removal catalyst design.
Jilin University Student Innovation Program · National
Principal Investigator. Artificial-intelligence-based waste transport dumping vehicle.
Conferences
Part of a wider
conversation.
Active participation in Chinese and international meetings on combustion thermophysics, environmental protection, and advanced energy materials.
QCAM 9th Annual Meeting
Quebec Center for Advanced Materials annual meeting.
Shanghai Engineering Thermophysics Society Annual Meeting
Annual meeting on engineering thermophysics.
7th International Conference on Advances in Energy and Environmental Research
International conference on energy and environment.
Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics · Combustion Science
Annual meeting of the combustion-science branch.
6th International Conference on Advances in Energy and Environmental Research
International conference on energy and environment.
Environmental Protection Technology and Equipment, Chinese Society of Power Engineering
Special committee annual meeting.
Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics · Combustion Science
Annual meeting of the combustion-science branch.
Honors
Honors & awards.
- NSERC CGRS-D Scholarship, 2026
- FRQNT Scholarship, 2025
- Academic Scholarship, 2023
- Shanghai Outstanding Graduate Student, 2023
- Outstanding Graduate Student, University Level, 2023
- China National Scholarship, 2022
- Outstanding Graduate Student, University Level, 2022
- Second Prize, National College Student Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Competition, 2022
- Academic Scholarship, 2021
- Jilin University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program, National, 2019
Service & Skills
Beyond the research.
- Reviewer, Chemical Engineering Journal & Journal of Rare Earths.
- Co-supervisor of two undergraduate students at Shanghai University of Electric Power.
- Computational tools: VASP, Materials Studio, Origin, XPS Peak, Jade.
- Languages: Mandarin (native), English (professional).
Contact
Let's explore
what comes next.
Research conversations. Shared ideas. New collaborations.