Overview
Background
Dr. Xiangkang Zeng is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow at the UQ Dow Centre within the School of Chemical Engineering at The University of Queensland. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Monash University, Australia, in 2017. Prior to that, he pursued his studies at Jiangnan University in China, attaining a Master's Degree in Fermentation Engineering in 2012 and a Bachelor's Degree in Biological Engineering in 2010.
Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Zeng conducted postdoctoral research training at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) from 2017 to 2018. Subsequently, he held the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Monash University, Australia, from November 2018 to July 2022.
Dr. Zeng's current research endeavors center around the development of two-dimensional functional photocatalysts, such as graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and covalent-organic frameworks (COFs). His primary focus lies in exploring their applications in solar-to-chemical energy conversion, water treatment, and antibacterial purposes.
As a testament to his contributions, Dr. Zeng has authored over 35 papers in prestigious journals, including Advanced Functional Materials, ACS Catalysis, Angewandte Chemie, Applied Catalysis B, Water Research, Chemical Engineering Journal, and Green Chemistry, both as the first author and co-author.
Availability
- Dr Xiangkang Zeng is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research impacts
Dr. Zeng has recently pioneered the creation of an efficient catalyst designed for disinfecting bacteria in water using sunlight irradiation. This groundbreaking research has garnered significant attention from national and international media outlets, including prominent platforms such as EcoVoice, Phys.org, Scimex, and more.
Works
Search Professor Xiangkang Zeng’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Unveiling O2 adsorption on non-metallic active site for selective photocatalytic H2O2 production
Yang, Jindi, Yin, Hanqing, Du, Aijun, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Bie, Chuanbiao, Wang, Zhuyuan, Sun, Zhimeng, Zhang, Zhongguo, Zeng, Xiangkang and Zhang, Xiwang (2025). Unveiling O2 adsorption on non-metallic active site for selective photocatalytic H2O2 production. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, 361 124586, 124586. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124586
2024
Journal Article
Pairing Oxygen Reduction and Water Oxidation for Dual−pathway H2O2 Production
Sun, Xin, Yang, Jindi, Zeng, Xiangkang, Guo, Lijun, Bie, Chuanbiao, Wang, Zhuyuan, Sun, Kaige, Sahu, Aloka Kumar, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Rufford, Thomas E. and Zhang, Xiwang (2024). Pairing Oxygen Reduction and Water Oxidation for Dual−pathway H2O2 Production. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. doi: 10.1002/anie.202414417
2024
Journal Article
Construction of novel phytic acid-based lignin for highly efficient treatment of low-level radioactive wastewater: synthesis, performance, and mechanistic insights
Guo, Lijun, Zeng, Xiangkang, Peng, Liangqiong, Li, Jiheng, Geng, Tao, Zhang, Wenhua and Shi, Bi (2024). Construction of novel phytic acid-based lignin for highly efficient treatment of low-level radioactive wastewater: synthesis, performance, and mechanistic insights. Separation and Purification Technology, 341 126969, 126969. doi: 10.1016/j.seppur.2024.126969
2024
Journal Article
Fast photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation by singlet oxygen-engaged sequential excitation energy and electron-transfer process
Zeng, Xiangkang, Wang, Tianyi, Wang, Zhuyuan, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Liu, Yue, Liu, Zhuoyue, Wang, Gen, Wibowo, Ary Anggara, Pierens, Gregory, Gu, Qinfen and Zhang, Xiwang (2024). Fast photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation by singlet oxygen-engaged sequential excitation energy and electron-transfer process. ACS Catalysis, 14 (13), 9955-9968. doi: 10.1021/acscatal.4c01591
2024
Journal Article
Engineering 2D photocatalysts for solar hydrogen peroxide production
Yang, Jindi, Zeng, Xiangkang, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Wang, Zhuyuan, Bie, Chuanbiao, Sun, Xin, Marriam, Ifra and Zhang, Xiwang (2024). Engineering 2D photocatalysts for solar hydrogen peroxide production. Advanced Energy Materials, 14 (23) 2400740. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202400740
2024
Journal Article
Electricity generation from carbon dioxide adsorption by spatially nanoconfined ion separation
Wang, Zhuyuan, Hu, Ting, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Zeng, Xiangkang, Du, Fan, Kang, Yuan, Li, Xuefeng, Zhang, Hao, Wang, Huanting and Zhang, Xiwang (2024). Electricity generation from carbon dioxide adsorption by spatially nanoconfined ion separation. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 2672, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-47040-x
2024
Journal Article
Understanding the electrochemical extraction of lithium from ultradilute solutions
Sun, Kaige, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Zeng, Xiangkang, Wang, Zhuyuan, Duignan, Timothy T. and Zhang, Xiwang (2024). Understanding the electrochemical extraction of lithium from ultradilute solutions. Environmental Science & Technology, 58 (8), 3997-4007. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09111
2024
Journal Article
Electrode, electrolyte, and membrane materials for electrochemical CO2 capture
Sun, Kaige, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Zhang, Hongxia, Zeng, Xiangkang, Wang, Zhuyuan, Xu, Zhen, Rufford, Thomas E. and Zhang, Xiwang (2024). Electrode, electrolyte, and membrane materials for electrochemical CO2 capture. Advanced Energy Materials, 14 (24) 2400625. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202400625
2023
Journal Article
Advanced nanostructured materials in solar interfacial steam generation and desalination against pathogens: combatting microbial-contaminants in water - a critical review
Parsa, Seyed Masoud, Norozpour, Fatemeh, Momeni, Saba, Shoeibi, Shahin, Zeng, Xiangkang, Said, Zafar, Guo, Wenshan, Ngo, Huu Hao and Ni, Bing-Jie (2023). Advanced nanostructured materials in solar interfacial steam generation and desalination against pathogens: combatting microbial-contaminants in water - a critical review. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 11 (34), 18046-18080. doi: 10.1039/d3ta03343k
2023
Journal Article
Exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production from sandwich‐structured graphene interlayered phenolic resins nanosheets with mesoporous channels
Tian, Qiang, Zeng, Xiang‐Kang, Zhao, Chen, Jing, Ling‐Yan, Zhang, Xi‐Wang and Liu, Jian (2023). Exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production from sandwich‐structured graphene interlayered phenolic resins nanosheets with mesoporous channels. Advanced Functional Materials, 33 (21) 2213173, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202213173
2023
Journal Article
Scalable high yield exfoliation for monolayer nanosheets
Wang, Zhuyuan, Yan, Xue, Hou, Qinfu, Liu, Yue, Zeng, Xiangkang, Kang, Yuan, Zhao, Wang, Li, Xuefeng, Yuan, Shi, Qiu, Ruosang, Uddin, Md Hemayet, Wang, Ruoxin, Xia, Yun, Jian, Meipeng, Kang, Yan, Gao, Li, Liang, Songmiao, Liu, Jefferson Zhe, Wang, Huanting and Zhang, Xiwang (2023). Scalable high yield exfoliation for monolayer nanosheets. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 236, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-35569-8
2023
Journal Article
Stimuli-responsive heterojunctions based photo-electrocatalytic membrane reactors for reactive filtration of persistent organic pollutants
Kumari, Priyanka, Bahadur, Nupur, Conlan, Xavier A., Zeng, Xiangkang, Kong, Lingxue, O'Dell, Luke A., Sadek, Abu, Merenda, Andrea and Dumée, Ludovic F. (2023). Stimuli-responsive heterojunctions based photo-electrocatalytic membrane reactors for reactive filtration of persistent organic pollutants. Chemical Engineering Journal, 452 139374, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.139374
2022
Journal Article
Monodispersed CuO nanoparticles supported on mineral substrates for groundwater remediation via a nonradical pathway
Wang, Gen, Zhang, Yue, Ge, Lei, Liu, Zhuoyue, Zhu, Xiurong, Yang, Shengjiong, Jin, Pengkang, Zeng, Xiangkang and Zhang, Xiwang (2022). Monodispersed CuO nanoparticles supported on mineral substrates for groundwater remediation via a nonradical pathway. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 429 128282, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128282
2022
Journal Article
Activation of peroxydisulfate by defect-rich CuO nanoparticles supported on layered MgO for organic pollutants degradation: An electron transfer mechanism
Wang, Gen, Ge, Lei, Liu, Zhuoyue, Zhu, Xiurong, Yang, Shengjiong, Wu, Kun, Jin, Pengkang, Zeng, Xiangkang and Zhang, Xiwang (2022). Activation of peroxydisulfate by defect-rich CuO nanoparticles supported on layered MgO for organic pollutants degradation: An electron transfer mechanism. Chemical Engineering Journal, 431 134026, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.134026
2021
Journal Article
Engineering mesoporous semiconducting metal oxides from metal-organic frameworks for gas sensing
Wang, Gen, Yang, Shengjiong, Cao, Li, Jin, Pengkang, Zeng, Xiangkang, Zhang, Xiwang and Wei, Jing (2021). Engineering mesoporous semiconducting metal oxides from metal-organic frameworks for gas sensing. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 445 214086. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214086
2021
Journal Article
Solar‐driven photocatalytic disinfection over 2D semiconductors: the generation and effects of reactive oxygen species
Liu, Yue, Zeng, Xiangkang, Hu, Xiaoyi, Xia, Yun and Zhang, Xiwang (2021). Solar‐driven photocatalytic disinfection over 2D semiconductors: the generation and effects of reactive oxygen species. Solar RRL, 5 (6) 2000594, 2000594. doi: 10.1002/solr.202000594
2021
Journal Article
Oxygen vacant Co3O4 in situ embedded on carbon spheres: cooperatively tuning electron transfer for boosted peroxymonosulfate activation
Hu, Jian, Qian, Binbin, Zeng, Xiangkang, Qi, Yu, Liu, Yue, Zhang, Lian and Zhang, Xiwang (2021). Oxygen vacant Co3O4 in situ embedded on carbon spheres: cooperatively tuning electron transfer for boosted peroxymonosulfate activation. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 9 (30), 16489-16499. doi: 10.1039/d1ta03963f
2021
Journal Article
Photoredox catalysis over semiconductors for light-driven hydrogen peroxide production
Zeng, Xiangkang, Liu, Yue, Hu, Xiaoyi and Zhang, Xiwang (2021). Photoredox catalysis over semiconductors for light-driven hydrogen peroxide production. Green Chemistry, 23 (4), 1466-1494. doi: 10.1039/d0gc04236f
2020
Journal Article
2D/2D heterostructured photocatalyst: Rational design for energy and environmental applications 二维/二维异质结光催化剂: 合理设计与能源和环境应用
Hou, Huilin, Zeng, Xiangkang and Zhang, Xiwang (2020). 2D/2D heterostructured photocatalyst: Rational design for energy and environmental applications 二维/二维异质结光催化剂: 合理设计与能源和环境应用. Science China Materials, 63 (11), 2119-2152. doi: 10.1007/s40843-019-1256-0
2020
Journal Article
Cooperatively modulating reactive oxygen species generation and bacteria-photocatalyst contact over graphitic carbon nitride by polyethylenimine for rapid water disinfection
Zeng, Xiangkang, Liu, Yue, Xia, Yun, Uddin, Md Hemayet, Xia, Dehua, McCarthy, David T., Deletic, Ana, Yu, Jiaguo and Zhang, Xiwang (2020). Cooperatively modulating reactive oxygen species generation and bacteria-photocatalyst contact over graphitic carbon nitride by polyethylenimine for rapid water disinfection. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 274 119095, 119095. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.119095
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Xiangkang Zeng is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
-
Electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide
A project on hydrogen peroxide production by electrocatalysts is available in our group. Potential PhD candidates are welcome to apply for UQ GSS or CSC-UQ scholarships. Please get in touch for more detailed information.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a commodity chemical applied in diverse products and industries. Nevertheless, its current industrial production process is not sustainable. Electrochemical process is an alternative and green process for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, as H2O2 can be prepared by water oxidation on anode or oxygen reduction on cathode, with renewable (e.g., solar or wind) energy as the energy input. Progress has been made in this research topic in the last decade; however, the efficiency still needs improvement through designing efficient electrodes and reactors. To address these challenges, this PhD project aims to develop a new type of catalysts that can be used for H2O2 production from water oxidation reaction and/or oxygen reduction. It is expected the developed catalysts would be integrated as membrane electrodes and used for H2O2 production in a designed flow cell device.
A working knowledge of electrochemistry, chemical engineering and water splitting processes would be of benefit to someone working on this project. A background or knowledge of either materials engineering or chemical engineering, is highly desirable. You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of materials engineering, chemical engineering and electrochemistry, and the potential for scholastic success.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Polymeric Photocatalysts for Solar-Driven Hydrogen Peroxide Production
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Tom Rufford
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Doctor Philosophy
Utilising co-products of water electrolysis in wastewater treatment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zhuyuan Wang, Professor Xiwang Zhang
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Doctor Philosophy
Rational design of semiconductors for light-driven hydrogen peroxide production
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mike Tebyetekerwa, Professor Xiwang Zhang
Media
Enquiries
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