
Overview
Background
Dr. Zhe Yang currently is an ARC DECRA fellow (Mentor: Prof. Xiwang Zhang) in the School of Chemical Engineering/Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation at the University of Queensland since Dec 2023. He obtained his PhD degree in Environmental Engineering in 2018 at the University of Hong Kong (PhD supervisor: Prof. Chuyang Tang). He was appointed as Research Assistant/Post-doc Fellow/Research Assistant Professor at HKU from Nov 2018 to Dec 2023. Dr. Yang has more than 10 years of R&D experience in membrane technology in the context of resource recovery, desalination, water reuse, and water/wastewater treatment. To date, he has published over 80 refereed publications, with total citations of over 7,700 and an h-index of 46 based on Web of Science. Most of these papers (90%) are published in Nature indexed/top-tier journals in the field of environmental engineering and membrane technology, including Nature Sustainability, Nature Water, Nature Communications, Nano-Micro Letters, Nano Letters, Chemical Society Reviews, Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, Journal of Membrane Science, Desalination, etc. He currently serves as the Early Career Editorial Board member of the leading journals in his field (Environmental Science & Technology - IF 11.3, Link & Desalination - IF 9.8, Link).
Featured Honors and Awards:
- 2024 Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (1/1000, Link)
- 2025 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards (Link)
- 2024 Rising Star in Environmental Research (Link)
Featured Grants (Sole or lead investigator):
- Lead Entrepreneur, Innovative, ultra-efficient device for sustainable electricity harvesting from CO2, (IG240100353), Department of Education, Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) – Ignite, AUD454,240). (Link)
- Sole Investigator, Novel interlayered membrane for highly efficient separation processes, Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), (DE230100114), Australian Research Council (ARC), AUD429,554 (11/12/2023-10/12/2026). (Link)
Availability
- Dr Zhe Yang is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology (华东理工大学)
- Masters (Research) of Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Doctor of Philosophy of Environmental Engineering, University of Hong Kong
Research impacts
SELECTED PRIZES, HONOURS AND AWARDS
- 2024 ES&T Excellence in Review Award (Link)
- The First Prize of the Water 2023 Young Investigator Award (Link and Interview)
- The 2022 ACS ES&T Engineering Best Paper Award (Link), 2023
- 2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters Best Paper Award (Link), 2023
- ARC DECRA Fellowship (Link), 2023-2026
- Gold Medal, Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, 2019
Works
Search Professor Zhe Yang’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Novel positively charged metal-coordinated nanofiltration membrane for lithium recovery
Wang, Li, Rehman, Danyal, Sun, Peng-Fei, Deshmukh, Akshay, Zhang, Liyuan, Han, Qi, Yang, Zhe, Wang, Zhongying, Park, Hee-Deung, Lienhard, John H. and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2021). Novel positively charged metal-coordinated nanofiltration membrane for lithium recovery. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 13 (14), 16906-16915. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c02252
2021
Journal Article
Recent advances in high-performance TFC membranes: a review of the functional interlayers
Ji, Chenhao, Zhai, Zhe, Jiang, Chi, Hu, Ping, Zhao, Shuzhen, Xue, Shuangmei, Yang, Zhe, He, Tao and Niu, Q. Jason (2021). Recent advances in high-performance TFC membranes: a review of the functional interlayers. Desalination, 500 114869, 114869. doi: 10.1016/j.desal.2020.114869
2021
Journal Article
Stainless steel mesh supported thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes for enhanced permeability and regeneration potential
Zhu, Xuewu, Tang, Xiaobin, Luo, Xinsheng, Yang, Zhe, Cheng, Xiaoxiang, Gan, Zhendong, Xu, Daliang, Li, Guibai and Liang, Heng (2021). Stainless steel mesh supported thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes for enhanced permeability and regeneration potential. Journal of Membrane Science, 618 118738, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118738
2021
Journal Article
Polyamide reverse osmosis membranes containing 1D nanochannels for enhanced water purification
Li, Wen-xuan, Yang, Zhe, Liu, Wei-liang, Huang, Zhi-hao, Zhang, Hao, Li, Meng-ping, Ma, Xiao-hua, Tang, Chuyang Y. and Xu, Zhen-liang (2021). Polyamide reverse osmosis membranes containing 1D nanochannels for enhanced water purification. Journal of Membrane Science, 618 118681, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118681
2020
Journal Article
A critical review on thin-film nanocomposite membranes with interlayered structure: mechanisms, recent developments, and environmental applications
Yang, Zhe, Sun, Peng-Fei, Li, Xianhui, Gan, Bowen, Wang, Li, Song, Xiaoxiao, Park, Hee-Deung and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2020). A critical review on thin-film nanocomposite membranes with interlayered structure: mechanisms, recent developments, and environmental applications. Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (24), 15563-15583. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05377
2020
Journal Article
Toward tailoring nanofiltration performance of thin-film composite membranes: novel insights into the role of poly(vinyl alcohol) coating positions
Zhu, Xuewu, Yang, Zhe, Gan, Zhendong, Cheng, Xiaoxiang, Tang, Xiaobin, Luo, Xinsheng, Xu, Daliang, Li, Guibai and Liang, Heng (2020). Toward tailoring nanofiltration performance of thin-film composite membranes: novel insights into the role of poly(vinyl alcohol) coating positions. Journal of Membrane Science, 614 118526, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118526
2020
Journal Article
Ultrathin polyamide nanofilm with an asymmetrical structure: A novel strategy to boost the permeance of reverse osmosis membranes
Gan, Bowen, Qi, Saren, Song, Xiaoxiao, Yang, Zhe, Tang, Chuyang Y., Cao, Xingzhong, Zhou, Yong and Gao, Congjie (2020). Ultrathin polyamide nanofilm with an asymmetrical structure: A novel strategy to boost the permeance of reverse osmosis membranes. Journal of Membrane Science, 612 118402, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118402
2020
Journal Article
Mechanistic insights into the role of polydopamine interlayer toward improved separation performance of polyamide nanofiltration membranes
Yang, Zhe, Wang, Fei, Guo, Hao, Peng, Lu Elfa, Ma, Xiao-Hua, Song, Xiao-Xiao, Wang, Zhiwei and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2020). Mechanistic insights into the role of polydopamine interlayer toward improved separation performance of polyamide nanofiltration membranes. Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (18), 11611-11621. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03589
2020
Journal Article
Probing the contributions of interior and exterior channels of nanofillers toward the enhanced separation performance of a thin-film nanocomposite reverse osmosis membrane
Yin, Jun, Yang, Zhe, Tang, Chuyang Y. and Deng, Baolin (2020). Probing the contributions of interior and exterior channels of nanofillers toward the enhanced separation performance of a thin-film nanocomposite reverse osmosis membrane. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 7 (10), 766-772. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00507
2020
Journal Article
Dissecting the Role of Substrate on the Morphology and Separation Properties of Thin Film Composite Polyamide Membranes: Seeing Is Believing
Peng, Lu Elfa, Yao, Zhikan, Yang, Zhe, Guo, Hao and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2020). Dissecting the Role of Substrate on the Morphology and Separation Properties of Thin Film Composite Polyamide Membranes: Seeing Is Believing. Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (11), 6978-6986. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01427
2019
Journal Article
The upper bound of thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide membranes for desalination
Yang, Zhe, Guo, Hao and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2019). The upper bound of thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide membranes for desalination. Journal of Membrane Science, 590 117297, 1-23. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117297
2019
Journal Article
Highly permeable and highly selective ultrathin film composite polyamide membranes reinforced by reactable polymer chains
Yao, Zhikan, Yang, Zhe, Guo, Hao, Ma, Xiaohua, Dong, Yingchao and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2019). Highly permeable and highly selective ultrathin film composite polyamide membranes reinforced by reactable polymer chains. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 552, 418-425. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.05.070
2019
Journal Article
Confined nanobubbles shape the surface roughness structures of thin film composite polyamide desalination membranes
Song, Xiaoxiao, Gan, Bowen, Yang, Zhe, Tang, Chuyang Y. and Gao, Congjie (2019). Confined nanobubbles shape the surface roughness structures of thin film composite polyamide desalination membranes. Journal of Membrane Science, 582, 342-349. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.04.027
2019
Journal Article
Hydrophilic Silver Nanoparticles Induce Selective Nanochannels in Thin Film Nanocomposite Polyamide Membranes
Yang, Zhe, Guo, Hao, Yao, Zhi-Kan, Mei, Ying and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2019). Hydrophilic Silver Nanoparticles Induce Selective Nanochannels in Thin Film Nanocomposite Polyamide Membranes. Environmental Science and Technology, 53 (9), 5301-5308. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00473
2019
Journal Article
Research progress of photocatalysis based on highly dispersed titanium in mesoporous SiO2
Dong, Chencheng, Ji, Jiahui, Yang, Zhe, Xiao, Yifei, Xing, Mingyang and Zhang, Jinlong (2019). Research progress of photocatalysis based on highly dispersed titanium in mesoporous SiO2. Chinese Chemical Letters, 30 (4), 853-862. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2019.03.020
2019
Journal Article
Tuning roughness features of thin film composite polyamide membranes for simultaneously enhanced permeability, selectivity and anti-fouling performance
Ma, Xiaohua, Yang, Zhe, Yao, Zhikan, Guo, Hao, Xu, Zhenliang and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2019). Tuning roughness features of thin film composite polyamide membranes for simultaneously enhanced permeability, selectivity and anti-fouling performance. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 540, 382-388. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.01.033
2019
Journal Article
Non-Polyamide Based Nanofiltration Membranes Using Green Metal-Organic Coordination Complexes: Implications for the Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants
Guo, Hao, Peng, Lu Elfa, Yao, Zhikan, Yang, Zhe, Ma, Xiaohua and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2019). Non-Polyamide Based Nanofiltration Membranes Using Green Metal-Organic Coordination Complexes: Implications for the Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants. Environmental Science and Technology, 53 (5), 2688-2694. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06422
2019
Journal Article
Carbon nanotubes enhance permeability of ultrathin polyamide rejection layers
Ma, Xiao-Hua, Guo, Hao, Yang, Zhe, Yao, Zhi-Kan, Qing, Wei-Hua, Chen, Yi-Liang, Xu, Zhen-Liang and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2019). Carbon nanotubes enhance permeability of ultrathin polyamide rejection layers. Journal of Membrane Science, 570-571, 139-145. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2018.10.055
2019
Journal Article
Fabrication of a novel and green thin-film composite membrane containing nanovoids for water purification
Yang, Zhe, Huang, Xiaoyu, Ma, Xiao-hua, Zhou, Zhi-wen, Guo, Hao, Yao, Zhikan, Feng, Shien-Ping and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2019). Fabrication of a novel and green thin-film composite membrane containing nanovoids for water purification. Journal of Membrane Science, 570-571, 314-321. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2018.10.057
2018
Journal Article
Preparation of nanocavity-contained thin film composite nanofiltration membranes with enhanced permeability and divalent to monovalent ion selectivity
Yao, Zhikan, Guo, Hao, Yang, Zhe, Qing, Weihua and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2018). Preparation of nanocavity-contained thin film composite nanofiltration membranes with enhanced permeability and divalent to monovalent ion selectivity. Desalination, 445, 115-122. doi: 10.1016/j.desal.2018.07.023
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Zhe Yang is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Application of advanced membranes in precise separation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Xiwang Zhang
-
Doctor Philosophy
3D-architectured membranes for emerging toxic contaminants removal
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hong Peng, Professor Xiwang Zhang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis and applications of advanced membranes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Xiwang Zhang, Associate Professor Jingwei Hou
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Zhe Yang directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.
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