Overview
Background
Dr. Zhe Yang currently is an ARC DECRA fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering/Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation at the University of Queensland. 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 in HKU from Nov 2018 to July 2021 and was further promoted to Research Assistant Professor from July 2021 to Dec 2023. He was recognized as a Top 1% Scholar worldwide ranked by Clarivate Analytics by citations in 2023. Dr. Yang has more than 10 years of R&D experience in membrane technology in the context of desalination, water reuse, and water/wastewater treatment. To date, he has published over 70 papers and two book chapters, with total citations of over 6,000 and an h-index of 42 based on Google Scholar. Most of these papers (90%) are published in Nature indexed/top tier journals in the field of environmental engineering and membrane technology, including Nature Communications, Nano Letters, Chemical Society Reviews, Environmental Science & Technology, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Water Research, and Journal of Membrane Science. He has been awarded numerous prestigious awards, including The First Prize of the Water 2023 Young Investigator Award, Early Career Stars of Separation & Purification Technology, The 2022 ACS ES&T Engineering Best Paper Award, the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions Gold Metal in 2019, etc. He currently serves as the Early Career Editorial Board member of the leading journal in his field (Desalination, IF 8.3).
Feature works:
1. Meta-analysis and establishing upper bound of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes:
2023: His work on establishing the nanofiltration upper bound framework and investigating its impact on system performance (ACS ES&T Eng., 2, 3, (2021) 377-390) was awarded the 2022 ACS ES&T Engineering Best Paper Award.
2022: Based on the upper bound framework, Dr. Yang collaborated with several international researchers/teams from KU Leuven, Yale University, and Technion to develop an open-access database of TFC desalination membranes - Open Membrane Database (OMD) (J. Membr. Sci., 641 (2021) 119927).
2019: His work on establishing the upper bound correlation between permeance and selectivity for desalination membrane (J. Membr. Sci., 590 (2019) 117297) is the first top-cited papers published in the Journal of Membrane Science in the year 2019 and among the top 1% cited according to Essential Science Indicators (ESI Highly Cited Paper).
2. High-performance gutter layer-based reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membrane:
2017-now: His works on designing high-performance novel gutter layer-based reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes significantly advance the water permeance of conventional membranes by an order of magnitude with simultaneously improved selectivity, which successfully surpasses the permeance-selectivity upper bound. The significance of these studies is highlighted by several ESI Highly Cited Papers (Environ. Sci. Technol., 52 (2018) 9341-9349; Environ. Sci. Technol., 53 (2019) 5301-5308; Environ. Sci. Technol., 54 (2020) 11611-11621).
3. Mechanistic investigation of nanofiller-enhanced reverse osmosis membranes:
2019-now: In the membrane community, the concept of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) has successfully led to several commercialized products including Aquaporin-containing TFN membranes by Aquaporin A/S1 and zeolite-based TFN seawater and brackish RO membranes by LG-Chem NanoH2O®. Nevertheless, the mechanisms for membrane performance enhancement remained unclear. Dr. Yang's works on TFN membranes (Environ. Sci. Technol., 53 (2019) 5301-5308; Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett., 7 (2020) 766-772) unveiled the underlying transport mechanisms of TFN membranes based on a systematic framework of the interior and exterior channels of the embedded nanofillers.
Professional memberships
1. A member of Membrane Society of Australasia (MSA), since May 2024
2. A member of Australia Water Association (AWA), since April 2024
Availability
- Dr Zhe Yang is:
- Available for supervision
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
- TOP 1% Scholar Worldwide (Link), Ranked by Clarivate Analytics, 2023
- The First Prize of the Water 2023 Young Investigator Award (Link and Interview), the Journal Water, 2023
- Early Career Stars of Separation & Purification Technology, GBA-SPT 2023 & 2nd GBA-MMP (Link), 2023
- The 2022 ACS ES&T Engineering Best Paper Award (Link), 2023
- 2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters Best Paper Award (Link), 2023
- Stanford Top 2% of the World’s Most Cited Scholars, 2021-2023 (Link), 2021-2023
- ARC DECRA Fellowship(Link), 2023-2026
- Outstanding Paper Award, The 6th National Conference on Water Treatment and Reuse of China, 2021
- CAPEES Best Poster Presentation Award, Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES) Annual Meeting, 2021
- Gold Medal, Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, 2019
Works
Search Professor Zhe Yang’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
Tannic Acid/Fe3+ Nanoscaffold for Interfacial Polymerization: Toward Enhanced Nanofiltration Performance
Yang, Zhe, Zhou, Zhi-Wen, Guo, Hao, Yao, Zhikan, Ma, Xiao-Hua, Song, Xiaoxiao, Feng, Shien-Ping and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2018). Tannic Acid/Fe3+ Nanoscaffold for Interfacial Polymerization: Toward Enhanced Nanofiltration Performance. Environmental Science and Technology, 52 (16), 9341-9349. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02425
2018
Journal Article
Reactable substrate participating interfacial polymerization for thin film composite membranes with enhanced salt rejection performance
Yao, Zhikan, Guo, Hao, Yang, Zhe, Lin, Chuner, Zhu, Baoku, Dong, Yingchao and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2018). Reactable substrate participating interfacial polymerization for thin film composite membranes with enhanced salt rejection performance. Desalination, 436, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.desal.2018.01.039
2018
Journal Article
Novel polyethyleneimine/TMC-based nanofiltration membrane prepared on a polydopamine coated substrate
Yang, Zhe, Huang, Xiaoyu, Wang, Jianqiang and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2018). Novel polyethyleneimine/TMC-based nanofiltration membrane prepared on a polydopamine coated substrate. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 12 (2), 273-282. doi: 10.1007/s11705-017-1695-2
2018
Journal Article
Recent development of novel membranes for desalination
Yang, Zhe, Ma, Xiao-Hua and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2018). Recent development of novel membranes for desalination. Desalination, 434, 37-59. doi: 10.1016/j.desal.2017.11.046
2018
Journal Article
Polydopamine coating on a thin film composite forward osmosis membrane for enhanced mass transport and antifouling performance
Guo, Hao, Yao, Zhikan, Wang, Jianqiang, Yang, Zhe, Ma, Xiaohua and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2018). Polydopamine coating on a thin film composite forward osmosis membrane for enhanced mass transport and antifouling performance. Journal of Membrane Science, 551, 234-242. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2018.01.043
2018
Journal Article
Interfacial Polymerization with Electrosprayed Microdroplets: Toward Controllable and Ultrathin Polyamide Membranes
Ma, Xiao-Hua, Yang, Zhe, Yao, Zhi-Kan, Guo, Hao, Xu, Zhen-Liang and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2018). Interfacial Polymerization with Electrosprayed Microdroplets: Toward Controllable and Ultrathin Polyamide Membranes. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 5 (2), 117-122. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.7b00566
2018
Journal Article
Nanofoaming of Polyamide Desalination Membranes to Tune Permeability and Selectivity
Ma, Xiao-Hua, Yao, Zhi-Kan, Yang, Zhe, Guo, Hao, Xu, Zhen-Liang, Tang, Chuyang Y. and Elimelech, Menachem (2018). Nanofoaming of Polyamide Desalination Membranes to Tune Permeability and Selectivity. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 5 (2), 123-130. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00016
2018
Book Chapter
Novel membranes and membrane materials
Yang, Zhe and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2018). Novel membranes and membrane materials. Membrane-based salinity gradient processes for water treatment and power generation. (pp. 201-221) edited by Sarper Sarp and Nidal Hilal. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63961-5.00007-9
2017
Journal Article
A novel gravity-driven nanofibrous membrane for point-of-use water disinfection: Polydopamine-induced in situ silver incorporation
Wang, Jianqiang, Wu, Yichao, Yang, Zhe, Guo, Hao, Cao, Bin and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2017). A novel gravity-driven nanofibrous membrane for point-of-use water disinfection: Polydopamine-induced in situ silver incorporation. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 2334. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02452-2
2017
Journal Article
A One-Step Rapid Assembly of Thin Film Coating Using Green Coordination Complexes for Enhanced Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants by Membranes
Guo, Hao, Yao, Zhikan, Yang, Zhe, Ma, Xiaohua, Wang, Jianqiang and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2017). A One-Step Rapid Assembly of Thin Film Coating Using Green Coordination Complexes for Enhanced Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants by Membranes. Environmental Science and Technology, 51 (21), 12638-12643. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03478
2017
Book Chapter
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Tang, C. Y. and Yang, Z. (2017). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Membrane characterization. (pp. 145-159) edited by Nidal Hilal, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Takeshi Matsuura and Darren Oatley-Radcliffe. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63776-5.00008-5
2017
Journal Article
A highly selective surface coating for enhanced membrane rejection of endocrine disrupting compounds: Mechanistic insights and implications
Guo, Hao, Deng, Yu, Yao, Zhikan, Yang, Zhe, Wang, Jianqiang, Lin, Chuner, Zhang, Tong, Zhu, Baoku and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2017). A highly selective surface coating for enhanced membrane rejection of endocrine disrupting compounds: Mechanistic insights and implications. Water Research, 121, 197-203. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.037
2017
Journal Article
A facile preparation of novel positively charged MOF/chitosan nanofiltration membranes
Ma, Xiao-Hua, Yang, Zhe, Yao, Zhi-Kan, Xu, Zhen-Liang and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2017). A facile preparation of novel positively charged MOF/chitosan nanofiltration membranes. Journal of Membrane Science, 525, 269-276. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2016.11.015
2017
Journal Article
Gravity-driven catalytic nanofibrous membranes prepared using a green template
Wang, Jianqiang, Guo, Hao, Yang, Zhe, Mei, Ying and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2017). Gravity-driven catalytic nanofibrous membranes prepared using a green template. Journal of Membrane Science, 525, 298-303. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2016.12.003
2017
Journal Article
A novel thin-film nano-templated composite membrane with in situ silver nanoparticles loading: Separation performance enhancement and implications
Yang, Zhe, Wu, Yichao, Guo, Hao, Ma, Xiao-Hua, Lin, Chun-Er, Zhou, Ying, Cao, Bin, Zhu, Bao-Ku, Shih, Kaimin and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2017). A novel thin-film nano-templated composite membrane with in situ silver nanoparticles loading: Separation performance enhancement and implications. Journal of Membrane Science, 544, 351-358. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.09.046
2016
Journal Article
In situ reduction of silver by polydopamine: A novel antimicrobial modification of a thin-film composite polyamide membrane
Yang, Zhe, Wu, Yichao, Wang, Jianqiang, Cao, Bin and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2016). In situ reduction of silver by polydopamine: A novel antimicrobial modification of a thin-film composite polyamide membrane. Environmental Science and Technology, 50 (17), 9543-9550. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01867
2016
Journal Article
A thin-film nanocomposite nanofiltration membrane prepared on a support with in situ embedded zeolite nanoparticles
Dong, Lei-Xi, Huang, Xiao-Chuan, Wang, Zhi, Yang, Zhe, Wang, Xiao-Mao and Tang, Chuyang Y. (2016). A thin-film nanocomposite nanofiltration membrane prepared on a support with in situ embedded zeolite nanoparticles. Separation and Purification Technology, 166, 230-239. doi: 10.1016/j.seppur.2016.04.043
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
Synthesis and applications of advanced membranes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jingwei Hou, Professor Xiwang Zhang
Media
Enquiries
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