Overview
Background
Dr. Yunqing Kang is a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Fellow in the Yamauchi Research Group at the AIBN. His research focuses on the design and synthesis of advanced nanostructured metallic materials to address critical challenges in energy conversion and environmental sustainability. By pioneering bottom-up self-assembly strategies, Dr. Kang precisely engineers the atomic-scale disorder in porous metals, enabling the creation of high-performance catalysts essential for the global energy transition.
Dr Kang's core expertise encompasses mesoporous metals, amorphous and high-entropy alloys, and disordered metallic architectures, with specific applications in electrocatalysis for water splitting and plastic upcycling. With over 50 publications in prestigious journals including Nature, Science Advances, and Angewandte Chemie, Dr. Kang is dedicated to advancing the fundamental understanding of material science to facilitate industrial innovation.
Availability
- Dr Yunqing Kang is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research interests
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Mesoporous Metallic Materials
I specialize in the bottom-up self-assembly of advanced nanostructured metals with precisely controlled pore architectures. My work focuses on creating single atom alloy, amorphous alloy and high-entropy alloy systems that offer enhanced surface areas and structural stability for industrial applications. By engineering these disordered metallic frameworks, I aim to push the boundaries of material design for sustainable development and catalytic performance.
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Engineering Hybrid Functional Materials
I design complex hybrid materials by integrating porous metallic structures with diverse functional components including oxides, MOFs, silica, carbon, and polymers. By systematically tailoring the interfaces and architectural synergy between these components, I develop robust composite systems with enhanced activity and durability. This work provides a versatile material platform for addressing complex challenges in electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
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Electrocatalytic Energy and Environmental Applications
I apply advanced material systems to address global energy and sustainability challenges, with a primary focus on high-efficiency water splitting. My work explores the coupling of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with the anodic oxidation reaction (AOR) for upcycling of plastics to produce high-value chemicals. This research delivers sustainable and scalable pathways for clean hydrogen production and the transformation of waste into value-added products within a circular economy.
Research impacts
Dr. Kang’s research translates complex material science into tangible solutions for sustainable energy and environmental protection by improving the efficiency and durability of catalysts that serve as the engines of the clean energy economy. His development of highly active mesoporous metal catalysts significantly lowers the energy barriers for water electrolysis, rendering green hydrogen production more viable and cost-effective.
Furthermore, his work on catalytic architectures supports the conversion of waste plastics and environmental pollutants into high-value chemical products, directly promoting a circular economy. The impact of his research is evidenced by a high international standing, with outputs consistently ranked in the top 1%–10% of global citations and a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 5.62. Beyond his laboratory contributions, Dr. Kang actively shapes the scientific community as a young editorial board member, ensuring the dissemination of cutting-edge findings that drive industrial progress and global sustainability goals.
Works
Search Professor Yunqing Kang’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Highly robust Sn-based MAX anodes constructed via Ti6C octahedral outer immobilization and A-layer Fe inner anchoring for long-life lithium-ion batteries
Lei, Yu-ang, Guo, Yuchen, He, Linkai, Tang, Yi, Zou, Junhui, Xie, Yangyang, Xuan, Xiaodie, Bi, Zhao, Wang, Yu, Liu, Ting, Kang, Yunqing, Ai, Taotao, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Yang, Chenhui (2026). Highly robust Sn-based MAX anodes constructed via Ti6C octahedral outer immobilization and A-layer Fe inner anchoring for long-life lithium-ion batteries. Advanced Science e75085, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/advs.75085
2026
Journal Article
Synergistic Mo/V-implanted 2D M3X2 MXene nanoarchitectures for enhanced structural stability and ultrahigh proton storage performance
Xie, Yangyang, Xuan, Xiaodie, Tang, Yi, Bi, Zhao, Wang, Ping, Zou, Junhui, Kang, Yunqing, Zhang, Aibo, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Yang, Chenhui (2026). Synergistic Mo/V-implanted 2D M3X2 MXene nanoarchitectures for enhanced structural stability and ultrahigh proton storage performance. Advanced Energy Materials, 16 (5) e05156, 1-16. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202505156
2026
Journal Article
Iso‐Nanozymes of Atomically Precise Copper Nanoclusters
Sun, Jing, Wang, Mengke, Guan, Zong‐Jie, Kang, Yunqing, Sun, Xueli, Wang, Yishu, Huo, Rong, Gong, Xuekun, Xu, Xiaoxuan, Xin, Chengrui, Li, Simin, Yamauchi, Yusuke, Zheng, Nanfeng, Yan, Xiyun, Guo, Qingxiang and Shen, Hui (2026). Iso‐Nanozymes of Atomically Precise Copper Nanoclusters. Aggregate, 7 (2) e70271, 2. doi: 10.1002/agt2.70271
2025
Journal Article
Electrochemical deposition of mesoporous high-entropy Pt-Pd-Rh-Ru-Cu-Au-Se-Mo films using polymeric micelle templating
Saso, Yoto, Kang, Yunqing, Fu, Lei, Yagi, Kotaro, You, Jungmok, Asakura, Yusuke and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Electrochemical deposition of mesoporous high-entropy Pt-Pd-Rh-Ru-Cu-Au-Se-Mo films using polymeric micelle templating. Chemical Science, 16 (46), 21836-21841. doi: 10.1039/d5sc04126k
2025
Journal Article
Straightforward construction of functionalized γ-lactams via conjugated-engineered covalent organic framework photocatalysed cascade reactions
Lin, Xiangfeng, Li, Jianguo, Zheng, Jiaxian, Cai, Xiaowei, Wang, Liwei, Sa, Rongjian, Si, Chuanling, Jiang, Dong, Kang, Yunqing, Wang, Jie, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Yuan, Zhanhui (2025). Straightforward construction of functionalized γ-lactams via conjugated-engineered covalent organic framework photocatalysed cascade reactions. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 10818, 10818. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-66469-2
2025
Journal Article
Gallium sacrificed to make complex nanoscale alloys
Kang, Yunqing and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Gallium sacrificed to make complex nanoscale alloys. Nature, 646 (8084), 293-295. doi: 10.1038/d41586-025-02973-1
2025
Journal Article
Mesoporous high-entropy PtPdRhCuIrSe particles via a soft-chemical approach using a reducing agent
Yagi, Yotaro, Kang, Yunqing, Fu, Lei, Eguchi, Miharu, Yokoshima, Tokihiko, Asakura, Yusuke and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Mesoporous high-entropy PtPdRhCuIrSe particles via a soft-chemical approach using a reducing agent. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 98 (10) uoaf089. doi: 10.1093/bulcsj/uoaf089
2025
Journal Article
Modeling-making-modulating high-entropy alloy with activated water-dissociation centers for superior electrocatalysis
Nam, Ho Ngoc, Nandan, Ravi, Fu, Lei, Zhao, Yingji, Kang, Yunqing, Fukushima, Tetsuya, Sato, Kazunori, Asakura, Yusuke, Cretu, Ovidiu, Kikkawa, Jun, Henzie, Joel, P. Hill, Jonathan, Yanai, Takeshi, Phung, Quan Manh and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Modeling-making-modulating high-entropy alloy with activated water-dissociation centers for superior electrocatalysis. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 147 (37), 33545-33558. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5c08012
2025
Journal Article
Harnessing work function modulation for hydrogen evolution catalysis in mesoporous bimetallic Pt‐M alloys: the role of mesopores in work function optimization
Fu, Lei, Kang, Yunqing, Nam, Ho Ngoc, Wang, Kaiteng, Zhou, Zilin, Zhao, Yingji, Phung, Quan Manh, Wu, Kai, Asakura, Yusuke, Zhou, Jun and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Harnessing work function modulation for hydrogen evolution catalysis in mesoporous bimetallic Pt‐M alloys: the role of mesopores in work function optimization. Advanced Science, 12 (30) e05464, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/advs.202505464
2025
Journal Article
Hyperuniform mesoporous gold films coated with halogen-bonding metal–organic frameworks for selective Raman sensing of chlorinated hydrocarbons
Khairunnisa, Sarah Z., Guselnikova, Olga, Kang, Yunqing, Postnikov, Pavel S., Valiev, Rashid R., Hill, Jonathan P., Nugraha, Nugraha, Yuliarto, Brian, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Henzie, Joel (2025). Hyperuniform mesoporous gold films coated with halogen-bonding metal–organic frameworks for selective Raman sensing of chlorinated hydrocarbons. ACS Nano, 19 (30), 27890-27901. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.5c09431
2025
Journal Article
Modulating p-d Orbital Hybridization in Mesoporous Medium-Entropy Alloy Nanozymes with Enhanced Peroxidase-Like Activity
Zhang, Yiming, Kang, Yunqing, Wei, Xiaoqian, Chen, Chengjie, Zhai, Yanling, Zhu, Chengzhou, Jiao, Lei, Lu, Xiaoquan and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Modulating p-d Orbital Hybridization in Mesoporous Medium-Entropy Alloy Nanozymes with Enhanced Peroxidase-Like Activity. ACS Nano, 19 (26), 24013-24022. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.5c06349
2025
Journal Article
Multiple functional engineering strategies and active site identification in Ru-based electrocatalysts for catalytic conversion reactions
Ge, Riyue, Yu, Songhao, Li, Yawen, Huo, Juanjuan, Guo, Yuqi, Kang, Yunqing, Li, Wenxian, Bai, Zhongchao, Liu, Huakun, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Dou, Shixue (2025). Multiple functional engineering strategies and active site identification in Ru-based electrocatalysts for catalytic conversion reactions. Advanced Materials, 37 (24) 2503223, 1-53. doi: 10.1002/adma.202503223
2025
Journal Article
Ultrathin Mesoporous Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets
Zhao, Yingji, Gao, Zhi, Chen, Norman C.-R., Asakura, Yusuke, Nam, Ho Ngoc, Phung, Quan Manh, Kang, Yunqing, Leung, Mandy Hei Man, Jiang, Dong, Fu, Lei, Huang, Lijin, Asahi, Toru and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Ultrathin Mesoporous Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets. Advanced Materials, 37 (36) e2508105, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/adma.202508105
2025
Journal Article
Double-shell structured mixed-spinel oxides for highly efficient oxygen evolution
Fu, Lei, Zhou, Jun, Kang, Yunqing, Zhao, Hongfei, Zhao, Yingji, Zhou, Zilin, Wang, Kaiteng, Wu, Kai and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Double-shell structured mixed-spinel oxides for highly efficient oxygen evolution. Chemical Engineering Journal, 510 161462, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.161462
2025
Journal Article
Selective Electrochemical Capture of Monovalent Cations Using Crown Ether-Functionalized COFs
Jiang, Dong, Hill, Jonathan P., Henzie, Joel, Nam, Ho Ngoc, Phung, Quan Manh, Zhu, Liyang, Wang, Jie, Xia, Wei, Zhao, Yingji, Kang, Yunqing, Asahi, Toru, Bu, Ran, Xu, Xingtao and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Selective Electrochemical Capture of Monovalent Cations Using Crown Ether-Functionalized COFs. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 147 (15), 12460-12468. doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c16346
2025
Journal Article
Mesoporous gold decorated MXene (Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub>) flexible composite films for photo-enhanced solid-state micro-supercapacitors
Luo, Yijia, Que, Wenxiu, Nugraha, Asep Sugih, Kang, Yunqing, Tang, Yi, Wu, Zhenwei, Henzie, Joel and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Mesoporous gold decorated MXene (Ti3C2Tx) flexible composite films for photo-enhanced solid-state micro-supercapacitors. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 13 (2), 1-13. doi: 10.1039/d4ta06043a
2025
Journal Article
Precise positioning of Au islands within mesoporous Pd–Pt nanoparticles for plasmon-enhanced methanol oxidation
Zhu, Liyang, Kang, Yunqing, Eguchi, Miharu, Zhao, Yingji, Jiang, Dong, Wei, Xiaoqian, Xu, Xingtao, Nakagawa, Kenta, Asahi, Toru, Yokoshima, Tokihiko and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2025). Precise positioning of Au islands within mesoporous Pd–Pt nanoparticles for plasmon-enhanced methanol oxidation. Chemical Science, 16 (19), 8309-8318. doi: 10.1039/d4sc07345b
2024
Journal Article
Plasma‐induced oxygen defect engineering in perovskite oxide for boosting oxygen evolution reaction
Wang, Kaiteng, Zhou, Jun, Fu, Lei, Kang, Yunqing, Zhou, Zilin, Cheng, Yonghong, Wu, Kai and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2024). Plasma‐induced oxygen defect engineering in perovskite oxide for boosting oxygen evolution reaction. Small, 20 (48) 2404239, e2404239. doi: 10.1002/smll.202404239
2024
Conference Publication
Evolution of Cu-Co-Fe Prussian Blue Analogues with Open Nanoframe Architectures for Enhanced Electrochemical Capacitive Deionization
Guo, Yanna, Chen, Zeqiu, Jiang, Dong, Li, Yulin, Zhang, Wenyang, Kozumi, Kazuya, Kang, Yunqing, Yusuke, Yamauchi and Sugahara, Yoshiyuki (2024). Evolution of Cu-Co-Fe Prussian Blue Analogues with Open Nanoframe Architectures for Enhanced Electrochemical Capacitive Deionization. PRiME 2024, Honolulu, HI United States, 6 - 11 October 2024. Pennington, NJ United States: Electrochemical Society. doi: 10.1149/ma2024-02705017mtgabs
2024
Journal Article
Substrate curvature-induced regulation of charge distribution of covalent organic frameworks promotes capacitive deionization
Jiang, Dong, Xu, Ruibo, Bai, Liang, Hill, Jonathan P., Henzie, Joel, Zhu, Liyang, Xia, Wei, Bu, Ran, Zhao, Yingji, Kang, Yunqing, Hamada, Takashi, Ma, Renzhi, Torad, Nagy, Wang, Jie, Asahi, Toru, Xu, Xingtao and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2024). Substrate curvature-induced regulation of charge distribution of covalent organic frameworks promotes capacitive deionization. Advanced Functional Materials, 34 (45) 2407479. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202407479
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Yunqing Kang is:
- Available for supervision
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