Overview
Background
Dr. Yunqing Kang received his Ph.D. from Waseda University, Japan, in 2022. Following his graduation, he has held research positions at several prestigious institutions, including the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and Nagoya University, where he has been actively engaged in cutting-edge academic research. Currently, Dr. 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
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology (华东理工大学)
- Masters (Research) of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Normal University (上海师范大学)
- Doctoral (Research) of Materials Science and Engineering, Waseda University
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
2023
Journal Article
Synergistic mesoporous bimetallic gold-silver nanoparticles: synthesis, structure, and superior electrocatalytic activity
Nugraha, Asep Sugih, Han, Minsu, Ashok, Aditya, Kang, Yunqing, Kim, Jeonghun, Alshehri, Saad M., Ahamad, Tansir, Bando, Yoshio and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2023). Synergistic mesoporous bimetallic gold-silver nanoparticles: synthesis, structure, and superior electrocatalytic activity. Nano Energy, 116 108770, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.108770
2023
Journal Article
Modulating electronic metal-support interactions to boost visible-light-driven hydrolysis of ammonia borane: nickel-platinum nanoparticles supported on phosphorus-doped titania
Wan, Chao, Li, Gui, Wang, Jiapei, Xu, Lixin, Cheng, Dang-guo, Chen, Fengqiu, Asakura, Yusuke, Kang, Yunqing and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2023). Modulating electronic metal-support interactions to boost visible-light-driven hydrolysis of ammonia borane: nickel-platinum nanoparticles supported on phosphorus-doped titania. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 62 (40) e202305371, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/anie.202305371
2023
Journal Article
Erratum: Publisher Correction: Mesoporous multimetallic nanospheres with exposed highly entropic alloy sites (Nature communications (2023) 14 1 (4182))
Kang, Yunqing, Cretu, Ovidiu, Kikkawa, Jun, Kimoto, Koji, Nara, Hiroki, Nugraha, Asep Sugih, Kawamoto, Hiroki, Eguchi, Miharu, Liao, Ting, Sun, Ziqi, Asahi, Toru and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2023). Erratum: Publisher Correction: Mesoporous multimetallic nanospheres with exposed highly entropic alloy sites (Nature communications (2023) 14 1 (4182)). Nature Communications, 14 (1) 4862, 4862. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40653-8
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Mesoporous multimetallic nanospheres with exposed highly entropic alloy sites
Kang, Yunqing, Cretu, Ovidiu, Kikkawa, Jun, Kimoto, Koji, Nara, Hiroki, Nugraha, Asep Sugih, Kawamoto, Hiroki, Eguchi, Miharu, Liao, Ting, Sun, Ziqi, Asahi, Toru and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2023). Mesoporous multimetallic nanospheres with exposed highly entropic alloy sites. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 4182, 4182-1. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39157-2
2023
Journal Article
Nanoarchitectonics of metallene materials for electrocatalysis
Jiang, Bo, Guo, Yanna, Sun, Fengyu, Wang, Shengyao, Kang, Yunqing, Xu, Xingtao, Zhao, Jingjing, You, Jungmok, Eguchi, Miharu, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Li, Hexing (2023). Nanoarchitectonics of metallene materials for electrocatalysis. ACS Nano, 17 (14), 13017-13043. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.3c01380
2023
Journal Article
Composite polymer electrolytes with ionic liquid grafted-Laponite for dendrite-free all-solid-state lithium metal batteries
Jin, Biyu, Wang, Dongyun, He, Yuan, Mao, Jianjiang, Kang, Yunqing, Wan, Chao, Xia, Wei, Kim, Jeonghun, Eguchi, Miharu and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2023). Composite polymer electrolytes with ionic liquid grafted-Laponite for dendrite-free all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. Chemical Science, 14 (29), 7956-7965. doi: 10.1039/d3sc01647a
2023
Journal Article
Particle size optimization of metal–organic frameworks for superior capacitive deionization in oxygenated saline water
Xing, Zhiyuan, Xuan, Xiaoxu, Hu, Haiyan, Li, Mohua, Gao, Huimin, Alowasheeir, Azhar, Jiang, Dong, Zhu, Liyang, Li, Zhengtong, Kang, Yunqing, Zhang, Jing, Yi, Xibin, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Xu, Xingtao (2023). Particle size optimization of metal–organic frameworks for superior capacitive deionization in oxygenated saline water. Chemical Communications, 59 (30), 4515-4518. doi: 10.1039/d2cc06460j
2023
Journal Article
Noble-metal–metalloid alloy architectures: mesoporous amorphous iridium–tellurium alloy for electrochemical N2 reduction
Jiang, Bo, Xue, Hairong, Wang, Pei, Du, Haoran, Kang, Yunqing, Zhao, Jingjing, Wang, Shengyao, Zhou, Wei, Bian, Zhenfeng, Li, Hexing, Henzie, Joel and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2023). Noble-metal–metalloid alloy architectures: mesoporous amorphous iridium–tellurium alloy for electrochemical N2 reduction. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 145 (11), 6079-6086. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c10637
2023
Journal Article
Au-loaded superparamagnetic mesoporous bimetallic CoFeB nanovehicles for sensitive autoantibody detection
Kang, Yunqing, Masud, Mostafa Kamal, Guo, Yanna, Zhao, Yingji, Nishat, Zakia Sultana, Zhao, Jingjing, Jiang, Bo, Sugahara, Yoshiyuki, Pejovic, Tanja, Morgan, Terry, Hossain, Md Shahriar A., Li, Hexing, Salomon, Carlos, Asahi, Toru and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2023). Au-loaded superparamagnetic mesoporous bimetallic CoFeB nanovehicles for sensitive autoantibody detection. ACS Nano, 17 (4), 3346-3357. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.2c07694
2023
Journal Article
Spontaneous generation of singlet oxygen on microemulsion-derived manganese oxides with rich oxygen vacancies for efficient aerobic oxidation
Tang, Jun, Chen, Junbao, Zhang, Zhanyu, Ma, Qincheng, Hu, Xiaolong, Li, Peng, Liu, Zhiqiang, Cui, Peixin, Wan, Chao, Ke, Qingping, Fu, Lei, Kim, Jeonghun, Hamada, Takashi, Kang, Yunqing and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2023). Spontaneous generation of singlet oxygen on microemulsion-derived manganese oxides with rich oxygen vacancies for efficient aerobic oxidation. Chemical Science, 14 (46), 13402-13409. doi: 10.1039/d3sc04418a
2022
Journal Article
Tailored MXene nanoarchitectonics: MXene with mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon confined ultrafine molybdenum carbide nanodots for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Tang, Yi, Yang, Chenhui, Xie, Yangyang, Kang, Yunqing, Que, Wenxiu, Henzie, Joel and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2022). Tailored MXene nanoarchitectonics: MXene with mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon confined ultrafine molybdenum carbide nanodots for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 11 (1), 168-176. doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c05106
2022
Journal Article
Porous nanoarchitectures of nonprecious metal borides: from controlled synthesis to heterogeneous catalyst applications
Kang, Yunqing, Tang, Yi, Zhu, Liyang, Jiang, Bo, Xu, Xingtao, Guselnikova, Olga, Li, Hexing, Asahi, Toru and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2022). Porous nanoarchitectures of nonprecious metal borides: from controlled synthesis to heterogeneous catalyst applications. ACS Catalysis, 12 (23), 14773-14793. doi: 10.1021/acscatal.2c03480
2022
Journal Article
Soft template‐based synthesis of mesoporous phosphorus‐ and boron‐codoped nife‐based alloys for efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Kang, Yunqing, Guo, Yanna, Zhao, Jingjing, Jiang, Bo, Guo, Jingru, Tang, Yi, Li, Hexing, Malgras, Victor, Amin, Mohammed A., Nara, Hiroki, Sugahara, Yoshiyuki, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Asahi, Toru (2022). Soft template‐based synthesis of mesoporous phosphorus‐ and boron‐codoped nife‐based alloys for efficient oxygen evolution reaction. Small, 18 (33) 2203411, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/smll.202203411
2022
Journal Article
MXene nanoarchitectonics: defect‐engineered 2D MXenes towards enhanced electrochemical water splitting
Tang, Yi, Yang, Chenhui, Xu, Xingtao, Kang, Yunqing, Henzie, Joel, Que, Wenxiu and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2022). MXene nanoarchitectonics: defect‐engineered 2D MXenes towards enhanced electrochemical water splitting. Advanced Energy Materials, 12 (12) 2103867, 1-21. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202103867
2022
Journal Article
Microwave one-pot synthesis of CNT-supported amorphous Ni-P alloy nanoparticles with enhanced hydrogenation performance
Kang, Yunqing, Du, Haoran, Jiang, Bo, Li, Hui, Guo, Yanna, Amin, Mohammed A., Sugahara, Yoshiyuki, Asahi, Toru, Li, Hexing and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2022). Microwave one-pot synthesis of CNT-supported amorphous Ni-P alloy nanoparticles with enhanced hydrogenation performance. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 10 (12), 6560-6568. doi: 10.1039/d1ta10742a
2021
Journal Article
Heterostructuring mesoporous 2D iridium nanosheets with amorphous nickel boron oxide layers to improve electrolytic water splitting
Kang, Yunqing, Jiang, Bo, Malgras, Victor, Guo, Yanna, Cretu, Ovidiu, Kimoto, Koji, Ashok, Aditya, Wan, Zhe, Li, Hexing, Sugahara, Yoshiyuki, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Asahi, Toru (2021). Heterostructuring mesoporous 2D iridium nanosheets with amorphous nickel boron oxide layers to improve electrolytic water splitting. Small Methods, 5 (10) 2100679, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/smtd.202100679
2021
Journal Article
Direct Z-scheme CuInS2/Bi2MoO6 heterostructure for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light
Guo, Jingru, Wang, Liping, Wei, Xiao, Alothman, Zeid A., Albaqami, Munirah D., Malgras, Victor, Yamauchi, Yusuke, Kang, Yunqing, Wang, Meiqi, Guan, Weisheng and Xu, Xingtao (2021). Direct Z-scheme CuInS2/Bi2MoO6 heterostructure for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 415 125591, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125591
2021
Journal Article
Auto-programmed synthesis of metallic aerogels: Core-shell Cu@Fe@Ni aerogels for efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Jiang, Bo, Wan, Zhe, Kang, Yunqing, Guo, Yanna, Henzie, Joel, Na, Jongbeom, Li, Hexing, Wang, Shengyao, Bando, Yoshio, Sakka, Yoshio and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2021). Auto-programmed synthesis of metallic aerogels: Core-shell Cu@Fe@Ni aerogels for efficient oxygen evolution reaction. Nano Energy, 81 105644, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105644
2021
Journal Article
Graphene–carbon 2D heterostructures with hierarchically-porous P,N-doped layered architecture for capacitive deionization
Guo, Jingru, Xu, Xingtao, Hill, Jonathan P., Wang, Liping, Dang, Jingjing, Kang, Yunqing, Li, Yuliang, Guan, Weisheng and Yamauchi, Yusuke (2021). Graphene–carbon 2D heterostructures with hierarchically-porous P,N-doped layered architecture for capacitive deionization. Chemical Science, 12 (30), 10334-10340. doi: 10.1039/d1sc00915j
2020
Journal Article
Amorphous alloy architectures in pore walls: mesoporous amorphous NiCoB alloy spheres with controlled compositions via a chemical reduction
Kang, Yunqing, Jiang, Bo, Yang, Juanjuan, Wan, Zhe, Na, Jongbeom, Li, Qian, Li, Hexing, Henzie, Joel, Sakka, Yoshio, Yamauchi, Yusuke and Asahi, Toru (2020). Amorphous alloy architectures in pore walls: mesoporous amorphous NiCoB alloy spheres with controlled compositions via a chemical reduction. ACS Nano, 14 (12), 17224-17232. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07178
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Yunqing Kang is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Synthesis and applications of mesoporous multi-metallic nanomaterials
The project will be based in the Yamauchi Research Group at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, bringing together the expertise of Professor Yusuke Yamauchi and Dr Yunqing Kang in advanced nanomaterials and electrocatalysis.
Professor Yamauchi is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Senior Group Leader at AIBN, and Director of the Australian Materials nanoTectonics Centre. His research encompasses the design and synthesis of functional nanostructured materials for energy and environmental applications. His international research network connects complementary expertise in materials chemistry, nanotechnology and chemical engineering.
Dr Kang is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow whose research focuses on mesoporous metals, amorphous and high-entropy alloys, and single-atom alloy systems. He develops self-assembly strategies to control metallic composition, pore architecture and atomic structure, with particular interests in electrocatalytic hydrogen production and plastic upcycling.
This project aims to develop mesoporous multi-metallic nanomaterials with precisely controlled compositions and structures, and explore their applications in sustainable energy conversion and environmental catalysis. Students will investigate how different metal combinations, pore architectures and atomic arrangements influence catalytic activity, selectivity and durability. Potential research directions include the synthesis of mesoporous alloy nanoparticles and films, the integration of these materials into functional electrodes, and their application in water splitting and the conversion of plastic-derived molecules into valuable chemicals.
Our aim is to provide a supportive and collaborative environment in which students develop both fundamental knowledge and practical research skills. The project will offer training in nanomaterial synthesis, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis. Students will be encouraged to develop independent research ideas, communicate their findings and engage with collaborators across materials science, chemistry and engineering.
Media
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