1. RESEARCH GROUP
Solution Structure and Interface Group of QISL, CAS
2. BRIEF INTRODUTION
The Solution Structure and Interface Group of QISL, CAS, is an historically significant yet youthful group. They have dedicated over 30 years to studying solution structures and are known as a vibrant and young research collective, with an average age of members under 34. Their main research interest is centered on the structure of disordered materials, such as liquids or amorphous substances, using techniques like X-ray/Neutron scattering, EXAFS, DFT, and Molecular Dynamics, among others. Recently, they have broadened their research scope to include the structure and interaction at the atomic scale of solid-liquid, liquid-liquid, and liquid-air interfaces. These studies promise to provide valuable insights into fundamental aspects related to hydrated salt phase change energy/heat storage materials and the design, search, and discovery of new materials at the molecular level for separating valuable elements from salt lakes, etc.
The fields of solution structure and solution interface are challenging, and the group has engaged in collaborations with international researchers from Japan, the UK, France, and Sweden, among others. They successfully organized the 36th International Conference on Solution Chemistry in 2019 and co-organized the symposium “Frontiers of molecular approaches to properties and functions of liquids and solutions” at Pacifichem 2021. As a research group of the national key laboratory of green and high-end utilization of salt lake resources, as well as the key laboratory of salt lake resources chemistry of Qinghai province, they welcome young scientists and master’s & Ph.D. candidates to visit, collaborate with, and join this team.
3. Introduction of the Group Director
Name：Dr./Prof. Yongquan Zhou (Roger)
Major: Physical Chemistry& Analytical Chemistry
Tel：+86-(0)13997296727
e-mail：yongqzhou@163.com, yongqzhou@isl.ac.cn
Brief CV：Zhou Yongquan, PhD/Professor, doctoral supervisor. He earned his PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2014. In 2015, with the support from "Sakura Science Program" of Japanese science and technology, he undertook joint research at prof. Yamaguchi's research group of Fukuoka University, Japan. Then, he continued joint researches in this group from 2016 to 2017 with a further support from China Scholarship Council (CSC). He was selected as an associate professor in 2016, and has been a full professor of QISL, CAS since 2021. Prof. Zhou has been engaged in research on the solution structure, dynamics and micro-scale interface interactions by experimental observation and computer simulation for a long time. He has presided over 20 national, provincial and ministerial projects. He has published over 100 SCI papers in JPCL, PCCP, JPCB, etc. He acts as an international steering committee member of the international conference on solution chemistry of IUPAC, a professional committee member of the sub-committee of thermodynamics and thermal analysis of the Chinese chemistry society, a professional committee member of the sub-committee of solid local structure and total dispersion technology, Chinese crystallographic society, The editorial board member of Computer and Applied Chemistry, and Journal of Salt Lake Research, and the guest editor of Journal of Molecular Liquids.
He was selected as Qinghai Kunlun high-end innovation and entrepreneurship talent- leading talent (2021), Qinghai provincial academic leader of natural science and engineering technology (2018), Young scholar of the "Light of the West" (2018), membership of youth innovation promotion association of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2017). Prof. Zhou won the Hou Debang Chemical Science and Technology Award of Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China - Youth Award and the Qinghai provincial science achievement award -youth science and technology award in 2023, the third prize of the Qinghai natural science award (first contributor) in 2022, the Spokesperson of ‘Young Chemists Periodic Table of Elements’ (2019), AIE "Key Academic Paper Award" (2018), won Qinghai province's outstanding academic paper awards 3 times (2018, 2016, 2014) and so on.
4. Group members
(1)Staffs
Toshio Yamaguchi Hongen Nian Fayan Zhu Jisheng Li
Dr./Prof. Dr./Associate Prof. Dr./Associate Prof. Associate Prof.
Xiaobin Gu Hongyan Liu Ruirui Liu Ikram Muhammad
Dr./Associate Prof. Dr./ Assistant Prof. Dr./Assistant Prof. Dr./Assistant Prof.
Zhuanfang Jing Yifan Shao Qirui Wang
Dr./Assistant Prof. Assistant Prof. Assistant Prof.
(2) Ph. D Candidates
Yunxia Wang Keke Chai
(3) Master’s Degree Candidates
Yanan Wu Zhaoying Wang Shaolong Liu
5. Research Projects
(13). Interfacial Interaction of Concentrated salt Solutions, Young Scholars of Regional Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2024.1-2026.12, 500k.
(12). Green and efficient separation of key strategic resources of salt lakes, Subproject of CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research (sub-project), NO. YSBR-039, 2022.07-2027.07, 1500k.
(11). Study on the precise design of imprinted micro-nano assembly in limited space of "thin film like" and its efficient adsorption and separation of boron in salt lake brine, Subproject of Regional Innovation and Development Joint Fund of National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. U22A20413, 2023.01-2026.12, 800k.
(10). Experiment Platform for X-ray Scattering of Amorphous Material structure, Qinghai Innovation Platform Construction Project, No.2022-ZJ-T03, 2022.1-2024.12, 800k;
(9). Structure, Transport and Interfacial Interaction of Concentrated Salt Solutions in Nano or sub-nano Channels, Basic Research Youth Innovation Cross-team Foundation of QISL, CAS, 2022.1-2024.12, 1000k;
(8). Structure and Dynamics of Solutions，Kunlun Talented People of Qinghai Province, High-end Innovation and Entrepreneurship talents - Leading Talents, 2021.10-2024.10, 600k;
(7). Structure and phase change of confined aqueous saline solution, Natural Science Foundation of China, No.21973106, 2020.1-2023.12, 650k;
(6). Dihydrogen bonding and hydrogen storage in NaBH4 solution, West Light Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.Y910041014, 2019.01- 2022.12, 520k;
(5). Heat storage and release mechanism and microstructure of molten salt for the nano-composite phase change materials, Qinghai Application-Oriented Basic Research Project, No.2019-ZJ-7037, 2019.1-2021.12, 400k;
(4). Local structure of rubidium cesium in salt lake brine and typical extraction system, Qinghai Application-Oriented Basic Research Project, No. 2019-ZJ-7001, 2019.1-2021.12, 400k;
(3). Structure of Amorphous System, Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.2017467, 2017.1-2020.12, 800k;
(2). Performance and microstructure of sodium sulfate based phase change energy storage system with low eutectic, Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai, No.2017467, 2018.1-2020.12, 20 k；
(1). The investigation of the distribution law and structure of borate species in sulfate/chloride-type salt lake brine, The United Project of Natural Science Foundation of China, U1607106, 2017.1-2019.12, 580 k.
6. Publications
(1) Papers
[45]. K. Chai, T. Yamaguchi, T. Zuo, J. Tseng, K. Ikeda, Y. Zhou*, Structure, Microheterogeneity, and Transport Properties of Ethaline Decoded by X-ray/Neutron Scattering and MD Simulation. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2024. 128 (30), 7445-7456.
[44]. F. Zhu*, L. Li, L. Jia, Y. Du, Y. Wu, Y. Zhang, J. Pan, Y. Zhou, J. Li, An infrared spectroscopic and Ab initio investigation of aqueous boric acid solutions: Evidence for the structure and transformation of the polyboric acid molecules. Journal of Molecular Liquids 2024, 408, 125390.
[43]. L. Song, A. C. Hannon, S. Feller, R. Liu, P. McGuire, B. Zhang, Y. Zhou, W. Li*, F Zhu*. Deciphering the structure and potassium-ion transport mechanism of potassium borate glass. Dalton Trans. 2024, 53, 10434-10445.
[42]. L. Jia, Y. Wang, L. Song, R. Liu, L. Li, J. Li, Y. Zhou, J. Pan, F. Zhu, Hydrolysis mechanism of the cyclohexaborate anion: Unraveling the intricacies. Journal of Computational Chemistry 2024, 45 (17), 1456-1469.
[41]. M. Ikram, C. Hu, Y. Zhou, Y. Gao*, Bimetallic Photo-Activated and Steerable Janus Micromotors as Active Microcleaners for Wastewater. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2024, 16 (26), 33439-33450.
[40]. X. Tan, X. Gu, H. Nian, X. Wang, J. Li, Q. Wang, Z. Wang, Y. Zhao, Y. Zhou, Enhanced thermal performance of NaCH3COO·3H2O-Na2S2O3·5H2O eutectic based composite phase change materials with hybrid dimensional carbon nanomaterials and modified lotus root starch. Journal of Energy Storage 2024, 95, 112418.
[39]. H. Wang, C. Hu, Y. Du, R. Liu, Z. Liu, L. Han, Y. Zhou*, Construction of potassium cobalt iron cyanide double-hollow nanobubble prisms for high selective adsorption of cesium. Journal of Water Process Engineering 2024, 59, 104944.
[38]. C. Hu, B. Xiao, H. Wang, I.; Muhammad, R. Liu, Y. Zhou*, Monolayer B3C2P3: A promising candidate as N-containing gases sensor and/or capturer with high Sensitivity, selectivity and reversibility. Applied Surface Science 2024, 655, 159531.
[37]. Q. Wang, X. Tan, H. Nian, X. Wang, C. Xue, Y. Zhao, Z. Wang, Y. Zhou*, CH3COONa·3H2O/flaky modified vermiculite composite phase change materials enhanced phase change behavior and thermal storage through curing lotus root starch modification. Journal of Energy Storage 2024, 80, 110349.
[36]. L. Song, S. Feller, H. Hawbaker, W. Yin, W. Li, A. Hannon, Y. Zhou, J. Xu, F. Zhu*, Unveiling the structure of calcium borate glass by neutron diffraction, MAS-NMR, Raman and first-principles calculations. Ceramics International 2024, 50 (4), 6634-6647.
[35]. Y. Zhou*, Z. Liu, M. Wang, Chapter 20 Resources Separation from Salt Lakes Brine. In Metal Ions and Complexes in Solution, Toshio Yamaguchi, I. P., Ed. Royal Society of Chemistry: 2023. <book Charpter>
[34]. G. Wang, Y. Zhou*, T. Yamaguchi, K. Yoshida, K. Ikeda, K. Chai, Z. Liu, Z. Wu, Atomic insights into the heterogeneity and the interface interactions of nanoconfined aqueous electrolyte solution. Journal of Molecular Liquids 2023, 388, 122746.
[33]. Z. Jing, Y. Zhou*, T. Yamaguchi, K. Yoshida, K. Ikeda, K. Ohara, G. Wang, Hydration of Alkali Metal and Halide Ions from Static and Dynamic Viewpoints, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2023,14 (27), 6270-6277.
[32]. Z. Jing, Y. Zhou*, T. Yamaguchi, K. Ohara, J. Pan, G. Wang, F. Zhu, H. Liu, Alkali Metal Ion Recognition by 18-Crown-6 in Aqueous Solutions: Evidence from Local Structures. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2023, 127 (21), 4858-4869.
[31]. K. Chai, Y Zhou*, X. Lu, T. Yamaguchi, K. Ohara, H. Liu, F. Zhu, Structure of choline chloride-carboxylic acid deep eutectic solvents by wide-angle X-ray scattering and DFT calculations. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2023, 25 (15), 10481-10494.
[30]. R. Liu, Z. Jing, Y. Shao, Y. Zhou*, F. Zhu, H. Liu, The hydration of Li+ and Mg2+ in subnano carbon nanotubes using a multiscale theoretical approach. Frontiers in Chemistry 2023, 11.
[29]. L. Song, Y. Wang, A. Hannon, S. Feller, W. Li, Y. Zhou, F. Zhu*, Structural investigation of lithium borate glasses by Raman spectroscopy: Quantitative evaluation of structural units and its correlation with density. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 2023, 616, 122478.
[28]. W. Zhang*, L. Han, Y. Zhou, C. Fang, W. Li, F. Zhu, H. Liu, Y. Zhang, Y. Liu, Structure of Aqueous Cs2CO3 Solution by X-ray Scattering. Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A 2023, 97 (12), 2711-2720.
[27]. W. Wang, H. Li, Y. Zhou, J. Pan*, Investigation of the mechanism of establishing a solid–water–oil system by metastable droplets and their application in the fabrication of polyol nanosheets for rapid boron removal. Chemical Engineering Journal 2023, 145930.
[26]. T. Yamaguchi, Y. Zhou, Preface of a special issue for PACHIFICHEM 2021 (December 15–20, 2021, Honolulu, Hawai, USA). Journal of Molecular Liquids 2023, 377.
[25]. F. Zhu, D. Bowron, S. Gärtner, C. Fang, Y. Zhou, H. Liu, A. C. Hannon*, Structural analysis of potassium borate solutions. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2023, 25 (17), 12207-12219.
[24]. H. Dong, X. Hu, R. Liu, M. Ouyang, H. He, T. Wang, X. Gao, Y. Dai, W. Zhang, Y. Zhou, D. J. L. Brett, I. P. Parkin, P. R. Shearing, G. He*,Bio-Inspired Polyanionic Electrolytes for Highly Stable Zinc-Ion Batteries. Angewandte Chemie International Edition,2023, e202311268.
[23]. J. Li, L. Sheng, Q. Wang, Y. Wang, L Song, Y. Zhou, F. Zhu*, Study on ionic association behavior in sodium nitrate solution. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2023, 285, 121888.
[22]. P. Fang, X. Lu*, Q. Zhou, D. Yan, J. Xin, J. Xu, C. Shi, Y. Zhou, S. Xia*, Controlled alcoholysis of PET to obtain oligomers for the preparation of PET-PLA copolymer. Chemical Engineering Journal 2023, 451, 138988.
[21]. Z. Jing, Y. Zhou*, W. Zhang, T. Yamaguchi, K. Yoshida, G. Wang, L. Han, Structures of 18-crown-6/Cs+ complexes in aqueous solutions by wide angle X-ray scattering and density functional theory. Journal of Molecular Liquids 2022, 360, 119477.
[20]. X. Ding, J. Huang, F. Zhu*, Y. Wang, Y. Shao*, X. Li, Y. Zhou, L. Song, Study on energy storage performance of thermally enhanced composite phase change material of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate. Journal of Energy Storage 2022, 52, 104879.
[19]. D. Shen, Y. Song, X. Chen, Y. Zhou, H. Li, J. Pan*, Fabricating Ultrafine Zirconium Oxide Based Composite Sorbents in “Soft Confined Space” for Efficiently Removing Fluoride from Environmental Water. Chemical Engineering Journal 2022, 136199.
[18]. G. Wang, Y. Zhou, Z. Jing, Y. Wang, K. Chai, H. Liu, F. Zhu, Z. Wu, Anomalous ion hydration and association in confined aqueous CaCl2 solution. Journal of Molecular Liquids 2022, 360, 119409
[17]. Y. Wang, L. Song, G. Wang, H. Liu, Z. Jing, Y. Zhou, F. Zhu, Y. Zhang, Structure analysis of aqueous Mg(NO3)2 solutions. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 2022, 267, 120478.
[16].G. Wang, Y. Zhou, T. Yamaguchi, H. Liu, F. Zhu, Z. Wu, Structure of Aqueous CaCl2 Solutions by X-Ray Scattering and Density Functional Theory. Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A 2022, 96(1), S68.
[15].Y. Wang, F. Zhu*, T. Yamaguchi, K. Yoshida, G. Wang, R. Liu, L. Song, Y. Zhou, H Liu,., Structure of phase change energy storage material Ca(NO3)2·4H2O solution. Journal of Molecular Liquids 2022, 356, 119010
[14]. D. Pang, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhou*, Z. Fu, Q. Li, Y. Zhang, G. Wang, Z. Jing, The process and mechanism for cesium and rubidium extraction with saponified 4-tert-butyl-2-(α-methylbenzyl) phenol. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering 2021, Doi: 10.1016/j.cjche.2021.07.001.
[13]. W. Zhang, T. Yamaguchi, C. Fang, K. Yoshida, Y. Zhou, F. Zhu, S. Machida, T Hattori, W. Li, Structure of an aqueous RbCl solution in the gigapascal pressure rangeby neutron diffraction combined with empirical potential structure refinement modeling. Journal of Molecular Liquids 2021, 118080.
[12]. J. Zhao, Y. Zhou*, G. Wang, L. Yang, W. Zhang, H. Liu,Li Han, Structure of ternary nitrate molten (Hitec) by X-Ray scattering and density functional theory. Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A 2021, 95 (6), 1185–1193.
[11]. F. Zhu, W. Zhang, H. Liu, X. Wang, Y. Zhou, C. Fang, Y. Zhang, Micro–Raman and density functional theory analyses of ion pairs in concentrated sodium tetrahydroxyborate droplets. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 2020, 224, 117308.
[10]. Y. Zhou*, T. Yamaguchi, K. Ikeda, K. Yoshida, T. Otomo, C. Fang, W. Zhang, F. Zhu, Dihydrogen bonds in aqueous NaBD4 solution by Neutron and X-ray diffraction. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2020, 11 (5), 1622-1628.
[9]. Y. Zhou*, T. Yamaguchi, W. Zhang, K. Ikeda, K. Yoshida, F. Zhu, H. Liu, The structural elucidation of aqueous H3BO3 solutions by DFT and neutron scattering studies. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2020, 22 (30), 17160-17170.
[8]. Z. Jing, G. Wang, Y. Zhou*, D. Pang, F. Zhu, H. Liu, Selectivity of 18-crown-6 ether to alkali ions by density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulation. Journal of Molecular Liquids 2020, 311, 113305.
[7]. H. Liu, Y. Zhou*, F. Zhu, W. Zhang, G. Wang, Z. Jing, C. Fang, Micro hydration structure of aqueous Li+ by DFT and CPMD. The European Physical Journal D 2020, 74 (1), 2.
[6].F. Zhu, W. Zhang, H. Liu, Y. Zhou, X. Wang, C. Fang, Raman and ab initio analyses of ion pairs in concentrated K[B(OH)4] droplets. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 2020, 230, 118039.
[5]. G. Wang, Y. Zhou*, H. Lin, Z. Jing, H. Liu, F. Zhu, Structure of aqueous sodium acetate solutions by X-Ray scattering and density functional theory. Pure and Applied Chemistry 2020, 92 (10), 1627-1641.
[4]. F. Zhu, W. Zhang, H. Liu, X. Wang, Y. Zhou, C. Fang, Y. Zhang. Micro–Raman and density functional theory analyses of ion pairs in concentrated sodium tetrahydroxy borate droplets. Spectrochimica Acta Part A, 224 (2020) 117308.
[3].H. Zhou, F. Zhu, H. Liu, W. Zhang, Y. Zhou, C. Fang, Mechanism for hydrolysis of double six-membered ring tetraborate anion. International Journal of Quantum Chemistry 2020, 120 (5), e26118.
[2]. Y. Zhou, K. Yoshida. T. Yamaguchi, C. Fang, Y. Fang, Structure of alkaline aqueous NaBH4 solutions by X-Ray scattering and empirical potential structure refinement, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2019, 274, 173-182.
[1]. F. Zhu, H. Liu, W. Zhang, Y. Zhou, X. Wang,Y. Zhang, C. Fang. Ab-initio investigation on ion–associated species and association process in Li[B(OH)4] solution, Spectrochimica Acta Part A, 213 (2019) 423–429.
(2) Patents
[1]. Method for lithium tetraborate purification through hydrothermal, ZL.201510078259.2;
[2]. Method for preparing graphene oxide by electrocatalytic oxidation, ZL.201410474357.3;
[3]. A mass titration device and a titration method with a titration protection component, ZL.201410152104.4;
[4]. Sample cell for liquid X-ray scattering, ZL.201320032922.1.
(3) Monograph
[1]. T. Yamaguchi, I. Persson, Metal Ions and Complexes in Solution, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023.
7. Awards and Honors
(15). Hou Debang Chemical Science and Technology Award of Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China - Youth Award, 2023;
(14). Qinghai Provincial Science Achievement Award -Youth Science and Technology Award, 2023;
(13). Qinghai Natural Science Award (third class), 2022;
(12). Kunlun Talented People of Qinghai Province, High-end Innovation and Entrepreneurship talents -Talent Team, 2022;
(9). Spokesperson of ‘Young Chemists Periodic Table of Elements’ Awarded by Chinese Chemical Society, 2019;
(8). Leader of Natural Science and Engineering Technology in Qinghai Province, Award by Qinghai Provincial Government, 2018;
(7). Young Scholar of "Light of the West", Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2018;
(6). Outstanding Academic Paper Prize of Natural Science in Qinghai Province, Award by Qinghai Provincial Government, 2018;
(5). “Key Science Article certificate” Award by Advance in Engineering, 2018;
(4)."Interdisciplinary and Innovation Award" In the Annual Conference of Youth Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017;
(3). Membership of Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017;
(2). Outstanding academic paper prize of natural science in Qinghai province, award by Qinghai Provincial Government, 2016;
(1). Outstanding academic paper prize of natural science in Qinghai province, award by Qinghai Provincial Government, 2014.