Associate Professor of Chemistry

Email: pengliu@hust.edu.cn

Academic Areas: Heterogeneous catalysis

Liu Peng, born in Suizhou (China) in 1977, received his Bachelor and Master degrees in chemistry from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). He obtained his PhD in 2009 from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in the field of heterogeneous catalysis under the supervision of Prof. Can Li. He then accepted a post-doctoral researcher position with Prof. Emiel Hensen and Prof. Rutger van Santen at Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands) until 2013. Since 2014, Peng Liu has been appointed as an Associate Professor of Chemistry in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. His research activities primarily lie in the field of heterogeneous catalysis with the main focus on green catalytic processes for sustainable energy and environmental technologies, namely clean oxidation and biomass transformation. His research is directed toward the understanding of structure- performance relationships and utilizing this knowledge to rational design of heterogeneous catalysts. Peng Liu is the (co)author of over 20 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Journal of the American Chemical Society, Chemical Communications, Chemistry A European Journal, Journal of Catalysis, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. His current research interests include development of novel synergistic catalysis and unraveling the mechanisms of synergy in heterogeneous catalysis, as well as practical application of the promising green catalytic processes.

Academic Degrees

2003-2009

PhD in Physical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

2000-2003

Master in Applied Chemistry, China University of Geosciences

1996-2000

Bachelor in Analytical Chemistry, China University of Geosciences

Professional Experience

2014-now

Associate Professor, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

2009-2013

Postdoctoral research fellow, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands

2003-2009

Graduate research assistant, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics

Courses Taught

Awards and Honors

1.Best Poster Award, Evonik in China: Catalysis Technology Workshop, 2009

2.Excellent PhD Graduate, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2008

3.Excellent Master Graduate, China University of Geosciences, 2003

4.CAS Scholarship, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2000

5.IET Scholarship, IET Education Foundation of China, 1999

Selected Projects Funded

Selected Publications

[1]P. Liu*, V. Degirmenci, E. Hensen, Unraveling the synergy between chromium-hydrotalcite and gold nanoparticles in aerobic oxidation of alcohols, Journal of Catalysis 2014, 313, 80-91.

[2]P. Liu*, M. Derchi, E. Hensen, Effect of transition metal doping on the basicity and activity of calcined hydrotalcite catalysts for glycerol carbonate synthesis, Appl. Catal. B: Environ 2014, 144, 135-143.

[3]P. Liu*, E. Hensen, Highly efficient and robust Au/MgCuCr2O4 catalyst for gas-phase oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 14032-14035.

[4]P. Liu*, M. Derchi, E. Hensen, Synthesis of glycerol carbonate by transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate over MgAl mixed oxide catalysts, Appl. Catal. A:Gen 2013, 467, 124-131.

[5]P. Liu, C. Li, E. Hensen, Efficient tandem synthesis of methyl esters and imines by versatile hydrotalcite-supported gold nanoparticles, Chem. Eur. J. 2012, 18, 12122-12129.

[6]P. Liu, Y. Guan, R. van Santen, C. Li, E. Hensen, Aerobic oxidation of alcohols over hydrotalcite-supported gold nanoparticles: the promotional effect of transition metal cations, Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 11540-11542.

[7]P. Liu, C.H. Wang, C. Li, Epoxidation of allylic alcohols on self-assembled polyoxometalates hosted in layered double hydroxides with aqueous H2O2 as oxidant, Journal of Catalysis 2009, 262, 159-168.

[8]P. Liu, H. Wang, Z.C. Feng, P.L. Ying, C. Li, Direct immobilization of self-assembled polyoxometalate catalyst in layered double hydroxide for heterogeneous epoxidation of olefins, Journal of Catalysis, 2008, 256, 345-348.

[9]W. Song, P. Liu, E. Hensen, A mechanism of gas-phase alcohol oxidation at the interface of Au nanoparticles and a MgCuCr2O4 spinel support, Catalysis Science & Technology 2014, in press, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1039/C4CY00462K

[10]S. Qiu, G.N. Li, P. Liu, C.H. Wang, Z.C. Feng, C. Li, Chirality transition in the epoxidation of (-)-alpha-pinene and successive hydrolysis studied by Raman optical activity and DFT, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2010, 12, 3005-3013.

[11]H. Wang, H.M. Wang, P. Liu, H.Q. Yang, J.L. Xiao, C. Li, Electronic and steric effects of bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine ligands on asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions, J. Mol. Catal. A 2008, 285, 128-131.

[12]H. Wang, X.J. Liu, P. Liu, Q.H. Yang, J.L. Xiao, C. Li, Asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions on supported Bis(oxazoline) catalysts, Chin. J. Catal. 2006, 27, 946-948.