Heterogeneous catalysis, confinement catalysis, two-dimensional catalytic materials, catalytic conversion of energy molecules, and in situ characterization.

1. Design and synthesis of advanced two-dimensional materials and their heterostructures, including graphene, molybdenum disulfide, and layered double hydroxides, as well as modulating their surfaces and interfaces to induce high catalytic performance.

2. Thermochemical, electrochemical, and thermo-electrical catalysis for the highly efficient activation and conversion of energy molecules, including carbon dioxide, methane, water, hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon monoxide.

3. In situ characterization of catalytic conversion processes to provide fundamental understanding of the catalytic activity, selectivity, and reaction mechanisms for the future development and optimization of advanced catalysts.

2007.09 – 2013.01  Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, China

2003.09 – 2007.06  B.S. in Light Industry Engineering and B.S. in National Economy Management, Sichuan University, China

2018.07 – Present Ph.D. supervisor

2017.06 – Present Professor, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, China

2013.02 – 2017.06 Associate Professor, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, China

2015.05 – 2016.01 Visiting Scholar, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, U. S.

1. Sep. 2021: First Prize of the National Natural Science Award of China (2020, Fourth Recipient)
2. Apr. 2026: Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society
3. Nov. 2024: Recipient of the State Council Government Special Allowance
4. Jun. 2024: Outstanding Communist Party Member of Liaoning Province
5. Mar. 2024: Qingshan Science and Technology Award
6. Jun. 2022: Youth May Fourth Medal (Group Leader) of Dalian
7. Apr. 2022: Youth May Fourth Medal by the Chinese Academy of Sciences
8. Nov. 2019: Outstanding Member by the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS

1. Hao Zhang, Ziming Liu, Di Li, Rui Huang*, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Direct Plasma Synthesis of High-value C-N-O Compound with Inert N2 and CH4, Nature Synthesis, 2026
2. Xinyao Dai, Wei Hu, Liang Yu*, Yanting Liu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Room-temperature conversion of methane with ozone over MOR lattice-confined Pd sites, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2026
3. Shang Jiang, Wei Hu, Liang Yu*, Yanting Liu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, An atomic-to-macroscale assembled Ni/MoO2 electrode for high-efficiency and long-life hydrogen production, 2026
4. Ying Hou, Wei Hu, Yunchuan Tu, Yi Cui*, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Ammonia Synthesis at Metallic Li/Ru Interfaces under Ambient Conditions, Chem, 2026
5. Baibei Zhao, Wei Hu, Rui Huang*, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Direct ammonia synthesis from nitrogen and water at mild conditions, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025
6. Mingxia Xu, Yiran Kang, Liang Yu*, Junling Lu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Enriched asymmetric π electrons confining single-site Pt for acidic hydrogen evolution, Joule, 2025
7. Longhai Zhang, Qiming Bing, Haobo Li*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Artifiial intelligence for catalyst design and synthesis, Matter, 2025
8. Jun Mao, Huan Liu, Liang Yu*, Xiaoju Cui*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Mild-condition conversion of methane to acetic acid over MoS2-confined Rh-Fe sites, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025
9. Mo Zhang, Xiaoju Cui*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Highly effective and durable integrated-chainmail electrode for H2 production through H2S electrolysis, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025
10. Mo Zhang, Zifeng Wang, Dehui Deng*, et al, Two-Dimensional Catalysts: From Model to Reality, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025
11. Mingxia Xu, Qiming Bing, Yunchuan Tu, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Full-spectrum light-harvesting solar thermal electrocatalyst boosts oxygen evolution, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024
12. Jingting Hu, Dehui Deng*, et al, Selectivity control in CO2 hydrogenation to one-carbon products, Chem, 2024
13. Yao Song, Xiao Yang, Huan Liu, Liang Yu*, Xiaoju Cui*, Dehui Deng*, et al, High-pressure electro-Fenton driving CH4 conversion by O2 at room temperature, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2024
14. Jinchang Fan, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, Two-dimensional crystal lattice confining atoms for electrocatalysis, Matter, 2024
15. Shiming Chen, Suxia Liang, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Direct electro-conversion of air to nitric acid under mild conditions, Nature Synthesis, 2024
16. Jinchang Fan, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Ligand-confined two-dimensional rhodium hydride boosts hydrogen evolution, Matter, 2023
17. Ying Hou, Dehui Deng*, Membrane electrode assembly: Another technical roadmap for lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction?, Joule, 2023
18. Zifeng Wang, Yiran Kang, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Boosting CO2 hydrogenation to formate over edge-sulfur vacancies of molybdenum disulfide, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2023
19. Rui Huang, Meihan Xia, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Acetylene hydrogenation to ethylene by water at low temperature on a Au/α-MoC catalyst, Nature Catalysis, 2023
20. Jun Mao, Huan Liu, Xiaoju Cui, Liang Yu*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Direct conversion of methane with O2 at room temperature over edge-rich MoS2, Nature Catalysis, 2023
21. Zheng Zhang*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Membrane electrode assembly for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction: principle and application, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2023
22. Huicong Xia, Dehui Deng*, Jianan Zhang*, et al, Evolution of stabilized 1T-MoS2 by atomic-interface engineering of 2H-MoS2/Fe-Nx towards enhanced sodium ion storage, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2023
23. Jingting Hu, Liang Yu, Ye Wang*, Dehui Deng*, et al, Sulfur vacancy-rich MoS2 as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol, Nature Catalysis, 2021