Biomass Energy Conversion​

Microdroplet Catalysis​

Covalent Organic Frameworks and Metal-Organic Frameworks (COFs/MOFs)​

Photo/Electrocatalysis​

Organic Synthesis

2013/09-2018/06: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Ph.D, Organic Chemistry

2009/09-2013/06: Hefei University of Technology, B.S., Applied Chemistry

1.      Xue, Q.; Luo, Z.; Feng, L.; Meng, S.; Zhu, Y.; Hon Lau, C.; Zhou, X. Dual Breaking the Geometric and Electronic Symmetry of Covalent Organic Framework for Enhanced H2O2 Photosynthesis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2026, n/a (n/a), e4908536.

2.      Xue, Q.; Ding, J.; Luo, Z.; Qian, Y.; Jin, P.; Jiang, H. L.; Wang, F.; Zhou, X. Tandem Photocatalytic H₂O₂ Production and In Situ Upgrading Enabled by Docking and Locking Engineered Covalent Organic Frameworks. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2026, 65 (20), e7073224.

3.      Tan, Z.; Luo, Z.; Wu, Z.; Li, X.; Lu, F.; Zhou, X.; Gao, D. Metal-Phase Protection Suppresses Bi Leaching for Durable Acidic CO(2) Electroreduction to Formic Acid. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2026, 65, e17618.

4.      Li, H.; Luo, Z.; Han, J.; Yu, Z.; Xue, Q.; Zhao, Y.; Du, J.; Zhou, X.; Wang, F. Nitrogen-Shift-Engineered Pt Single-Atom/Cluster Synergy Boosts Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2026, 65 (6), e24704.

5.      Yu, Z.; Meng, S.; Xue, Q.; Zhu, Y.; Wang, F.; Zhou, X. Tandem Ring-Closing /Ring-Opening Chemistry for Linkage Reprogramming in Covalent Organic Frameworks. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, to be accepted.

6.      Luo, Z.; Jin, P.; Mu, J.; Yu, Z.; Meng, S.; Wu, J.; Chen, X.; Zhou, X.; Wang, F. Microdroplet-Enabled Interfacial Electron Transfer Accelerates Schiff Base Condensation for Ultrafast Covalent Organic Framework Synthesis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, to be accepted.

7.      Xue, Q.; Li, H.; Jin, P.; Zhou, X.; Wang, F. Singlet-Oxygen-Driven Cooperative Photocatalytic Coupling of Biomass Valorization and Hydrogen Peroxide Production Using Covalent Organic Frameworks. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2025, 64 (19), e202423368.

8.      Wu, P.; Du, F. M.; Xue, Q.; Li, H. X.; Fu, M. C.; Zhou, X. K.; Wang, F. Photothermal-Catalyzed Hydrogen Peroxide Production Enabled by Gold-Organic Frameworks. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2025, 36 (6), 2420941.

9.      Li, G.; An, D.; Zhou, X.; Wang, F. Photo/Thermal Sequential Catalytic Production of Bio-ε-Caprolactam from Succinic Acids over a Ru/TiO2 Catalyst. ACS Catal. 2025, 15 (10), 7800–7809.

10.    Zhou, X.; Pyle, D.; Zhang, Z.; Dong, G. Deacylative Thiolation by Redox-Neutral Aromatization-Driven C−C Fragmentation of Ketones. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2023, 62 (15), e202213691.

11.    Zhang, Z.; Zhu, Q.; Pyle, D.; Zhou, X.; Dong, G. Methyl Ketones as Alkyl Halide Surrogates: A Deacylative Halogenation Approach for Strategic Functional Group Conversions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145 (38), 21096–21103.

12.    Zhou, X.; Yu, T.; Dong, G. Site-Specific and Degree-Controlled Alkyl Deuteration via Cu-Catalyzed Redox-Neutral Deacylation. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144 (22), 9570–9575.

13.    Zhou, X.; Xu, Y.; Dong, G. Olefination via Cu-Mediated Dehydroacylation of Unstrained Ketones. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143 (48), 20042–20048.

14.    Zhou, X.; Xu, Y.; Dong, G. Deacylation-aided C–H alkylative annulation through C–C cleavage of unstrained ketones. Nat. Catal. 2021, 4 (8), 703–710.

15.    Chen, X.-Y.; Zhou, X.; Wang, J.; Dong, G. FMPhos: Expanding the Catalytic Capacity of Small-Bite-Angle Bisphosphine Ligands in Regioselective Alkene Hydrofunctionalizations. ACS Catal. 2020, 10 (24), 14349–14358.

16.    Zhou, X.; Xia, J.; Zheng, G.; Kong, L.; Li, X. Divergent Coupling of Anilines and Enones by Integration of C−H Activation and Transfer Hydrogenation. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2018, 57 (22), 6681–6685.

17.    Zhou, X.; Pan, Y.; Li, X. Catalyst-Controlled Regiodivergent Alkyne Insertion in the Context of C−H Activation and Diels–Alder Reactions: Synthesis of Fused and Bridged Cycles. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2017, 56 (28), 8163–8167.

18.    Zhou, X.; Luo, Y.; Kong, L.; Xu, Y.; Zheng, G.; Lan, Y.; Li, X. Cp*CoIII-Catalyzed Branch-Selective Hydroarylation of Alkynes via C–H Activation: Efficient Access to α-gem-Vinylindoles. ACS Catal. 2017, 7 (10), 7296–7304.

19.    Zhou, X.; Yu, S.; Kong, L.; Li, X. Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Coupling of Arenes with Cyclopropanols via C–H Activation and Ring Opening. ACS Catal. 2016, 6 (2), 647–651.

My research focuses on the design of advanced catalysts and sustainable chemical conversion processes, specifically encompassing:

• Porous Materials & Biomass:​ Development of high-performance organic-modified catalysts using porous organic materials and biomass-derived substrates.
• Energy Catalysis:​ Integration of photo/electro/microdroplet catalytic​ technologies for the efficient transformation of oxygen-containing small molecules (e.g., O₂, CO₂, H₂O) and biomass platform molecules.
• Value-added Chemicals:​ Synthesis of high-value oxygenated chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), formic acid (HCOOH), alcohols (CₓHᵧOH), and other fine chemicals.

A key emphasis is placed on elucidating the evolution of critical reactive oxygen species (ROS)—such as ¹O₂, ·O₂⁻, *CO, ·OH, and H₂O·⁻—to regulate surface and interface selectivity. By understanding these reaction mechanisms at the molecular level, I aim to guide the development of novel catalytic processes for sustainable energy and chemical production.

(1)  “Hundred Talents Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2022

(2)  Zhang Dayu Youth Scholarship, 2022

(3)  Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Presidential Scholarship, 2018

(4)  Outstanding graduates of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2018

(5)  The first prize of YanChang Petroleum, 2018