March 1995 – Nov. 1998

PhD Degree in Environmental Engineering,

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering,

Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Sept. 1992 – March 1999

Master Degree in Environmental Engineering, Department of Environment Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Sept. 1988 – July 1992

Bachelor Degree in Environmental Engineering, Department of Textile Chemical Engineering,

Donghua University (originally called China Textile University), Shanghai, China

Dec.2008-present Professor

Aug, 2000 –Nov.2008

Associate Professor

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering,

Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Nov, 1999 – July, 2000

Assistant Professor,

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Dec, 1998 – June, 2001

Project official, Division of Resources and Environment, Department of Rural and Social Development,

Ministry of Science and Technology of China

Research Area:

Advanced oxidation processes for water and wastewater treatment

Occurrence, migration and transformation of persistent organic pollutants and endocrine disruptors in the environment

Indoor air purification

Research Projects:

1. VUV photocatalytic degradation of indoor volatile organic compounds and control of its byproduct. Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China. (2006-2009)

2. Microstructure of photocatalytic materials and its effects on photocatalytic activity. National Basic Research Program of China(2007-2011)

3. Evaluation and improvement of Virus Washer (VW) for Removing VOCs. Financed by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. (2006-2010)

4. Multi-functional Catalyst for Ozone-Enhanced Photocatalytic Process. Financed by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. (2006-2007)

5. Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Oxidation Technology and Related Equipment. Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China. (2003-2005)

6. Degradation of VOCs in Indoor Air by Combined Ozone and Photocatalysis. Natural Science Foundation of China (2002-2004)

7. Defluorination of perfluorooctanoic aid and perfluorinated carboxylic acids by photochemical reduction. Natural Science Foundation of China (2006-2008)

8. Support of nano-sized catalyst on activated carbon and its activity for low-level ozone decomposition. Natural Science Foundation of China (2008-2010)

9. Photocatalytic Drinking Water Equipment Research and Development. Financed by Guangdong Midea Holding Co. Ltd.( 2003-2008)

10. Technology and Processes for Treating Coke Plant Wastewater. Financed by Shanxi Keda Automatic Control Co. Ltd. (2003-2004)

11. Photocatalytic reduction of organic pollutants. Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (2005-2007)

Dr. Pengyi Zhang began to work in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tsinghua after he graduated from Tsinghua University in Nov. 1998. Now he is the member of the scholarship committee of the Department, and the director of the Division of Environmental Chemistry. In 2004, He was selected into the Scientific New Star Program by the Beijing Science and Technology Committee, and Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University by the Ministry of Education. He mainly does research work in the field of environmental chemistry and materials, focusing on advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for water and indoor air purification, degradation of persistent organic pollutants like perfluorinated carboxylic acids. And he has published over 100 papers in the scientific journals and applied over 10 patents.

Since 2000, Dr. Zhang has undertaken over 10 scientific research projects, including two projects from the National High-Tech Program, four projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and some international projects.

He has more than 10 years’ experience in the field of advanced oxidation processes for treatment of refractory organic compounds such as POPs. During 2002-2005, he was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and he made efforts on the enhanced photocatalysis technology and related equipment. And since 2006, he got the financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), starting the investigation on the photochemical degradation of perfluorinated carboxylic acids- a new type of persistent organic pollutants widely found in the environment. The major achievements in recent years he has made include:

(1) Developed a long lifetime photocatalyst coated on the titanium plate, and elucidated the deactivation mechanism of the supported photocatalyst.

(2) Developed some enhanced-photocatalysis methods such as ozone-enhanced photocatalysis and vacuum ultraviolet photocatalysis, by which pollutants degradation rates increased up to one order.

(3) Developed some methods to effectively defluorinate and decompose perfluorinated carboxylic acids, which widely occurred in the world and bioaccumulated.

(4) Developed various AOPs-biological activated carbon (BAC) processes, which significantly increase the removal efficiency and economical feasibility of AOPs. These processes have the wide potential applications in drinking water treatment and specific pollutants removal.

(5) Developed equipment based on the ozone-enhanced photocatalysis process, which can be used for wastewater and drinking water treatment.

Published Articles:

1. Yuxuan Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Yan Liu. Single atom Pd anchored-MnO confined in porous carbon matrix for low-level VOCs removal at room temperature. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, 2024, 355, 124139

2. Huinan Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Jingbo Jia, Xianjie Wang, Shaopeng Rong. A cobalt-vacant Co₃O₄ as a stable catalyst for room-temperature decomposition of ozone in humid air. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, 2024, 340, 123222

3. Yankai Xie, Xiaojing Zhu, Pengyi Zhang^*, Shan Wang. Rapid inactivation of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes in the building ventilation duct by UV185+254 irradiation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 487, 150635

4. Zhang Wu, Pengyi Zhang^*, Shaopeng Rong, Jingbo Jia. Creating water-resistant oxygen vacancies in δ-MnO₂ by chlorine introduction for catalytic ozone decomposition at ambient temperature. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2023, 335, 122900

5. Sadia Rehman, Xianming Zheng, Pengyi Zhang^*. Green synthesis of a superhydrophobic metal-organic gel for the capture of trace volatile organic compound from humid air. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2023, 441, 129852

6. Xianming Zheng, Sadia Rehman, Pengyi Zhang^*. Room temperature synthesis of monolithic MIL-100(Fe) in aqueous solution for energy-efficient removal and recovery of aromatic volatile organic compounds. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2023, 442, 129998

7. Yankai Xie, Xiaojing Zhu, Pengyi Zhang^*, Shan Wang, Jie Yang, Jinge Li. Cost-effective instant air disinfection for building ventilation system by a combination of UV and micro-static electricity. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023, 454, 140231

8. Tingxia Hu, Shanhong Sui, Jiale Li, Pengyi Zhang^*. Room-temperature catalytic removal of indoor trace hexanal by weakly crystallized MnO₂ ultrafine nanowires. Building and Environment, 2022, 226, 109701.

9. Yongshuai Qu, Xianming Zheng, Keke Ma, Weiwei He, Shan Wang, Pengyi Zhang^*. Facile coating of MnO2 nanoparticles onto polymer fibers via friction-heating adhesion for efficient formaldehyde removal. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 430, 132954

10. Tongzhou Xu, Pengyi Zhang^*, Huiyu Zhang. Ultrathin δ-MnO₂ nanoribbons for highly efficient removal of a human-related low threshold odorant - acetic acid. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 309 (2022) 121273

11. Ranran Cao, Lianxin Li, Pengyi Zhang^*. Macroporous MnO₂-based aerogel crosslinked with cellulose nanofibers for efficient ozone removal under humid condition. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021, 407, 124793

12. Ranran Cao, Lianxin Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Lele Gao, Shaopeng Rong. Regulating oxygen vacancy in ultrathin δ-MnO2 nanosheets with superior activity for gaseous ozone decomposition. Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2021, 8, 1628 – 1641.

13. Yu Zhang, Hong Zheng^*, Pengyi Zhang^*, Qi Zuo. A facile method to achieve dopamine polymerization in MOFs pore structure for efficient and selective removal of trace lead (II) ions from water. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021, 408, 124917. 15 April 2021

14. Xianming Zheng, Huiyu Zhang, Sadia Rehman, Pengyi Zhang^*. Energy-efficient capture of volatile organic compounds from humid air by granular metal organic gel. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021, 411, 125057

15. Xianming Zheng, Zhang Wu, Jie Yang, Sadia Rehman, Ranran Cao, Pengyi Zhang^*. Metal-organic gel derived N-doped granular carbon: remarkable toluene uptake and rapid regeneration, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021, 13(15), ‏ 17543-17553

16. Huiyu Zhang, Xianming Zheng, Tongzhou Xu, Pengyi Zhang^*. Atomically dispersed Y or La on birnessite-type MnO₂ for the catalytic decomposition of low-concentration toluene at room temperature. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021, 13(15), 17532-17542

17. Xianming Zheng, Shuai Liu, Sadia Rehman, Zehui Li, Pengyi Zhang^*. Highly improved adsorption performance of metal-organic frameworks CAU-1 for trace toluene in humid air via sequential internal and external surface modification. Chemical Engineering Journal, 389 (2020) 123424

18. Shaopeng Rong, Taohong He, Pengyi Zhang^*. Self-assembly of MnO₂ nanostructures into high purity three-dimensional framework for high efficiency formaldehyde mineralization. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2020, 267, 118375

19. Lianxin Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Ranran Cao. Porous manganese oxides synthesized with natural products at room temperature: A superior humidity-tolerant catalyst for ozone decomposition. Catalysis Science & Technology, 2020, 10, 2254 – 2267

20. Tongzhou Xu, Hong Zheng^*, Pengyi Zhang^*. Isolated Pt single atomic sites anchored on nanoporous TiO2 film for highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of low concentration toluene. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2020, 388, 121746

21. Huiyu Zhang, Shanhong Sui, Xianming Zheng, Ranran Cao, Pengyi Zhang^*. One-pot synthesis of atomically dispersed Pt on MnO₂ for efficient catalytic decomposition of toluene at low temperatures. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 257 (2019) 117878

22. Shanhong Sui, Pengyi Zhang^*, Huiyu Zhang, Ranran Cao. Low-temperature catalytic degradation of an indoor odorous pollutant hexanal by γ-MnOOH: the effect of Mn vacancy. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2019, 40 (10):1525–1533

23. Yang Liu^*, Hao Zhou, Ranran Cao, Xingyun Liu, Pengyi Zhang^*, Jingjing Zhan, Lifen Liu. Facile and green synthetic strategy of birnessite-type MnO₂ with high efficiency for airborne benzene removal at low temperatures. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 2019, 245:569-582

24. Shaopeng Rong, Pengyi Zhang^*, Fang Liu, Yajie Yang. Engineering crystal facet of α-MnO2 nanowire for highly efficient catalytic oxidation of carcinogenic airborne formaldehyde. ACS Catalysis, 2018, 8, 3435−3446

25. Fang Liu, Shaopeng Rong, Pengyi Zhang^*, Lele Gao. One-step synthesis of nanocarbon-decorated MnO₂ with superior activity for indoor formaldehyde removal at room temperature. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2018, 235, 158-167

26. Jinlong Wang, Jun Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Gaoke Zhang^*. Understanding the "seesaw effect" of interlayered K+ with different structure in manganese oxides for the enhanced formaldehyde oxidation. Applied Catalysis B, 2018, 224, 863-870

27. Jinlong Wang, Gaoke Zhang,^* Pengyi Zhang^*. Graphene-assisted photothermal effect promoting catalytic activity of layered MnO2 for gaseous formaldehyde oxidation. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2018, 239:77-85

28. Shaopeng Rong, Pengyi Zhang^*, Yajie Yang, Lin Zhu, Jinlong Wang, Fang Liu. MnO₂ framework for instantaneous mineralization of carcinogenic airborne formaldehyde at room temperature. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7(2), 1057−1067

29. Jinlong Wang, Jinge Li, Chuanjia Jiang, Peng Zhou, Pengyi Zhang^∗ , Jiaguo Yu^*. The effect of manganese vacancy in birnessite-type MnO₂ on room-temperature oxidation of formaldehyde in air. Applied Catalysis B, 2017, 204: 147–155

30. Lin Zhu, Jinlong Wang, Shaopeng Rong, Haiyan Wang^*, Pengyi Zhang^*. Cerium modified birnessite-type MnO₂ for gaseous formaldehyde oxidation at low temperature. Applied Catalysis B, 2017, 211: 212–221

31. Chuanjia Jiang, Dandan Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Jinge Li, Juan Wang, Jiaguo Yu^*. Formaldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from particleboard: Identification of odorous compounds and effects of heat treatment. Building and Environment. 2017, 117:118-126

32. Jingbo Jia, Pengyi Zhang^*, Long Chen. Catalytic decomposition of gaseous ozone over manganese dioxides with different crystal structures. Applied Catalysis B. 2016, 189: 210–218.

33. Shaopeng Rong, Pengyi Zhang^*, Jinlong Wang, Fang Liu, Yajie Yang, Guoliang Yang, Song Liu. Ultrathin manganese dioxide nanosheets for formaldehyde removal and regeneration performance. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2016, 306:1172-1179

34. Jinlong Wang, Pengyi Zhang^*, Jinge Li, Chuanjia Jiang, Rizwangul.Yunus, Jeonghyun Kim. Room-temperature oxidation of formaldehyde by layered manganese oxide: effect of water. Environmental Science & Technology, 2015, 49 (20):12372–12379

35. Tongzhou Xu, Hong Zheng^*, Pengyi Zhang^*, Wei Lin, Yumiko Sekiguchi. Hydrothermal preparation of nanoporous TiO₂ films with exposed {001} facets and superior photocatalytic activity. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2015, 3(37): 19115-19122

36. Ling Jin, Pengyi Zhang^*. Photochemical decomposition of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in an anoxic alkaline solution by 185 nm vacuum ultraviolet irradiation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2015, 280: 241–247

37. Ling Jin, Pengyi Zhang^*, Tian Shao, Shiliang Zhao. Ferric ion mediated photodecomposition of aqueous perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) under UV irradiation and its mechanism. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2014, 271:9-15.

38. Jeonghyun Kim, Pengyi Zhang^*, Jinge Li, Jinlong Wang, Pingfeng Fu. Photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene and ozone under UV254+185 nm irradiation using a Pd-deposited TiO₂ film. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2014, 252:337-345

39. Zhenmin Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Tian shao, Jinlong Wang, Ling Jin and Xiaoyun Li. Different nanostructured In2O3 for photocatalytic decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Journal of Hazardous Materials 2013, 260:40-46

40. Tian Shao, Pengyi Zhang^*, Ling Jin, Zhenmin Li. Photocatalytic decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid in pure water and sewage water by nanostructured gallium oxide. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 2013, 142-143:654-661

41. Xiaoyun Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Zhenmin Li, Junjie Cao, Tian Shao. Efficient photocatalytic decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by indium oxide and its mechanism. Environmental Science & Technology, 2012, 46(10):5528-5534

42. Zhenmin Li, Pengyi Zhang^*, Tian shao, and Xiaoyun Li. In₂O₃ nanoporous nanospheres: a highly efficient photocatalyst for decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid. Applied Catalysis B, 2012, 125: 350-357.

43. Pingfeng Fu, Pengyi Zhang^*, Jia Lia. Photocatalytic degradation of low concentration formaldehyde and simultaneous elimination of ozone by-product using palladium modified TiO₂ films under UV254+185nm irradiation. Applied Catalysis B, 2011, 105(1-2): 220-228

44. Pingfeng Fu, Pengyi Zhang^*. Uniform dispersion of Au nanoparticles on TiO₂ film via electrostatic self-assembly for photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 2010, 96(1-2):176-184

45. Yuan Wang, Pengyi Zhang^*, Gang Pan, Hao Chen. Ferric ion mediated photochemical decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by 254nm UV light. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2008, 160(1):181-186

46. Jing Chen, Pengyi Zhang^*, Jian Liu. Photodegradation of perfluorooctanoic acid by 185 nm vacuum ultraviolet light. Journal of Environmental Sciences-China. 2007, 19(4):387-390

47. Pengyi Zhang, Juan Liu and Zhongliang Zhang. VUV photocatalytic degradation of toluene in the gas phase. Chemistry Letters. 2004, 33(10): 1242-1243

48. Zhang Pengyi, Liang Fuyan, Yu Gang, Chen Qing, Zhu Wanpeng. A comparative study on decomposition of gaseous toluene by O₃/UV, TiO₂/UV and O₃/TiO₂/UV. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 2003, 156 (1-3): 189-194