Biography

 Chair Professor, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University (2023-now)

 Associate Professor, Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester (2015-2023)

 Research Fellow & Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of Nottingham (2011-2015)

 Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, The University of Nottingham (2007-2010)

 B.S. in Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University (2003-2007)

Research Interests

We develop porous materials for applications in clean-air technology, catalysis, biomass conversion, energy storage, separation and conductivity. We study a wide range of porous solids based upon metal-organic frameworks, zeolites, and inorganic materials. Our key research interest is to investigate the host-guest chemical processes underpinning their materials property using state-of-the-art structural and dynamic studies by synchrotron X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy and neutron scattering, combined with modelling. Recent finding includes the discovery of catalytic origins for a range of important catalytic reactions, and a series of new metal-organic frameworks showing properties for the clean-up of air pollutants, such as SO2, NOx and NH3.

Awards

 The RSC Dalton Horizon Prize, 2024

 The RSC Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize, 2020

 CCDC Chemical Crystallography Prize for Younger Scientists, 2019

 ISIS Neutron & Muon Source Impact Awards, 2019

 Nottingham Research Fellowship, 2014-2017

 The RSC and Institute of Physics BTM Willis Prize for Young Scientist, 2013

 Diamond Young Investigator Award, 2012

 Honourable Mention Award of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Prize for Young Chemists, 2012

 Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellowship, 2011-2014

Selected Publications

 Trace benzene capture by decoration of structural defects in metal-organic framework materials. Y. Han, W. Huang, M. He, B. An, Y. Chen, X. Han, L. An, M. Kippax-Jones, J. Li, Y. Yang, M. D. Frogley, C. Li, D. Crawshaw, P. Manuel, S. Rudić, Y. Cheng, I. Silverwoord, L. L. Daemen, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, S. J. Day, S. P. Thompson, B. F. Spencer, M. Nikiel, D. Lee, M. Schröder* & S. Yang*. Nature Materials 2024, 23, 1531-1538.

 Upcycling of polyethylene to gasoline through a self-supplied hydrogen strategy in a layered self-pillared zeolite. Z. Cen, X. Han*, L. Lin*, S. Yang*, W. Han, W. Wen, W. Yuan, M. Dong, Z. Ma, F. Li, Y. Ke, J. Dong, J. Zhang, S. Liu, J. Li, Q. Li, N. Wu, J. Xiang, H. Wu, L. Cai, Y. Hou, Y. Cheng, L. L. Daemen, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, P. Ferrer, D. C. Grinter, G. Held, Y. Liu & B. Han*. Nature Chemistry 2024, 16, 871-880 (Journal Cover Article).

 Direct photo-oxidation of methane to methanol over a mono-iron-hydroxyl site. B. An, Z. Li, Z. Wang, X. Zeng, X. Han, Y. Cheng, A. M. Sheveleva, Z. Zhang, F. Tuna, E. J. L. McInnes, M. D. Frogley, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, L. Natrajan, C. Wang, W. Lin, S. Yang* & M. Schröder*. Nature Materials 2022, 21, 932-938.

 Control of zeolite pore interior for chemoselective alkyne/olefin separations. Y. Chai, X. Han, W. Li, S. Liu, S. Yao, C. Wang, W. Shi, I. da-Silva, P. Manuel, Y. Cheng, L. D. Daemen, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, C. C. Tang, L. Jiang, S. Yang*, N. Guan & L. Li*. Science 2020, 368, 1002-1006.

 Quantitative production of butenes from biomass-derived γ-valerolactone over a new hetero-atomic MFI zeolite. L. Lin, A. M. Sheveleva, I. da Silva, C. M. A. Parlett, Z. Tang, Y. Liu, M. Fan, X. Han, J. H. Carter, F. Tuna, E. J. L. McInnes, Y. Cheng, L. L. Daemen, S. Rudić, A.J. Ramirez-Cuesta, C.C. Tang & S. Yang*. Nature Materials 2020, 19, 86-93.

 Capture of nitrogen dioxide and conversion to nitric acid in a porous metal-organic framework. J. Li, X. Han, X. Zhang, A. M. Sheveleva, Y. Cheng, F. Tuna, E. J. L. Mcinnes, L. McCormick, S. J. Teat, L. L. Daeman, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, M. Schröder* & S. Yang*. Nature Chemistry 2019, 11, 1085-1090 (Journal Cover Article).

 Reversible coordinative binding and separation of sulphur dioxide in a robust metal-organic framework with open copper sites. G. L. Smith, J. E. Eyley, X. Han, X. Zhang, J. Li, N. M. Jacques, H. G.W. Godfrey, S. P. Argent, L. J. McCormick, S. J. Teat, Y. Cheng, M. D. Frogley, G. Cinque, S. J. Day, C. C. Tang, T. L. Easun, S. Rudić, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, S. Yang* & M. Schröder*. Nature Materials 2019, 18, 1358-1366.

 Reversible adsorption of nitrogen dioxide within a robust metal-organic framework. X. Han, H. G. W. Godfrey, L. Briggs, A. J. Davies, Y. Cheng, L. L. Daemen, A. M. Sheveleva, F. Tuna, E. J. L. McInnes, J. Sun, C. Drathen, M. W. George, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, K. M. Thomas, S. Yang* & M. Schröder*. Nature Materials 2018, 17, 691-696.

 Supramolecular Binding and Separation of Hydrocarbons within a Functionalised Porous Metal-Organic Framework. S. Yang*, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, R. Newby, V. Garcia-Sakai, P. Manuel, S. K. Callear, S. I. Campbell, C. C. Tang and M. Schröder*. Nature Chemistry 2015, 7, 121-129 (Journal Cover Article).

 Selectivity and Direct Visualisation of Carbon Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide in a Decorated Porous Host. S. Yang*, J. Sun, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, S. K. Callear, W. I. F. David, D. P. Anderson, R. Newby, A. J. Blake, J. E. Parker, C. C. Tang & M. Schröder*. Nature Chemistry 2012, 4, 887-894 (Journal Cover Article).

 A Partially Interpenetrated Metal–Organic Framework for Selective Hysteretic Sorption of Dioxide. S. Yang*, X. Lin, W. Lewis, M. Suyetin, E. Bichoutskaia, J. E. Parker, C. C. Tang, D. R. Allan, P. Hubberstey, N. R. Champness, K. M. Thomas, A. J. Blake & M. Schröder*. Nature Materials 2012, 11, 710-716.