BPI Seminar by Dr. Molly Meng-Jung Li
July 15, 2025, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Heterogeneous Catalysis for Carbon-Neutral Energy Cycles
Location: CHBE #202, 2360 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4
Agenda
- 12:00 PM Intro by Dr. Orlando Rojas
- 12:05 PM Presentation by Dr. Molly Meng-Jung Li, Assistant Professor, Applied Physics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
- 12:45 PM Q&A
*Sandwiches & coffee will be provided from 11:45 AM.
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Abstract
Hydrogen plays a vital role in achieving net-zero emissions, yet its widespread adoption is hindered by challenges in storage, distribution, and safe handling. Hydrogen carriers, such as ammonia, methanol, and methane, offer promising pathways to accelerate the transition toward a sustainable hydrogen society, leveraging their established infrastructures.
This presentation will highlight our recent advances in catalytic technologies related to hydrogen carriers, with a particular focus on the reversible storage and release of hydrogen and the critical roles of heterogeneous catalysts in these processes. I will discuss strategies for synthesising effective and stable thermocatalysts, emphasising the rational design of active sites and the enhancement of catalytic performance through strong metal-support interactions. By employing advanced in-situ and operando characterisation techniques, we reveal the nature of active species and elucidate the origins of high catalytic performance under realistic reaction conditions.
The presentation will conclude with a proof-of-concept study, illustrating our journey from laboratory innovation to practical deployment. Specifically, I will demonstrate how liquid hydrogen carrier catalytic technology can be integrated with fuel cells for real-world energy applications, highlighting the practical impact and potential of these catalytic innovations.
About the Speaker
Prof. Molly Meng-Jung Li is an Assistant Professor of the Applied Physics Department at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She completed her PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Oxford, for which she received a DPhil Swire Scholarship from University College. Her primary research interests include nanomaterials and catalysis, with an emphasis on developing catalytic technologies for green energy production, fine chemicals, liquid fuels, and environmental applications. She has particular expertise in using synchrotron spectroscopic techniques to solve the local structure of nanocatalysts and to investigate the fundamental origins of their outstanding performance in novel heterogeneous catalytic processes.