http://pubs.acs.org/journal/aelccp
A Conversation with Can Li
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since the 1980s. It is hard to just identify a few key initiatives. Among the many aspects in chemistry, clean energy science, advanced materials sciences, and solar energy conversion technology (such as PV technology) are the key developments that led Chinese research to prominence nowadays. EL: China now recognizes the importance of clean energy with a heavy investment in renewable energy. In your opinion, how is present-day energy research aiding this important mission? Li: Although present-day energy research has an increasing impact on the energy field of China, the renewable energy contribution is still very limited because the energy structure is still dominated by fossil energy, which composes up to 90% of the overall energy of the country. EL: Could you please briefly describe some of the ongoing energyrelated efforts that are being pursued in China? Li: Solar energy, nuclear energy, and clean fossil energy. EL: What challenges do you foresee in sustaining scientif ic growth in China? Li: Greatly increasing the efficiency of solar energy conversion to solar fuels and solar electricity; nuclear fusion for nuclear energy; medicinal chemistry (new drug synthesis) for health-care industry; efficiently removing pollutants from air and water; low cost CO2 capture and utilization (CCU). EL: Today, a large number of students obtain Ph.D. degrees in energy-related f ields. A few succeed in going abroad or obtaining an academic position. What are other opportunities for these young researchers to continue their quests and engage in energy research? How can they become successf ul researchers/entrepreneurs/professionals in this highly competitive arena? Li: In China, there are many open positions in the energy field. Young people who obtain Ph.D. degrees may not necessarily continue the research but may find work as engineers/technicians and administrators in the energy industry and government. They also have opportunities to become entrepreneurs or start small companies in the energy market.
rof. Can Li is the Director of State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His current research interests include physical chemistry and environmental aspects of catalysis, chiral catalysis, and photocatalysis. His research group is engaged in developing new catalysts and photocatalysts for solar fuels. The breadth of his interest in energy research continues to draw worldwide attention. Recently, I had a chance to meet with Prof. Li at the ACS Publications Symposium on Innovation in Energy Conversion, Dalian China (Figure 1). The conversation I had with Prof. Li is summarized here.
Figure 1. Prof Can Li and Prashant V. Kamat at ACS Publications Symposium on Innovation in Energy Conversion, Dalian China. (Photo courtesy of P. Kamat.)
EL (ACS Energy Letters): You have been in the foref ront of catalysis and photocatalysis research. How did you get interested in these research topics early in your career? Li: On the one hand, I had studied catalysis with various spectroscopies including IR, UV Raman, and UV−visible spectroscopes in my earlier career, so I was wondering how light interacts with matter. On the other hand, I was very much concerned about the future of human beings when I did more work on thermal catalysis research, which is mainly dealing with the conversion chemistry of fossil resources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas because these resources will eventually be exhausted and had caused severe environmental and ecological problems. Solar energy is the hope of the future; photocatalysis or artificial photosynthesis is a promising solution for the energy and environment problems. So, I got interested in light science and light-induced photocatalysis and moved to this field in 2001. EL: We have seen a phenomenal growth of scientif ic research during the past decade in China. Could you please identif y key developments or initiatives by the government that led Chinese research to prominence? Li: I have fortunately witnessed the rapid development of many fields in China, particularly science and technology fields, © XXXX American Chemical Society
Prashant V. Kamat, Editor-in-Chief
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University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
AUTHOR INFORMATION
ORCID
Prashant V. Kamat: 0000-0002-2465-6819 Notes
Views expressed in this Energy Focus are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS. The author declares no competing financial interest. Received: October 27, 2017 Accepted: October 30, 2017 2723
DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.7b01059 ACS Energy Lett. 2017, 2, 2723−2724
Energy Focus
Cite This: ACS Energy Lett. 2017, 2, 2723-2724
ACS Energy Letters
Energy Focus
Biography
Photo courtesy of DICP.
Professor Can Li received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1989, and he joined the same institute and was promoted to full professor in 1993. He did postdoctoral research at Northwestern University, United States and was visiting professor at Lehigh University, the University of Liverpool, and The Queensland University. He was awarded the JSPS Professor at Waseda University, Tokyo University of Technology, and Hokkaido University. He was an invited professor at Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2003, a member of the Academy of Science for Developing Countries (TWAS) in 2005, a foreign member of Academia European in 2008, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2008. He was the President of the International Association of Catalysis Societies (2008−2012) and the president of the Asia-Pacific Association of Catalysis Societies (2013−2016). Currently, he is the director of the Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy (DNL). Among the prestigious awards and honors recognizing his research are the International Catalysis Award, the National Natural Science Prize, National Catalysis Award, the Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize (Hong Kong), National Petrochemical Prize, National Outstanding Scientist Award, etc. His research interests span spectroscopic characterization of catalysts and catalytic reactions, environmental catalysis, and heterogeneous chiral catalysis. Over the last two decades, his research has focused on photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic water splitting and CO2 reduction. He has been the Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Journal of Catalysis since 2014 and an associate editor of Chemical Communication since 2010. He has been on the editorial board or international advisory board of several ACS journals, including The Journal of Physical Chemistry. He has more than 700 peer-reviewed papers with over 15 000 citations, ∼80 granted patents, and over 100 plenary and keynote lectures at international conferences.
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DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.7b01059 ACS Energy Lett. 2017, 2, 2723−2724
