Liu Yong

Personal information

Name: Liu Yong

Title: Distinguished Professor, Master‘s Supervisor

Contact: liuyongncu@ncu.edu.cn; +86 18924282339

Address: Environmental Building, Qianhu Campus, Nanchang University, No. 999 Xuefu Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, P.R. China

Education and Work Experience

Work Experience

2021/12 – Present: Distinguished Professor (Excellent Talent), Master’s Supervisor, School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University

2022/09 – 2024/02: Deputy Director of International Office (secondment), Nanchang University

2021/07 – 2021/11: Assistant Researcher, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Education

2016/08 – 2020/12: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of New Hampshire, USA

2013/07 – 2015/07: M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences

2012/09 – 2013/07: Graduate coursework in Chemical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China

2006/09 – 2010/07: B.S. in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Southwest University

Academic part-time position

Proposal Review Expert, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

Guest Editor, Topical Advisory Panel Member, Processes (SCI)

Field of investigation

Catalytic Conversion of Biomass: Conversion of lignocellulose and microalgae into fuels and chemicals

Environmental Catalysis: CO₂ conversion, high-value utilization of pollutants via hydrogenation

Computational Chemistry and Molecular Simulation: DFT, AIMD, molecular dynamics simulation

Research Overview

Dr. Liu has long been dedicated to research on the high-value utilization of biomass resources and environmental catalysis. He focuses on metal catalyst design, selective conversion of biomass and platform molecules (levulinic acid, furfural, etc.) into liquid fuels and fine chemicals, high-value utilization of pollutants, and theoretical studies of catalytic reaction mechanisms. He has published over 40 papers as first/corresponding author in prestigious journals such as Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Journal of Catalysis, and ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. He currently leads projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and other funding bodies. He has mentored students who have received the National Scholarship, the Jiangxi Provincial Government Scholarship, and awards in the National College Student Life Science Competition.

Courses Taught

Environmental Chemistry, Principles of Environmental Engineering, Biomass Science and Engineering

Rewards and Honors

“Excellent Talent” Program of Nanchang University

National Second Prize (mentor), 9th National College Student Life Science Competition (Scientific Exploration Category)

Third Prize of Jiangxi Province (mentor), 10th National College Student Life Science Competition (Scientific Exploration Category)

Mentored graduate students awarded the National Scholarship, Jiangxi Provincial Government Scholarship, and Excellent Master’s Thesis of Nanchang University

Representative achievements

I. Research Projects (Principal Investigator)

National Natural Science Foundation of China (Regional Fund, 52466017): CNY 320,000, 2025/01 – 2028/12

Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation (General Program, 20242BAB25277): CNY 100,000, 2024/07 – 2027/07

Open Project of the Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Process Measurement and Control, Ministry of Education, Southeast University (etcc202402): CNY 20,000, 2024/07 – 2025/06 (Completed)

Nanchang University “Excellent Talent” Start-up Fund: CNY 1,000,000, 2021/11 – 2026/10

II. Selected Publications

Dingbin Yang, Jiahong Zhang, Jiaqi Xu, Qiao Zhang, Guangxing Yang, Zhiting Liu, Yong Liu, Feng Peng*, (2026) Facet Effects on OD-Cu Catalysts for Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Furfural. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 14, 8757-8765. (SCI Q1 Top)

Bianbian Gao, Yutong Feng, Chunyu Li, Jiantao Zhao, Yitian Fang, Yong Liu, Guoqiang Cao, (2026) Alkali metal promoter induced Ru/G catalyst structure and electronic regulation for efficient plasma-catalytic NH3 synthesis. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, 394, 126833. (SCI Q1 Top)

Shaohua Zhang, Fusen Liu, Yuqi Zhang, Wenguang Zhou, Lungang Chen, Yong Liu, (2026) CeO2 Facet-Directed Interfacial Engineering in Ru₁/CeO2 Catalysts for Efficient 2-Butanol Production from Levulinic Acid. The Innovation Energy, 3, 100156.

Ziqi Deng, Jirong Long, Zepeng Zhao, Wenguang Zhou, Lungang Chen, Jinxing Long, Longlong Ma, Yong Liu*, (2026) Trace Fe induces a semi-hydrogenation pathway for selective conversion of furfural to 1,5-pentanediol over CuCo/La2O2CO3 catalyst. Journal of Catalysis, 456, 116784. (SCI Q1 Top)

Jirong Long, Yuxuan Mao, Yiwei Long, Guozhang Chang, Lungang Chen, Wenguang Zhou, Jinxing Long, Yong Liu*, (2026) Ru nanoparticles on HZSM-5 with strong metal–support interactions for efficient hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived phenols under mild conditions. Bioresource Technology, 439, 133357. (SCI Q1 Top)

Lingling Gao; Yiwei Long; Zhiguo Xiao; Lungang Chen; Guozhang Chang; Chenguang Wang; Wenguang Zhou; Yong Liu*, (2025) Synergistic Regulation of Oxygen Vacancy and Lewis Acid Sites by Ru Loading in LaMnOx Catalysts for Boosting 2-Butanol Production from Levulinic Acid and Levulinates. Journal of Catalysis, 450, 116302. (SCI Q1 Top)

Guangcai Long, Andi Wang, Xian Liu, Xuehui Li, Meixuan Liu, Yong Liu, Jinxing Long,* (2025). Tunable Oxygen Vacancy Clusters Enhanced Catalytic Activity of CeO2 Nanorods on CO2 Cycloaddition. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 137, e202508217. (SCI Q1 Top, Nature Index Journal)

Yangye Hu, Jianxin Cai, Guoqiang Sheng, Zepeng Zhao, Yong Liu,* Shuting Liu, Shaobo Tu,* Yajie Tian,* Haijiao Lu, Jun Wang, Shuguang Deng, Qiang Deng,* (2025). Selective Hydrogenolysis of Biomass-Derived Aromatic Alcohols over 2D-Mo2COx MXene by a Reversible Redox-Relay Mechanism. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 64, e202500881. (SCI Q1 Top, Nature Index Journal)

W. Zhou,# Z. Wang,# J. Long, Z. Deng, Y. Long, G. Chang, Y. Liu,* (2025). Enhancing glycerol hydrogenolysis to n-propanol: key role of Lewis acid in HZSM-5 supported Cu catalyst. Bioresource Technology, 417, 131879. (SCI Q1 Top)

Z. Zhao,# W. Zhou,# G. Chang, L. Chen, C. Wang, Y. Liao, J. Long, L. Ma, Y. Liu,* (2024). Tailoring selectivity in furfural hydrogenolysis over NiCoAl catalyst through a simple rinsing process. Journal of Catalysis, 440, 115845. (SCI Q1 Top)

Y. Liu,# L. Gao,# G. Chang, W. Zhou,* (2024). Enhancing reductive conversion of levulinic acid and levulinates to γ-valerolactone: Role of oxygen vacancy in MnOx catalysts. Bioresource Technology, 406, 131001. (SCI Q1 Top)

J. Lu,# Y. Liu,# J. Wang, Z. Zeng, L. Chen, S. Deng, J. Zou, Q. Deng,* (2024). Phosphate-supported palladium single atom and nanoparticle boost ambient temperature tandem hydrogenolysis–hydrogenation of furan alcohols/aldehydes. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, 344, 123622. (SCI Q1 Top)

Liu, Y., Chen, L.*, Chen, Y., Zhang, X., Liu, J., Liu, Q., Li, Y., Wang, C., Zhang, Q. and Ma, L., (2023). Pilot Study on Production of Aviation Fuel from Catalytic Conversion of Corn Stover. Bioresource Technology, 372, 128653. (SCI Q1 Top)

Chen, L.,# Liu, Y.,# Gu, C., Feng, G., Zhang, X., Liu, J., Zhang, Q., Wang, C.,* Ma, L. (2021). Selective production of 2-butanol from hydrogenolysis of levulinic acid catalyzed by non-precious NiMn bimetallic catalyst, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9(46),15603-15611. (SCI Q1 Top)

Shen, D.,# Liu, Y.,# Yang, G.,* Yu, H., Liu, P., & Peng, F.* (2021). Surface-structure Sensitive Chemical Diffusivity and Reactivity of CO Adsorbates on Noble Metal Electrocatalysts. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 269, 119522. (SCI Q1 Top)

Wang, C.,# Liu, Y.,# Cui, Z., Yu, X., Zhang, X., Li, Y., Zhang, Q., Chen, L.,* & Ma, L.* (2020). In Situ Synthesis of Cu Nanoparticles on Carbon for Highly Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol by Using Pomelo Peel as the Carbon Source. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 8(34), 12944-12955. (SCI Q1 Top)

Xing, S.,# Liu, Y.,# Liu, X., Li, M., Fu, J., Liu, P., Lv, P.* & Wang, Z. (2020). Solvent-free hydrodeoxygenation of bio-lipids into renewable alkanes over NiW bimetallic catalyst under mild conditions. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 269, 118718. (SCI Q1 Top)

Meng, Z.,# Liu, Y.,# Yang, G.,* Cao, Y., Wang, H., Peng, F., & Yu, H.* (2019). Electron-rich ruthenium on nitrogen-doped carbons promoting levulinic acid hydrogenation to γ-valerolactone: effect of metal–support interaction. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7(19), 16501-16510. (SCI Q1 Top)

Liu, Y., Chen, L., Wang, T., Zhang, Q., Wang, C., Yan, J., & Ma, L.* (2015). One-pot catalytic conversion of raw lignocellulosic biomass into gasoline alkanes and chemicals over LiTaMoO₆ and Ru/C in aqueous phosphoric acid. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 3(8), 1745-1755. (SCI Q1 Top)