Research Interest Proposal （2）-continued I think I could carry out some computational researches about new-energy related materials, especially in oxygen reduction reaction during my PhD. Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of electrochemical energy conversion processes, which plays a very important role in renewable energy technologies, including fuel cells and metal−air batteries. Driven by the need for efficient and low-cost ORR catalysts, which are essential for mass marketing a fuel cell technology to address the world’s energy needs, the searching for a highly active catalyst to replace noble metal cathodes is very urgent. As for the efficiency of PEMFC, it is determined by oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode, and up to now the most effective cathode catalysts for the ORR are platinum-based catalysts. However, its large scale commercial applications are hindered by high cost of Pt, and the Pt-based electrode also suffers from low selectivity, poor durability, and CO deactivation. Therefore, I would pay attention to non-precious metal based catalyst for ORR, like Cu and Fe based metal alloy or other C-based catalyst. Also, I could combine the computation and experiment together. Importantly, through the computation we can find the highly active ORR catalyst, which could be confirmed or verified by the corresponding experiment. In a world, I cherish this chance and would try my best to improve my ability in the academic research in my PhD period.

Research Interest Proposal （1） Since the beginning of Master, I have been very interested in scientific researches. So, I have been working in university after my Master graduation. In my master, I major in quantum computational chemistry employing the Gaussian software. It can help to solve and explain some mechanism of chemical reactions. I have published two scientific papers about the interaction of Titanium clusters with small gas molecules (O2 and N2). When I went to Ningbo Institute of Industrial Technology, I come into contact with Metal of Organic Framework (MOF) materials, which are crystalline, sponge-like materials composed of two components: metal ions and organic molecules known as linkers. The choice of metal and linker has significant effects on the structure and properties of the particular MOF. The applications of MOF materials are mainly in isolation and capture of carbon dioxide from power plant flue gases, high-capacity storage of a range of gases, separation and purification of chemicals and gases and new applications in medicine and sensing. So, I have done some research on MOF based membrane (pure MOF membrane and MOF based mixed matrix membrane) for separation of different gases. During this period of time, I published one article entitled ‘A highly permeable mixed matrix membrane containing CAU-1-NH2 for H2 and CO2 separation’ in Chemical Communication. After that I came to the South University of Science and Technology of China to pursuit higher research level. In this time, I have the chance to do some research about electrochemistry like rechargeable Lithium batteries. I’ve tried to apply my former work in Lithium-Oxygen batteries solving the problem of the contamination of CO2 and H2O from the atmosphere which would reduce the performance of Li-O2 batteries. Then, I publish one paper with the title ‘A high performance O2 selective membrane based on CAU-1-NH2@polydopamine and the PMMA polymer for Li-air batteries’.