Jian He
Academic title: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry
HKU address: Room 501, Chong Yuet Ming Chemistry Building
Tel: +852-39102193
HKU lab webpage link: https://www.helab.org/
CV link: https://www.helab.org/jian-he
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=NmxKhWMAAAAJ&hl=en
Education
BS in Chemistry, Zhejiang University, 2007–2011
PhD in Chemistry, Scripps Research Institute, 2011–2016
Employment
Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology, 2016–2019
Assistant Professor, University of Hong Kong, 2019–now
Research Description
Our independent research programs, at the interface between organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and materials science, are rooted in design of novel framework- and cluster-based catalysts for the advancement of sustainable chemical synthesis. We have developed a variety of highly efficient heterogeneous copper catalysts that can significantly promote electron-transfer and energy-transfer-mediated organic reactions under visible light irradiation. By employing post-synthetic metalation processes, we prepared several highly recyclable palladium catalysts supported by covalent organic frameworks for C–H activation. In addition to offering unique nanocatalyst scaffolds for investigating cluster-based electrocatalysis, we synthesized anionic copper nanoclusters for photoinduced three-component radical couplings.
Selected Publications
1. Liu, L.-J.; Zhang M.-M.; Deng, Z.; Yan, L.-L.; Lin, Y.; Phillips, D. L.; Yam, V. W.-W.; He, J.* NIR-II Emissive Anionic Copper Nanoclusters with Intrinsic Photoredox Activity in Single-Electron Transfer. Nat. Commun. 2024, 15, 4688.
2. Guo, J.; Xia, Q.; Tang, W. Y.; Li, Z.; Wu, X.; Liu, L.-J.; To, W.-P.; Shu, H.-X.; Low, K.-H.; Chow, P. C. Y.; Lo, T. W. B.; He, J.* Visible Light-Mediated Intermolecular Crossed [2+2] Cycloadditions Using a MOF-Supported Copper Triplet Photosensitizer. Nat. Catal. 2024, 7, 307–320.
3. Zhuang, S.-L.; Chen, D.; Ng, W.-P.; Liu, L.-J.; Sun, M.-Y.; Liu, D.; Nawaz, T.; Xia, Q.; Wu, X.; Huang, Y.-L.; Lee, S.; Yang, J.;* Yang, J.;* He, J.* Phosphine-Triggered Structural Defects in Au44 Homologues Boost Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202306696.
4. Liu, L.-J.; Alkan, F.; Zhuang, S.-L.; Liu, D.; Nawaz, T.; Guo, J.; Luo, X.; He, J.* Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters at the Molecular-to-Metallic Transition with Intrinsic Chirality from Surface Layers. Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 2397. (Editor’s Highlights)
5. Ma, B.; Xia, Q.; Wang, D.; Jin, J.-K.; Li, Z.; Liang, Q.-J.; Sun, M.-Y.; Liu, D.; Liu, L.-J.; Shu, H.-X.; Yang, J.; Li, D.;* He, J.* Metal-Organic Framework Supported Copper Photoredox Catalysts for Iminyl Radical-Mediated Reactions. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202300233. (Hot Paper and Back Cover)
6. Nawaz, T.; Ahmad, M.; Ansari, M. Z.; Hussain, I.; Chen, X.; Liu, L.-J.; Walia, R.; Low, K.-H.; Zhuang, S.-L.; Zhang, K.;* He, J.* Structural Study of Atomically Precise Doped Au38−xAgx NCs@ZIF-8 Electrode Material for Energy Storage Application. Chem. Eng. J. 2023, 468, 143575.
7. Zhuang, S.-L.; Chen, D.; Ng, W.-P.; Liu, D.; Liu, L.-J.; Sun, M.-Y.; Nawaz, T.; Wu, X.; Zhang, Y.; Li, Z.; Huang, Y.-L.; Yang, J.;* Yang, J.;* He, J.* Phosphinous Acid–Phosphinito Tetra-Icosahedral Au52 Nanocluster for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction. JACS Au 2022, 2, 2617–2626. (Supplementary Cover)
8. He, J.; Li, S.; Deng, Y.; Fu, H.; Laforteza, B. N.; Spangler, J. E.; Homs, A.; Yu, J.-Q.* Ligand-Controlled C(sp3)–H Arylation and Olefination in Synthesis of Unnatural Chiral α-Amino Acids. Science 2014, 343, 1216–1220.
Full publication list link:
Honours and Awards
Croucher Innovation Award, 2021
IUPAC-Solvay Honorable Mention Prize, 2017
Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad, 2015
ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Travel Award, 2015
Reaxys PhD Prize, Finalist, Elsevier, 2015
International Precious Metals Institute Outstanding Student Award, 2015
Alfred R. Bader Award for Student Innovation, 2014
Dean’s Fellowship, Scripps Research Institute, 2011–2013
Outstanding Graduate Award (Zhejiang Province), 2011
Distinguished Thesis Award (Zhejiang University), 2011
First Prize in the National Chemistry Experiment Competition, 2010
National Scholarship (top 1%) (Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China), twice, 2008–2010
First-Class Scholarship for Excellence in Research and Innovation (top 2%) (Zhejiang University), 2010
First-Class National Talent Cultivation Base Fellowship (top 2%) (Zhejiang University), 2008–2010
First-Class Scholarship for Outstanding Students (top 2%) (Zhejiang University), three times, 2007–2010
