Renhao Dong

2008 – 2013     PhD degree, Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Shandong University.

                           PhD supervisor: Prof. Jingcheng Hao

2004 – 2008    Bachelor degree, Chemistry, Shandong University.

Our group has been engaged in interdisciplinary research based on interface chemistry and polymer chemistry, focusing on design, synthesis and functions of crystalline polymer materials. Representative research topics include: 1) development of interface-assisted two-dimensional polymerization methodologies (I2DP), 2) 2D polymer separation membranes (2DPM), 3) framework electronic materials (MOFtronics and COFtronics), and 4) 2D organic-inorganic van der Waals heterostructures (vdWhs). We pursue to promote the development of interfacial synthesis chemistry, and advance the basic research and application exploration of functional crystalline polymers in the fields of electronic devices, membrane separation and energy technology.  

[1] Z. Wang, H. Un, T. Liu, B. Liang, M. Polozij, M. Hambsch, J. F Pöhls, R. T. Weitz, S. CB Mannsfeld, U. Kaiser, T. Heine, H. Sirringhaus*, X. Feng*, R. Dong*, “A Low‐Symmetry Copper Benzenehexathiol Coordination Polymer with In‐Plane Electrical Anisotropy”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202423341.

[2] T. Zhang, S. Chen, P. Petkov, P. Zhang, H. Qi, N. N. Nguyen, W. Zhang, J. Yoon, P. Li, T. Brumme, A. Alfonsov, Z. Liao, M. Hambsch, S. Xu, L. Mester, V. Kataev, B. Büchner, S. CB Mannsfeld, E. Zschech, S. SP Parkin, U. Kaiser, T. Heine*, R. Dong*, R. Hillenbrand*, X. Feng*, “Two-dimensional polyaniline crystal with metallic out-of-plane conductivity”, Nature 2025, 638, 411-417.

[3] L. Sporrer, Q. Guo, X. Li, A. Wrzesinska-Lashkova, F. Reichmayr, S. Fu, H. I. Wang, M. Bonn, X. Li, P. Laval-Schmidt, M. Wang, Y. Lu, Y. Vaynzof, M. Yu, X. Feng, R. Dong*,, “Skeletal Nitrogen Functionalization of Isostructural 2D Conjugated MOFs for Enhancement of the Dual-Ion Storage Capacity”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202418390.

[4] J. Liu, Y. Chen, X. Huang, Y. Ren, M. Hambsch, D. Bodesheim, D. Pohl, X. Li, M. Deconinck, B. Zhang, M. Löffler, Z. Liao, F. Zhao, A. Dianat, G. Cuniberti, Y. Vaynzof, J. Gao, J. Hao, S. C. B. Mannsfeld, X. Feng*, R. Dong*, “On-liquid-gallium surface synthesis of ultra-smooth conductive metal-organic framework thin films”, Nat. Synth. 2024, 3, 715-726.

[5] C. Huang, W. Sun, Y. Jin, Q. Guo, D. Mücke, X. Chu, Z. Liao, N. Chandrasekhar, X. Huang, Y. Lu, G. Chen, M. Wang, J. Liu, G. Zhang, M. Yu, H. Qi, U. Kaiser, G. Xu*, X. Feng*, R. Dong*, “A General Synthesis of Nanostructured Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks from Insulating MOF Precursors for Supercapacitors and Chemiresistive Sensors”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202313591.

[6] J. Zhang, G. Zhou, H. Un, F. Zheng, K. Jastrzembski, M. Wang, Q. Guo, D. Mücke, H. Qi, Y. Lu, Z. Wang, Y. Liang, M. Löffler, U. Kaiser, T. Frauenheim, A. Mateo-Alonso, Z. Huang*, H. Sirringhaus*, X. Feng*, R. Dong*, “Wavy Two-Dimensional Conjugated Metal–Organic Framework with Metallic Charge Transport”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 23630-23638

[7] C. Huang, X. Shang, X. Zhou, Z. Zhang, X. Huang, Y. Lu, M. Wang, M. Löffler, Z. Liao, H. Qi, U. Kaiser, D. Schwarz, A. Fery, T. Wang, S. CB Mannsfeld, G. Hu*, X. Feng*, R. Dong*, “Hierarchical conductive metal-organic framework films enabling efficient interfacial mass transfer”, Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 3850.

[8] M. Wang, S. Fu, P. Petkov, Y. Fu, Z. Zhang, Y. Liu, J. Ma, G. Chen, S. M. Gali, L. Gao, Y. Lu, S. Paasch, H. Zhong, H. Steinrück, E. Cánovas, E. Brunner, D. Beljonne, M. Bonn, H. Wang*, R. Dong*, X. Feng*, “Exceptionally high charge mobility in phthalocyanine-based poly (benzimidazobenzophenanthroline)-ladder-type two-dimensional conjugated polymers”, Nat. Mater. 2023, 22, 880-887. 

[9] X. Huang, S. Fu, C. Lin, Y. Lu, M. Wang, P. Zhang, C. Huang, Z. Li, Z. Liao, Y. Zou, J. Li, S. Zhou, M. Helm, P. St. Petkov, T. Heine, M. Bonn, H. I Wang*, X. Feng*, R. Dong*, “Semiconducting Conjugated Coordination Polymer with High Charge Mobility Enabled by “4+ 2” Phenyl Ligands”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 2430-2438.

[10] Y. Lu, Y. Zhang, C. Yang, S. Revuelta, H. Qi, C. Huang, W. Jin, Z. Li, V. Vega-Mayoral, Y. Liu, X. Huang, D. Pohl, M. Položij, S. Zhou, E. Cánovas, T. Heine, S. Fabiano*, X. Feng*, R. Dong*, “Precise tuning of interlayer electronic coupling in layered conductive metal-organic frameworks”, Nat. Commun. 2022, 13, 7240.

[11] Z. Wang, Z. Zhang, H. Qi, A. Ortega-Guerrero, L. Wang, K. Xu, M. Wang, A. Dianat, A. Croy, H. Komber, G. Cuniberti, J. Weigand, U. Kaiser, R. Dong*, X. Feng*, “On-water surface synthesis of charged 2D polymer single crystals via the irreversible Katritzky reaction”, Nat. Synth. 2022, 1, 69-76.

[12] Z. Wang, L. S Walter, M. Wang, P. St Petkov, B. Liang, H. Qi, N. N. Nguyen, M. Hambsch, H. Zhong, M. Wang, S. Park, L. Renn, K. Watanabe, T. Taniguchi, S. CB Mannsfeld, T. Heine, U. Kaiser, S. Zhou, R. T. Weitz, X. Feng, R. Dong*, “Interfacial Synthesis of Layer-Oriented 2D Conjugated Metal–Organic Framework Films toward Directional Charge Transport” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 13624-13632.

[13] R. Dong*, X. Feng*, “Making large single crystals of 2D MOFs”, Nat. Mater. 2021, 20, 122-123.

[14] K. Liu#, H. Qi#, R. Dong#, R. Shivhare, M. Addicoat, T. Zhang, H. Sahabudeen, T. Heine, S. Mannsfeld, U. Kaiser*, Z. Zheng*, X. Feng*, “On-Water Surface Synthesis of Crystalline, Few-Layer Two-Dimensional Polymers Assisted by Surfactant Monolayers”, Nat. Chem. 2019, 11, 994.  

[15] R. Dong#, P. Han#, H. Arora, M. Ballabio, M. Karakus, Z. Zhang, C. Shekhar, P. Adler, P. Petkov, A. Erbe, S. Mannsfeld, C. Felser, T. Heine, M. Bonn, X. Feng*, E. Cánovas*. High-Mobility Band-Like Charge Transport in a Semiconducting 2D Metal-Organic Framework. Nat. Mater. 2018, 17, 1027.

2023 Highly Cited Researcher (Cross-field, 2023,Clarivate)

2022 Highly Cited Researcher (Cross-field, 2022,Clarivate)

2021 National Youth Talents Program

2021 Fellow of Young Academy of Europe (YAE)

2020 JMC Emerging Investigator (2020)

2019 ERC Starting Grant

2014 Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship

2013 The First Prize of the 11th Scholarship Award for the National Colloid and Interface Chemistry Postgraduates

2011 Tang Aoqing Chemistry Award 

PhD, Postdoctoral and RAP postions are opening in Prof. Renhao Dong's group. The candidates with but not limited to the following research experience, including organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, surface/interfacial chemistry, 2D materials, CVD synthesis, MOF synthesis, COF synthesis, electronics, (bio)sensors, spintronics, electrochemical energy, and membrane separation, are welcome to join us. If anyone is interested, please email Prof. Dong (rhdong@hku.hk). One CV and one motivation letter are requiested firstly.