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Xiyi Li received his BSc degree in Applied Chemistry (Elite Chemistry Class) and MEng degree in Chemical Engineering from South China University of Technology（SCUT）in 2016 and 2018, respectively. He joined Solar Energy & Advanced Materials Research Group at UCL Chemical Engineering in Sep. 2018 as a PhD student. He focuses on the photocatalytic conversion of methane using MOFs-based materials.
Research project
Title: Partial Oxidation of Methane by Photocatalysis
As the major component in natural gas and fire ice, as well as its surge as a greenhouse gas, methane has called for efficient methods to convert into liquid fuels and valuable chemicals. One of the most desirable products is transportable fuel methanol which is thermodynamically feasible but kinetically difficult. Because of the four strong and inert C-H bonds (bong energy of 413 kJ mol-1) and low polarizability, the transformation of methane is always energy- and emissionintensive. Furthermore, due to the less stable product methanol compared with other products, eg. CO2, the selectivity to methanol is a great challenge in this chemical process. Photocatalysis provides a unique pathway for such process which takes place in moderate condition so mitigate the challenge. The project will target an efficient and low cost photocatalyst for CH4 transformation and the reaction mechanism will be explored in order to control the reaction pathway and final conversion rate. As the major component in natural gas and fire ice, as well as its surge as a greenhouse gas, methane has called for efficient methods to convert into liquid fuels and valuable chemicals. One of the most desirable products is transportable fuel methanol which is thermodynamically feasible but kinetically difficult. Because of the four strong and inert C-H bonds (bong energy of 413 kJ mol-1) and low polarizability, the transformation of methane is always energy- and emission-intensive. Furthermore, due to the less stable product methanol compared with other products, eg. CO2, the selectivity to methanol is a great challenge in this chemical process. Photocatalysis provides a unique pathway for such process which takes place in moderate condition so mitigate the challenge. The project will target an efficient and low cost photocatalyst for CH4 transformation and the reaction mechanism will be explored in order to control the reaction pathway and final conversion rate.
Education
2012.09 - 2016.07 B.Sc. in Applied Chemistry (Enrolled in Elite Chemistry Class)
2016.09 - 2018.07 M. Sc study in Chemical engineering
