(2kv) Electrifying the Chemical Industry Towards a Sustainable Future

Electrifying chemical productions presents a promising avenue for decarbonizing the chemical industry. Currently, 21% of the global greenhouse gas emissions stem from the industry sector, with chemical manufacturing being the most significant contributor. The electrochemical processes, when powered by renewable electricity, have lower carbon footprints than conventional thermochemical routes. The rapid development of renewable energy provides opportunities in electrifying chemical production and decarbonizing chemical industry. My research focuses on two primary areas: (1) electroreduction of CO2/CO to chemicals and fuels through a tandem approach, and (2) electrochemical synthesis of value-added chemicals, such as ethylamine, ethylene glycol, and nitric acid. Through the integration of innovative synthesis methods, electrolyzer engineering, and in-situ spectroscopic analysis techniques, my research aims to further the field of electrochemical manufacturing and contribute to the global effort to decarbonize the chemical industry.

Selected publications

• Xia, R.; Tian, D.; Kattel, S.; Hasa, B.; Shin, H.; Ma, X.; Chen, J. G.; Jiao, F., Electrochemical reduction of acetonitrile to ethylamine. Nat. Commun. 2021, 12 (1), 1949.
• Xia, R.; Overa, S.; Jiao, F., Emerging electrochemical processes to decarbonize the chemical industry. JACS Au 2022, 2 (5), 1054-1070.
• Xia, R.; Zhang, S.; Ma, X.; Jiao, F., Surface-functionalized palladium catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2020, 8 (31), 15884-15890.
• Xia, R.; Lv, J.-J.; Ma, X.; Jiao, F., Enhanced multi-carbon selectivity via CO electroreduction approach. J. Catal. 2021, 398, 185-191.
• Xia, R.; Wang, J.; Han, Z.; Li, Z.; Mannan, M. S.; Wilhite, B., Mechanism study of ammonium nitrate decomposition with chloride impurity using experimental and molecular simulation approach. J. Hazard. Mater. 2019, 378, 120585.
• Zhang, S.; Fan, Q.; Xia, R.; Meyer, T. J., CO₂ reduction: from homogeneous to heterogeneous electrocatalysis. Acc. Chem. Res. 2020, 53 (1), 255-264.
• Biswas, A. N.; Xie, Z.; Xia, R.; Overa, S.; Jiao, F.; Chen, J. G., Tandem Electrocatalytic–Thermocatalytic Reaction Scheme for CO₂ Conversion to C₃ Oxygenates. ACS Energy Letters 2022, 7 (9), 2904-2910.

Teaching Interests

Teaching brings me immense satisfaction, as it allows me to cultivate understanding and enthusiasm for innovative ideas in others. I take pleasure in presenting complex concepts in engaging ways, while emphasizing the significance of science through practical applications. With BS and PhD degrees in chemical engineering, I am interested in teaching core chemical engineering curricula. Specifically, I am passionate about teaching Chemical Process Principles, Process Systems Analysis and Control, Chemical Process Thermodynamics, and Transport Processes. As electrochemistry plays a crucial role in the sustainable, carbon-emission-free society, I am also enthusiastic about teaching fundamental electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering to educate the next generation of scientists in electrochemical science and technology.