(4lu) Electrifying the Chemical Industry Towards a Sustainable Future

The chemical industry accounts for a considerable portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the swift progress in renewable energy, there exist unprecedented opportunities to electrify chemical production and decarbonize the chemical industry. My research primarily focused on two areas: (1) the development of advanced electrocatalytic technology to produce high carbon footprint value-added chemicals, including ethylamine, ethylene glycol, and nitric acid; and (2) the design of high-performance CO₂ electrolysis systems that transform greenhouse gases CO₂ and water into valuable chemicals and fuels. I employ an integrative approach that combines cutting-edge catalyst design, in-depth mechanistic studies leveraging operando/in-situ spectroscopy techniques, and strategic electrolyzer engineering —all while keeping industrially relevant performance metrics in mind. Through trailblazing developments in these domains, my research is committed to confronting climate change by fostering sustainable and eco-friendly solutions in energy and chemical production—thereby playing an integral part in engineering a greener future.

Teaching Interests

I hold a fervent belief in the transformative power of education, particularly within the realms of chemical engineering, where the potential to impact society and address pressing environmental challenges is immense. My journey as an educator and mentor has been driven by the joy of unfolding the complexities of chemical engineering to nurture curious minds, geared towards innovation and sustainability. Through engaging lectures and hands-on mentorship, I've had the privilege of guiding students through the intricacies of electrocatalysis and electrolyzer engineering at various academic levels. My approach intertwines the sparking of scientific curiosity, the reinforcement of fundamental principles, and the encouragement of innovative thinking. My passion extends to teaching core chemical engineering subjects and developing a graduate elective course on electrochemistry, highlighting its significance in creating a sustainable future. This blend of teaching, mentorship, and curriculum development reflects my commitment to not just educate, but to inspire the next generation of engineers to explore, innovate, and lead in addressing global challenges.

Selected Publications

• Xia, R.; Wang, R.; Hasa, B.; Lee, A.; Liu, Y.; Ma, X.; Jiao, F., Electrosynthesis of Ethylene Glycol from C₁ Feedstocks in a Flow Electrolyzer. Nat Commun 2023, 14, 4570.
• 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 ACS Energy Letters 2022, 7 (9), 2904-2910.