Zhang Zhenghua

Professor Zhenghua Zhang is the Deputy Dean in Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University. He is a Fellow of the International Advanced Materials Association, World's Top 2% Scientist, Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Science and Technology, and winner of the Guangdong Province Outstanding Youth Fund. He was selected as the Cover of MIT Technology Review, the winner of the Most Picked Award of 2022 Chinese Scientists with Cell Press, second runner of 2024 National Environmental Protection Science and Technology, the winner of 2021 Emerging Investigators-Journal of Materials Chemistry A, and awarded the Tsinghua University SIGS Best Individual Contribution Award for Industry-University-Research in 2023.

Before joining Tsinghua University, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Water Research Centre, The University of New South Wales (Supervisor: Prof. T. David Waite, Member of US National Academy of Engineering). Prof. Zhang received his PhD degree and Australian Postgraduate Award from University of New South Wales (Supervisors: Prof. T. David Waite; Prof. Greg L. Leslie, Director of UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science & Technology). Besides, Prof. Zhang has the backgrounds of Polymer Chemistry and Physics (Master), and Polymer Materials and Engineering (Bachelor) at Zhejiang University. He also serves as the Associate Editor of Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry, Youth Editorial Board Member of Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, Editorial Board Member of Separations and Processes journals, and Member of Expert Committee for Water Saving and Water Treatment from China Industrial Energy Saving and Cleaner Production Association, Member of the Youth Expert Committee of the China Seawater Desalination and Water Reuse Association, and Member of Expert Committee for Qingdao International Water Conference. 

So far, Prof. Zhang has published 110+ SCI papers in top-tier journals (all JCR Q1 with 100+ as the corresponding author). In the past five years, he has published (74 papers) as the sole corresponding author in high-impact journals, including Nature Communications (Featured article, 3 papers), Energy & Environmental Science, ACS Catalysis, Chem Catalysis, Water Research, Green Chemistry, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Environmental Science & Technology , Journal of Membrane Science, etc.

Moreover, Prof. Zhang has participated in editing three English monographs and one book as the sole editor published by Elsevier/Springer and has filed 15 Invention Patents as the primary inventor, with 12 granted (national and international). He has hosted and participated in 33 scientific research projects, of which 26 were chaired, including the National Natural Science Fund, Guangdong Provincial Outstanding Youth Fund, Australia Linkage Research Project, etc. He also participated in the formulation of one industry standard. Additionally, he serves as the reviewer of Nature Water, Nature Communications, PNAS, Chemical Review, Advanced Materials, Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research et al (> 20+ Top journals).

More information about Prof. Zhang’s research and publications is available on his professional webpages: Google Scholar

Email: zhenghua.zhang@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn

Talents (especially with Membrane, 2D materials, Chemistry, DFT and MD modelling experience) are welcome to join our Membrane & Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment team (Postdoc, PhD, Master, Visitor).

1. Associate Editor of Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry 

2. Guest editor of Processes

3. Editorial Board Member of FESE, Separations, and Processes journals

4. Member of the Expert Committee of China Water Conservation and Treatment Branch

5. Member of the Expert Committee of the National Environmental Service Industry South China Agglomeration Zone

6. Member of the Youth Expert Committee of the China Sea Water Desalination and Water Reuse Society

7. Committee Member of Qingdao Water International Conference

8. Review Expert of National Natural Science Foundation of Australia, Czech, Qatar, and China 

9. Member of International Water Association (IWA)

10. Member of American Chemical Society (ACS)

• Membrane Science and Technology 

• Advanced Environmental Chemistry

  Environmental Functional Material 
  

Dr. Zhang’s research areas include but are not limited to:

i) Membrane-based Water Treatment (membrane fabrication, process, fouling control and cleaning);

ii) Advanced Oxidation Processes (electrochemistry, nanoconfinement catalysis, Fenton-like);

iii) Functional Materials-based Water Treatment (nanofiber-based, CQDs, polymers).

So far, Prof. Zhang has published 110+ SCI papers in top-tier journals (all JCR Q1 with 100+ as the corresponding author). In the past five years, he has published (74 papers) as the sole corresponding author in high-impact journals, including Nature Communications (Featured article, 3 papers), Energy & Environmental Science, ACS Catalysis, Chem Catalysis, Water Research, Green Chemistry, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Environmental Science & Technology , Journal of Membrane Science, etc.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=zh-CN&user=R64NyKYAAAAJ&view_op=list_works

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zhenghua-Zhang

Selected Publications:

1. M Tian, Y Liu, C Yu, K Ostrikov, Z Zhang*, 2024, Overcoming the permeability-selectivity challenge in water purification using two-dimensional cobalt-functionalized vermiculite membrane, Nature Communications, 391, 15

2. C Meng, B Ding, S Zhang, L Cui, K Ostrikov, Z Huang, B Yang, J Kim, Z Zhang*, 2022, Angstrom-confined catalytic water purification within Co-TiO_x laminar membrane nanochannels, Nature Communications, 13, 4010 (Featured article)  

3. L Cui, B Chen, D Chen, C He, Y Liu, H Zhang, J Qiu, L Liu, W Jing*, Z Zhang*, 2024, Species Mass Transfer Governs the Selectivity of Gas Diffusion Electrodes toward H₂O₂ Electrosynthesis, Nature Communications, 15,10632

4. L Cui, B Chen, L Zhang, H Kang, J Qiu, W Jing*, K Ostrikov, Z Zhang*, 2024, Anti-electrowetting carbon film electrode with self-sustained aeration for industrial H₂O₂ electrosynthesis, Energy & Environmental Science, 17, 655-667 

5. L Cui, X Zhao, H Xie, Z Zhang*, 2022, Overcoming the Activity-Stability Trade-Off in Heterogeneous Electro-Fenton Catalysis: Encapsulating Carbon Cloth-Supported Iron Oxychloride within Graphitic Layers, ACS Catalysis, 12, 13334-13348

6. X Zhao, Z Zhang*, 2025, Heterogeneous Peroxymonosulfate-based Advanced Oxidation Mechanisms: New Wine in Old Bottles? Environmental Science & Technology, 59, 12, 5913-5924

7. Y Zhang, Z Zhang*, 2024, A sustainable and metal free advanced oxidation process for efficient water purification by an electrified reduced graphene oxide membrane, Chem Catalysis, 4, 101056

8. J Zhang, Y Liu, Z Zhang*, 2024, Nanoconfined catalytic water purification within CoFeCu LDH-assembled membrane nanochannels, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental and Energy, 357, 124290  

9. J Zhang, H Zhang, Z Chen, Z Zhang*, 2025, CoM (M = Mn, Fe, and Cu) LDH-assembled nanoconfined catalytic membrane for  micropollutant removal: Performance and atomic-scale mechanism insights, Journal of Membrane Science, 721, 123846

10. J Zhang, I Khan, H Zhang, Z Zhang*, 2025, CoFeMn layered double hydroxide-based nanoconfined gravity-driven catalytic membrane for efficient water decontamination: Performance and mechanistic insight, Journal of Membrane Science, 730, 124212

11. X Zhao, M Long, Z Li, Z Zhang*, 2024, Two dimensional Co(OH)₂ catalytic gravity-driven membrane for water purification: A green and facile fabrication strategy and excellent water decontamination performance, Materials Horizons. 11, 1435-1447

12. W Zhang, S Zhang, C Meng, Z Zhang*, 2023, Nanoconfined catalytic membranes assembled by cobalt-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for rapid degradation of pollutants, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 322, 122098

13. W Zhang, S Zhang, Z Chen, Z Zhang*, 2023, Cobalt-ferrite functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (CoFe₂O₄@g-C₃N₄) nanoconfined catalytic membrane for efficient water purification: Performance and mechanism, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 11, 18933-18944  

14. Q Ly, L Cui, M Asif, W Khan, L Nghiem, Y Hwang, Z Zhang*, 2023, Membrane-based nanoconfined heterogeneous catalysis for water purification: A critical review, Water Research, 230, 119577   

15. M Asif,  S Zhang, L Qiu, Z Zhang*, 2022, Ultrahigh permeance functionalised boron nitride membrane for nanoconfined heterogeneous catalysis, Chem Catalysis, 2,1-13 

1. Z Zhang*, 2020, Chapter 8: Nutrient removal in MBRs and by membrane separation, Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Advanced Membrane Separation Processes for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Management – Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor Processes and Technologies,ISBN 9780128198094,Elsevier.

2. M Asif, Z Zhang, T Vu, M.A.H Johir, N Pathak, L Nghiem and L Nguyen, 2021, Chapter: Membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment: Current status, novel configurations and cost analysis, Cost-efficient Wastewater Treatment Technologies: Engineered Systems (The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry), Nasr M. & Negm A. Eds, Springer.

3. M Asif*, Z Zhang*, S Iftekharb, V Lehtob, 2021, Chapter: Recent advances in polysaccharide-derived biopolymeric nanomaterials for water treatment, Biopolymeric Nanomaterials: Fundamentals and Applications, Gupta R.M. et al. Eds. ISBN 9780128243640, Elsevier. 

1. Fellow of International Association of Advanced Materials

2. Second Runner of 2024 National Environmental Protection Science and Technology

3. World's Top 2% Scientist

4. Cover of MIT Technology Review

5. the Most Picked Award of 2022 Chinese Scientists with Cell Press

6. 2021 Emerging Investigators - Journal of Materials Chemistry A