Tel: +86 (755) 8695-4021
Email: zhenghua.zhang@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn
Address: Room 2109, Energy & Environment Building
Professor Zhenghua Zhang is the Deputy Dean in Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University. He is the Fellow of International Advanced Materials Association, Vebleo Fellow,World's Top 2% Scientist, Adjunct Professor of Queensland University of Science and Technology, winner of Gold Medal of Youth Science and Technology Award of Environmental Sciences–20 people nationwide 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, the winner ofGuangdong Province Young Top-notch Talent, 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 previously worked as 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).Dr. Zhang got his PhD degree from The University of New South Wales in Environmental Engineering (Supervisors: Prof. T David Waite; Prof. Greg L. Leslie, Director of UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science & Technology).Meanwhile, Dr. Zhang also has the backgrounds of Polymer Chemistry and Physics(Master), andPolymer Materials and Engineering(Bachelor).
Prof. Zhang servesas the Technical Expert of National Separation Membrane Standardization Technical Committee, Expert Committee Member of the China Water Conservation and Treatment Branch, Associate Editorof Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry and theEditorialBoard Member of Separationsand Processes journals, et al.
So far, Prof. Zhang has published 130+ SCI papers in professional top journals(all JCR Q1 with 120+ as the corresponding author). In the past five years, he has published 93top papers as the sole corresponding author in high-impact journals, including Nature Communications (Featured article, 5 papers), Energy & Environmental Science, ACS Catalysis, Chem Catalysis, Water Research, Green Chemistry, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Environmental Science & Technology, Journal of Membrane Science, etc.Meanwhile, hehas published one English monograph and participated in the compilation of three English monographs.He applied for 18 InventionPatents, of which 15 were authorized. In addition, he also participated in the preparation and formulation of one industry standard. Additionally, he is also the reviewer of Science Advances,Nature Water, Nature Communications, PNAS, Chemical Review, Advanced Materials, Environmental Science & Technology, Water Researchet al (> 20+ Top journals).
His main research direction is membrane-based nanoconfinement catalysis for efficient waterpurification, including 1) Membrane water treatment: preparation of functional membranes, membrane water/sewage treatment processes, membrane pollution control, and cleaning strategies; 2) Advanced oxidation processes for water treatment: electrochemistry, nanoconfined catalysis, Fenton-likeprocesses, etc; 3) Fabrication and water treatment applications of functional materials: two-dimensional materials, functional polymer materials, etc.
More information about Prof. Zhang’s research and publications is available on his professional webpages:
Google Scholar：
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=zh-CN&user=R64NyKYAAAAJ&view_op=list_works
ResearchGate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zhenghua-Zhang/research
Talents (especially with Membrane, 2D materials, Chemistry, DFT and MD modelling experience) are welcome to join our Membrane & Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment center (Postdoc, PhD, Master, and Visitor).
Email: zhenghua.zhang@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn
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 130+ SCI papers in professional top journals(all JCR Q1 with 120+ as the corresponding author). In the past five years, he has published 93top papers as the sole corresponding author in high-impact journals, including Nature Communications (Featured article, 5 papers), Energy & Environmental Science, ACS Catalysis, Chem Catalysis, Water Research, Green Chemistry, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Environmental Science & Technology, Journal of Membrane Science, etc.
Google Scholar：
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=zh-CN&user=R64NyKYAAAAJ&view_op=list_works
ResearchGate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zhenghua-Zhang/research
Representative papers：
1. M Tian, H Zhang, Y Liu, L Li, C Yu, Z Chen, Z Zhang*, 2026, Breaking the oxo-wall for Co(IV)-oxo species and their nanoconfined catalytic performance within Ce-Co lamellar membrane, Nature Communications, 17, 1767
2. 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, 15, 391
3. 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-TiOx laminar membrane nanochannels, NatureCommunications, 13, 4010
4. Y Tian, L Pei, S Wang, K Yu, Y Xu, X Ye, S Zhu, Y Liu, Z Zhang*, ZYe*, 2026,A Self-Breathing Electrode Enabled by Interface Regulation and Gradient Wettability Engineering for industrial H2O2 electrosynthesis, Nature Communications, 17, 1735
5. L Cui, B Chen, DChen, 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
6. Y Zhang, H Zhang, Z Cai, Z Zhang*, 2025, Overcoming the catalytic activity-stability trade-off in advanced oxidation for sustainable water treatment by an electrified chainmail membrane composed of reduced graphene oxide-encapsulated copper nanowires, Environmental Science & Technology, 59, 35, 19081–19093
7. X Zhao, Z Zhang*, 2025, Heterogeneous Peroxymonosulfate-based Advanced Oxidation Mechanisms: New Wine in Old Bottles? Environmental Science & Technology, 59, 12, 5913–5924
8. X Zhao, I Khan, M Asif, Z Zhang*, 2026, Nanoconfinement-based catalysis for advanced water treatment, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental and Energy, 381,125877
9. Q Ly,L Cui, M Asif, W Khan, LNghiem, Y Hwang, Z Zhang*, 2023, Membrane-based nanoconfined heterogeneous catalysis for water purification: A critical review, Water Research, 230, 119577
10.L Cui, B Chen, L Zhang, HKang, 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
1. Z Zhang*,2026, Advanced Ceramic Membranes for Liquid Separation Processes: From Research to Real-World Applications, ISBN: 9780443455582, Elsevier.
2. M Asif, Z Zhang, T Vu,M.A.H Johir,N Pathak, L Nghiem and L Nguyen, 2022, 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, ISBN-10: 3031129016 , 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.
4. Z Zhang*, 2020, Chapter 8: Nutrient removal in membranebioreactors for wastewatertreatment, 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
1. Fellow of International Advanced Materials Association
2. Vebleo Fellow
3. World's Top 2% Scientist
4. Cover of MIT Technology Review
5. Most Picked Award of Chinese Scientists with Cell Press
6. Guangdong Province Outstanding Youth
7. Guangdong Province Young Top-notch Talent
8. Gold Medal of Youth Science and Technology Award of Environmental Sciences, 20 people nationwide
9. Gold Medal of Youth Science and Technology Award of Guangdong Academy of Environmental Sciences
10. Second Prize of 2024 National Environmental Protection Science and Technology
11. Emerging Investigators–Journal of Materials Chemistry A
