High Pressure Nanoscience and Physical Chemistry Group 

(HPNanoPC Group)

We study structures, structure changes, physical chemical properties and/or behaviors of both bulk and nano materials at different conditions, including high temperature and/or high pressure. We aim at gaining fundamental knowledge of the systems under study and exploiting the obtained knowledge for potential and/or new applications. To conduct our challenging research, we make use of both conventional laboratory instruments and state-of-the-art synchrotron facilities, as well as large-scale molecular simulations.  

Research interests:

● Syntheses and characterization of high-entropy alloys / oxides / chalcogenides / borides / carbides, etc.;

● Developing applications of emerging materials in catalysis and energy conversion;

● High pressure physics and chemistry of novel materials, including layered materials and superconducting materials;

● Structures and behaviors of nanomaterials at high pressure;

● Non-classical crystal growth in high pressure conditions.

Closure of the spin-down bandgap at high pressure turns the high-entropy oxide (MgCoNiCuZn)O into a half-metal, reducing the electrical resistance appreciably. Zhang and Sheng, ACS Omega (2026).

Li-doped high-entropy oxides (MgCoNiCuZn)O are mixed ionic and electronic p-type semiconductors. The electric conduction mechanism in a wide range of temperatures (79 - 773 K) and at high pressure (up to ~ 50 GPa) was uncovered.  Song et. al., JACS Au (2024).

Simply changing the cation/anion complexity of electrocatalysts can regulate the oxygen evolution kinetics significantly. Li, et al. Angew. Chem. (2022).

New layered van der Waals compound CuP₂Se exhibits high-pressure superconductivity. Li et al. JACS (2021)