Direct liquid fuel cells are considered an ideal electrochemical energy device to supplement Li-batteries in some special applications, due to the higher energy density of liquid fuel, quiet operation, and independent of charging plugs. We are interested in develop direct carbohydrazide fuel cells with high power density and high energy and fuel efficiency. Now we are investigating electrochemical reaction mechanisms of carbohydrazide, hydrazine and ammonia over different types of catalysts in various conditions, and exploring efficient anode catalyst materials, with the ultimate goal of developing novel carbohydrazide fuel cell technologies.
Sponsor: Iowa Reagents Innovation Fund (RIF)
Wenzhen Li Research Group
Electrochemistry / Catalysis / Energy
/ Environment / Agriculture / Sustainability
Principal Investigator
Dr. Wenzhen Li
Manley Hoppe Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Affiliate, Bioeconomy Institute (BEI)
Iowa State University
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Walter van Schalkwijk Award in Sustainable Energy Technology, Energy Technology Division, ECS, 2025
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ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research, 2025
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Fellow, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2023
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ISU Bailey Career Development Award, 2016
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NSF BRIDGE Award, 2010
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ACS Petroleum Research Fund- Doctoral New Investigator (PRF-DNI) Award, 2010
2140 Biorenewables Research Laboratory (BRL)
Ames, IA 50011
Tel: 515-294-4582, Email: wzli@iastate.edu
Education:
Ph.D Physical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2004
Dissertation advisors: Prof. Qin Xin & Prof. Gongqun Sun
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology,1998
Thesis advisor: Prof. Can Li
PhD RA and Postdoc Researcher positions are available.
Postdoc Researchers
Qiqi Mao, Postdoc Reseacher, October 2024-present
Education:
PhD. Chemical Engineering, Zhejinag University of Technology, 2024
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Zhejinag University of Technology, 2019
Research: Urea synthesis, C-N coupling electrochemistry, electro upcycling of
biomass and plastic wastes
Email: qiqimao@iastate.edu
Graduate Students
Sujin Kang Ph.D. candidate, fall 2022-present
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Seoul, South Korea, 2020
M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Seoul, South Korea, 2022
Research: CO2 capture and electroreduction
Email: sjkang96@iastate.edu
Rod Alexei De Guzman, graduate student, fall 2023 -present
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering,
B.S. Energy Engineering, Korea Science Academy of KAIST (KSA of KAIST), 2022
Research: Electrochemical reactor design, Urea electrosynthesis
Email: alexei@iastate.edu
Bryson Haworth, graduate student, fall 2024 -present
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Washington State University, 2024
Research: Electrochemical synthesis of valuable C-N chemicals via combined experimental and DFT approaches (co-advised by Dr. Luke Roling)
Email: brysonha@iastate.edu
Evan Smith, graduate student, fall 2025 -present
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 2025
Research: Electrochemical CO2 Reduction, Insitu Spectroscopy
Email: etsmith3@iastate.edu
Zhangyu Ge, graduate student, fall 2026 -present
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Ohio State University, 2026
Research:
Email: zhangyug@iastate.edu
Undergraduate Students
Siyao Sun, Junior
Spring 2025, Fall 2025, ChE490, Spring, Summer, 2026 Independent Research
Electrochemical C-N coupling
Email: siyao7@iastate.edu
Group Photos
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Alumni
PhD
Dr. Tianlei Li, Ph.D. Spring 2026
PhD Dissertation: Innovative paired electrolysis for chlorine remediation, captured CO2 reduction, and biomass upgrading
Email: tianleil@iastate.edu
Current position:
Dr. Xiaopeng Liu, Ph.D. Spring 2026
PhD Dissertation: Two-dimensional early transition metal carbides as supports for electrocatalysis
Current position: Postdoctoral researcher, UT, Austin
Dr. Mohammod Albloushi, Ph.D. Spring 2026
PhD Dissertation: Electrochemical oxidation of renewable/waste organic compounds over palladium-based catalysts
Current position:
Dr. Basil Rawah, Ph.D. Spring 2023
Current position: Assistant Professor, Jeddah University, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Yifu Chen, Ph.D. Fall 2022
PhD dissertation: Electrifying the Chemical Industry: Towards Sustainable Ammonia Production from Dinitrogen and Nitrogen-Containing Wastes
Current position: Electrolyser Specialist, Anodyne Chemistries, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Dr. Hengzhou Liu, Ph.D. Summer 2022
PhD dissertation: Electrochemical Transformation of Biomass-derived Furanic Compounds for Valuable Chemical Production and Innovative Process Development
Current position: Postdoc at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Dr. Ting-Han Lee, Ph.D. Summer 2022
PhD Dissertation: The developments and characterizations of polyester with built-in properties from bio-based comonomers
Current position: Postdoc at IBM, Costa Mesa, CA
Dr. David Chadderdon Ph.D. Spring 2018.
PhD dissertation: Electrocatalysis for Selective Oxidation of Biomass-Derived Compounds
Current position: Research Scientist, NeoGraf Solutions, Cleveland, OH
Dr. Xiaotong Han Chadderdon Ph.D. Spring 2018
PhD: dissertation: Electrochemical Conversion of Biomass-derived Furanics for Production of Renewable Chemicals and Fuels
Current position: Research Engineer, Energizer, Cleveland, OH
Dr. Yang Qiu Ph.D. Spring 2018
PhD dissertation: Rational Design of Advanced Electrocatalysis for Oxygen and Hydrogen Reactions in Fuel Cells and Water Electrolyzers
Current position: Research Scientist, Evoqua Water Technologies, Boston, MA
Dr. Neeva Benipal Ph.D. Spring 2017
PhD dissertation: Electrocatalytic Conversion of Birenewable Feedstocks for Electricity and Chemicals Cogeneration in Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Current position: Research Engineer, California EPA, Sacramento, CA
Dr. Ji Qi Ph.D. Spring 2016
PhD dissertation: Electrocatalysts Design for Selective Oxidation of Organic Molecules in High-Performance Fuel Cell
Current position: Assistant Professor, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
Dr. Le Xin Ph.D. Spring 2014
PhD dissertation: Electrocatalytic Processing of Renewable Biomass-Derived Compounds for Production of Chemicals, Fuels and Electricity
Current position: Senior Battery Engineer, Ford Energy
Dr. Zhiyong Zhang Ph.D. Fall 2012
PhD dissertation: Advanced Nanostructured Electro-Catalysts for Electricity Generation and Biorenewable Alcohol Conversion
Current position: Research scientist, Universal Matter Ltd, Houston, TX
MS
Mr. Mohammod Albloushi, M.S. Fall 2022
Research: Flow cell designs for electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on-site
Current position: TBD
Mr. Joseph Watkins, M.S. Fall 2019
Research: Electrochemical Oxidation of N-Containing Compounds for Fuel Cells
Current position: Research Engineer, Plug Power
Mr. Mohsen Torabi-Dizaji, M.S, Spring 2019
Research: Redox Flow Battery for Energy Storage
Current position: Research Engineer, Honeywell, Houston, TX
Mr. Sean Gassen, M.S. Fall 2018
Research: Direct Carbohydrazide Fuel Cell
Current position: Regulatory Consultant, EcoEngineers, Indianapolis, IN
Mr. Zhichao Wang M.S. Fall 2012
PhD: Prof. Adrienne Minerick group, Michigan Tech, 2017
Current position: Nano Process Specialist, Nanofabrication Facility at University of Delaware
Mr. Olumide Wijobi M.S. Fall 2010
Research: Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) Supported Pt and Pd Alloy Nanoparticles for Formic Acid Oxidation Reaction (FAOR)
PhD: Prof. David Shonnard group, Michigan Tech, 2019
Current position: Senior Environmental Analyst, Apple, Cupertino, CA
Mr. Phani Krishna M.S. Fall 2013
Research: Electrocatalytic Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid
Postdoc Researchers
Dr. Yuhuan Fei, Mar 2024-Mar 2025
Urea electrosynthesis, paired electrolyzer design
Dr. Yifu Chen, Dec 2022 - Oct 2023
Electrochemical ammonia synthesis
Current position: Electrolyser Specialist, Anodyne Chemistries, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Dr. Kwiyong Kim, Aug 2018 - Mar 2019
Electrosynthesis of ammonia
Current position: Assistant Professor, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea
Dr. Jungkuk Lee, May 2021 - Aug 2022
Electrochemical reduction of CO2
Current position: Advanced R&D Scientist, Research Center, Honeywell, Des Plaines, IL
Dr. Yang Qiu Jun 2018 Jun - Feb 2019 Feb
Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia, Electrochemical Reduction of Nitrate, Alkaline Electrolyte Hydrogen Oxidation
Current position: Research Scientist, Evoqua Water Technologies, Boston, MA
Dr. Le Xin May 2017 May - Apr 2018
Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia
Current position: Senior Battery Specialist, Wärtsilä Energy, Milwaukee, WI.
Dr. Peiqiang Li Sept 2016 - Mar 2017
Electrochemical CO2 reduction
Current position: Associate Professor at Shangdong Agricultural University, China
Undergraduates
Since 2008, totally more than 40 undergraduate students were trained in Dr. Li Lab at Iowa State and Michigan Tech through independent undergraduate course, fellowship/internship or volunteer research.
Iowa State (46, since 2014): Gunnar Dunahoo (PhD student at U. Minnesota), Kade Propenhagen, Jace Burmeister, Brooklyn Bullock, Ibraheem Najjar, Rachel Bruggeman, Huu Huy Nguyen, Michael Galvin PhD student at U. Minnesota), Hunter Lofgren, Jesse Gallegos, Adriana Patino, Aaron Bal, Huy Nguyen, Yoke Qi Ho, Yu Xi, Derrick Thompson, James Lanasa, Grayson Tran, James Trettin (PhD student at Princeton), Juashua Andersen, Dexter Clark, Mohammed Albloushi, Chang Won Lee, Yixi Zhu, Tham Tran, Zhiqun Ban, Yunshun Li, Jenna Averhof, Zachary McGraw, Jenna Willenborg, Mohemmod Al-Abri, Ivy Wu (with Prof. Panthani, PhD from Colorado School of Mines), Zachary McGraw, Baitong Chen (PhD from ISU-ABE), Jackson Archen, Ryan F. McSweeney, Qi Liu, Joshua Otto, Fan Jia, Andrew Forgety, Jacob Gentile, Darcie Farrell, Hyunjin Moon, Aimee Pierce, Yuan Tan, Geng Sun.
Michigan Tech (2008-2014): Cory Schafer, Kayla Warsco, Kellin Jayne, David Chadderdon, Brandon Spigarelli, Mengya Li, Kamonwad Yangyuenthanasan, AEE students.