Innovative Research Award
Qihang Zhao — Inner Mongolia University of Technology, China.
Qihang Zhao is an Associate Professor and Master’s supervisor in the School of Chemical Engineering at Inner Mongolia University of Technology, China. His research addresses the functional modification of inorganic mineral materials, mineral surface and interfacial behaviour, and the catalytic degradation of environmental pollutants, with results published in leading international journals [1]. His work has been recognised through national and regional research projects and is considered within the scope of the Innovative Research Award [3].
Abstract
This article documents the academic profile of Qihang Zhao in the context of the Innovative Research Award. His research examines the functional modification of inorganic mineral materials and the interfacial catalytic mechanisms governing pollutant transformation, supported by national and regional projects and disseminated through more than twenty SCI papers [1]. Bibliometric indicators recorded in Scopus, comprising 20 documents, 837 citations and an h-index of 11, are summarised together with representative publications and their relevance to the award criteria [2].
Keywords
- Inorganic mineral materials
- Surface and interface chemistry
- Photocatalysis
- Peroxymonosulfate activation
- Environmental remediation
- Clay mineral composites
Introduction
Qihang Zhao, Ph.D. in Engineering, is an Associate Professor and Master’s supervisor in the School of Chemical Engineering at Inner Mongolia University of Technology. He serves as Principal Investigator of a National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) project, a Youth Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia, a project of the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province, and a sub-project of the National Key R&D Program, and has participated in three NSFC projects [1]. He has published more than 20 SCI papers in journals including Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Communications and Applied Clay Science, and his research has been highlighted in Nature Chemistry [2]. This article reviews his profile, contributions and impact as supporting evidence for the Innovative Research Award [3].
Research Profile
His research focuses on the functional modification of inorganic mineral materials and their surface and interfacial behaviour, with emphasis on the catalytic reaction mechanisms of typical environmental pollutants at mineral surfaces and interfaces. The work aims to elucidate the governing rules of mineral interface regulation and the mechanisms underlying the enhancement of environmental properties [4]. He completed a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at Central South University (2016–2019), an M.S. in Materials Physics and Chemistry at Inner Mongolia University (2013–2016), and a B.Eng. in Inorganic Non-metallic Materials Engineering at Inner Mongolia University of Technology (2009–2013) [1].
From 2020 to 2023 he was a Lecturer at the Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of the Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). He joined Inner Mongolia University of Technology as a Lecturer in 2023 and was appointed Associate Professor in 2024 [1]. He has participated in 17 research projects funded by national and regional agencies, universities and research institutions, serving as PI, Project Leader, Sub-project Leader and Core Member, with funding ranging from RMB 50,000 to RMB 15 million [2].
Research Contributions
Qihang Zhao’s contributions span coal-based solid waste utilisation, wastewater treatment, single-atom catalysts, CO₂ mineralisation, heavy metal immobilisation, clay mineral composites and advanced functional materials [2]. Representative studies include the modulation of ZIF-67 pyrolysis by kaolinite for efficient peroxymonosulfate activation [5], synergistic photocatalytic and peroxymonosulfate activation by atomically dispersed cobalt clusters for advanced wastewater treatment [6], and phosphate-functionalised Co₃O₄/kaolinite composites for enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation [7].
He has authored a scientific monograph, Preparation Technology of Mineral Materials (Science Press, 2023), and holds national invention patents, including a carbon nitride/kaolinite composite and its preparation method and application (ZL 2018 1 0093235.8). He also contributed as third drafter to the association standard Test method for porosity of expanded perlite (CSTM LX 0312 00356-2020) [2]. He serves on the editorial boards of Non-metallic Mines, Conservation and Utilization of Mineral Resources and Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources, and is a committee member of the Professional Committee on Mineral Physics and Mineral Structure of the Chinese Society for Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry [1].
Publications
His publication record comprises 20 Scopus-indexed documents in journals such as Progress in Materials Science, Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Communications, Communications Chemistry, Applied Clay Science and Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering [1][2]. A recent study reported the effect of clay mineral morphology on the photocatalytic performance of g-C₃N₄-based composites, published in Results in Engineering [3].
Research Impact
According to Scopus, his work has received 837 citations across 20 documents, yielding an h-index of 11 within the subject area of Chemistry and Materials Science [1][2]. His research has been highlighted in Nature Chemistry, reflecting broader scholarly attention to mineral-based catalytic materials [1]. Reviews in Progress in Materials Science have examined the advances and application potential of silicate mineral-based 3D printing materials [4].
Award Suitability
The Innovative Research Award recognises original contributions with demonstrable scholarly and practical significance. Qihang Zhao’s sustained output in mineral interface chemistry, his leadership of national and regional projects, and his citation record collectively support the case for recognition [3]. The award event, Popular Engineer Awards, provides a platform for disseminating such applied research outcomes to a broader engineering community [8].
Conclusion
Qihang Zhao’s academic profile combines focused research on inorganic mineral materials, a productive publication record and active professional service. The evidence summarised here indicates alignment with the objectives of the Innovative Research Award and with the applied engineering focus of the Popular Engineer Awards [1][3][8].
External Links
References
- Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Qihang Zhao, Author ID 56292040300. Scopus.
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56292040300
- ORCID. (n.d.). Qihang Zhao, ORCID record 0000-0002-8431-5389. ORCID Registry.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8431-5389
- Zhao, Q., Chen, T., & Jiang, J. (2026). Effect of clay mineral morphology on the photocatalytic performance of g-C₃N₄-based composites. Results in Engineering.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2026.113565
- Zhao, Q., Gao, C., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Advances and application potential in the research of silicate mineral-based 3D printing materials. Progress in Materials Science.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2025.101450
- Mo, Y., Yin, W., Long, C., Gao, C., & Zhao, Q. (2025). Modulation of the pyrolysis of ZIF-67 by kaolinite for highly efficient peroxymonosulfate activation. Applied Clay Science.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2025.107798
- Yin, W., Long, C., Gao, C., Yuan, K., & Zhao, Q. (2026). Synergistic activation of photocatalysis and peroxymonosulfate by atomically dispersed cobalt clusters for advanced wastewater treatment. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.141935
- Zhao, Q., Gao, C., Hou, L., & Yang, H. (2023). Emerging phosphate-functionalized Co₃O₄/kaolinite composites for enhanced activation of peroxymonosulfate. Inorganic Chemistry.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c04059
- Popular Engineer Awards. (n.d.). Award programme and recognition criteria.
https://popularengineer.org