Dali Yang
QAS Beamline Scientist, Spectroscopy Program, National Synchrotron Light Source II
Brookhaven National Laboratory
National Synchrotron Light Source II
Bldg. 743, Room 3L155
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-8842
dyang5@bnl.gov
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Dali Yang is a beamline scientist and chemist at the Quick X-ray Absorption and Scattering (QAS) beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). He works closely with a broad user community to design, execute, and interpret synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy and scattering experiments, while also contributing to the development and commissioning of new beamline capabilities, including DRIFTS-XAS.
His research focuses on applying X-ray absorption spectroscopy and related techniques to understand structure–function relationships in catalytic and bio-inorganic systems. His scientific interests span homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, photochemistry, electrochemistry, energy conversion, and inorganic chemistry, with particular emphasis on identifying reactive intermediates, tracking oxidation state, spin state and coordination environment changes, and connecting molecular-level structure to catalytic performance.
At the QAS beamline, he supports experiments involving operando and in-situ spectroscopy, solution-phase reactions, cryogenic measurements, and complex sample environments. Through both user collaborations and independent method development, he aims to expand the role of synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy in probing dynamic chemical processes under realistic reaction conditions.
Education | Appointments | Publications
Education
Ph.D. Wuhan University, Wuhan 2020
B.S. Nanjing University, Nanjing 2014
Professional Appointments
Research Staff, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 2024 - present
Postdoc Research Associate, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA 2022 - 2024
Research Associate, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 2020 - 2022
Guest Graduate, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 2016 - 2018
Selected Publications
- Bu F, Deng Y, Xu J, Yang D et al (2024) Electrocatalytic reductive deuteration of arenes and heteroarenes. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07989-7
- Wang S, Ren D, Liu Z, Yang D et al (2023) Cobalt-catalysed allylic fluoroalkylation of terpenes. Nature Synthesis 2:1202–1210. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-023-00365-9
- Luo X†, Yang D†, He X†, et al (2023) Valve turning towards on-cycle in cobalt-catalyzed Negishi-type cross-coupling. Nature Communications 14: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40269-y
- Liu X†, Yang D†, Liu Z†, et al (2023) Unraveling the Structure and Reactivity Patterns of the Indole Radical Cation in Regioselective Electrochemical Oxidative Annulations. Journal of the American Chemical Society 145: 3175–3186. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.2c12902
- Yang Z†, Yang D†, Zhang J, et al (2022) Electrophotochemical Ce-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Functionalization of Cycloalkanols under Redox-Neutral Conditions: Scope and Mechanism. Journal of the American Chemical Society 144: 13895–13902. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.2c05520
- Li W, Rabeah J, Bourriquen F, Yang D, et al (2022) Scalable and selective deuteration of (hetero)arenes. Nature Chemistry 14: 334–341. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-021-00846-4
- Wegener EC, Bukowski BC, Yang D, et al (2020) Intermetallic Compounds as an Alternative to Single-atom Alloy Catalysts: Geometric and Electronic Structures from Advanced X-ray Spectroscopies and Computational Studies. ChemCatChem 12: 1325–1333. https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201901869
- Ravel B, Kropf AJ, Yang D, et al (2018) Nonresonant valence-to-core x-ray emission spectroscopy of niobium. Physical Review B 97:. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.97.125139
- Yi H†, Yang D†, Xin J, et al (2017) Unravelling the hidden link of lithium halides and application in the synthesis of organocuprates. Nature Communications 8: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14794
Brookhaven National Laboratory
National Synchrotron Light Source II
Bldg. 743, Room 3L155
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-8842
dyang5@bnl.gov
