Ping Liu

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Chemistry Division
Bldg. 555
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-5970
pingliu3@bnl.gov

Research | Education | Appointments | Publications | Highlights | Awards

Research Activities

Catalysis: Reactivity and Structure

Research interests

Theoretical description of diverse materials (metal, metal oxide, carbide, sulfide, phosphide) in various forms (nanostructures, supported nanostructures, surfaces) and their applications with a focus on energy production, conversion and storage. The current research focuses on the heterogeneous catalysts for production of fuels from greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane), electrocatalysts involved in fuel cells which convert the chemical energy to electricity and battery materials for storage of electricity. Density functional calculations, kinetic modeling and sensitivity analysis are employed to obtain a fundamental understanding of how the materials function and provide guidance for design of advanced catalysts using the machine-learning based methods.

Education

• B.S.(Material Science & Engineering) Jilin University, P. R. China (June,1994)
• M.S.(Condensed Matter Physics) Jilin University, P. R. China (June, 1997)
• Ph.D.(Condensed Matter Physics) Jilin University, P. R. China (March, 2000)
• Postdoctoral fellow, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark (2000 - 2002)
• Research Associate, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA (2002 - 2005)

Professional Appointments

• Assistant Chemist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA (2005 - 2007)
• Associate Chemist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA (2007 - 2010)
• Chemist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA (2010 - 2011)
• Senior Chemist with Tenure, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA (2011 - 2024)
• Distinguished Chemist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA (2024 - present)
• Adjunct Professor, Chemistry Department, SUNY Stony Brook, USA (2015-present)

Selected Publications

• Xie Z, Huang E, Turaczy KK, et al (2025) Biogas sequestration to carbon nanofibers via tandem catalytic strategies. Nature Chemical Engineering 2:118–129. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-025-00182-1
• Xie Z, Huang E, Garg S, et al (2024) CO2 fixation into carbon nanofibres using electrochemical–thermochemical tandem catalysis. Nature Catalysis 7:98–109. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-023-01085-1
• Liu Z, Huang E, Orozco I, et al (2020) Water-promoted interfacial pathways in methane oxidation to methanol on a CeO2-Cu2O catalyst. Science 368:513–517. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba5005
• Kattel S, Ramírez PJ, Chen JG, et al (2017) Active sites for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol on Cu/ZnO catalysts. Science 355:1296–1299. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aal3573
• Yao S, Zhang X, Zhou W, et al (2017) Atomic-layered Au clusters on α-MoC as catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction. Science 357:389–393. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aah4321
• Graciani J, Mudiyanselage K, Xu F, et al (2014) Highly active copper-ceria and copper-ceria-titania catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO2. Science 345:546–550. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1253057
• Kowal A, Li M, Shao M, et al (2009) Ternary Pt/Rh/SnO2 electrocatalysts for oxidizing ethanol to CO2. Nature Materials 8:325–330. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2359
• Rodriguez JA, Ma S, Liu P, et al (2007) Activity of CeOx and TiOx Nanoparticles Grown on Au(111) in the Water-Gas Shift Reaction. Science 318:1757–1760. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1150038

Research Highlights

• Reaction Conditions Tune Catalytic Selectivity
• Catalytic Combo Converts CO₂ to Solid Carbon Nanofibers
• Scientists Make and Test Efficient Water-Splitting Catalyst Predicted by Theory
• New Catalyst Recycles Methane Emissions at Room Temperature
• Chemists Develop New Machine Learning Framework to Improve Catalysts
• Novel Chemical Reaction Supports Carbon-Neutral Industrial Processes
• Steering Conversion of CO2 and Ethane to Desired Products
• Converting Methane to Methanol—With and Without Water
• Catalyst Study Advances Carbon-Dioxide-to-Ethanol Conversion
• Lithium-Ion Battery Research "Flowers"
• Water is Key in Catalytic Conversion of Methane to Methanol
• Machine-Learning Analysis of X-ray Data Picks Out Key Catalytic Properties
• Producing Beneficial Propylene While Consuming a Major Greenhouse Gas
• ACS Meeting News: New catalyst details could help turn carbon dioxide into something valuable
• New Catalyst for Making Methanol from Methane

Awards & Recognition

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