Thirteenth Nano Research Award goes to Xiangfeng Duan and Akira Fujishima
Tsinghua University Press awarded the 13th annual Nano Research Award to UCLA professor Xiangfeng Duan, recognized for his work on 2D materials, van der Waals heterostructures, and porous graphene architectures, and to Akira Fujishima of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, recognized for discovering the Honda–Fujishima Effect and pioneering TiO₂ photocatalysis. Duan's advances in graphene-based energy storage and 2D material synthesis are directly relevant to the carbon materials sector, while Fujishima's photocatalytic coatings have established commercial applications in surface decontamination and industrial wastewater treatment.
The Nano Research Award, sponsored by Tsinghua University Press, has been awarded to Professor Xiangfeng Duan of the University of California, Los Angeles, and Professor Akira Fujishima of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. Professor Duan is recognized for his pioneering work in low-dimensional materials, including two-dimensional materials and heterostructures. His research has significantly advanced nanomaterials and nanoelectronics, impacting technologies such as next-generation electronics and energy storage.
Professor Duan holds the Raymond A. and Dorothy A. Wilson Endowed Chair at UCLA and is affiliated with the California NanoSystems Institute. His contributions to nanoscale materials include van der Waals integration and the scalable synthesis of 2D materials. He has also developed porous graphene architectures for advanced energy storage. Recently, he introduced molecularly programmable layered hybrid superlattices, creating a new class of artificial quantum materials with tailored electronic, optical, and magnetic properties.
Professor Akira Fujishima is honored for his transformative contributions to science, including the discovery of the Honda–Fujishima Effect, which enabled photoelectrochemical water splitting on titanium dioxide electrodes. His work in TiO₂ photocatalysis has led to commercial materials for automatic surface decontamination and environmental applications. Fujishima's research has been foundational in the development of the solar hydrogen economy and renewable energy technologies.
Fujishima is the Dean of the Institute of Photochemistry and Photofunctional Materials and has held various prestigious positions throughout his career. His accolades include the Heinz Gerischer Award and the Japan Prize. The Nano Research Award, established in 2013 by the journal Nano Research, TUP, and Springer Nature, recognizes outstanding contributions to nano research. Previous recipients include notable scientists such as Charles M. Lieber and Paul Alivisatos.
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed journal publishing high-quality research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, it has become a leading academic journal in the field, publishing over 1,000 papers annually.
Source: Graphene Feed