Prof. YUAN Haoran focuses his research on the fundamental theories and technology development for the efficient, clean conversion and material upcycling of carbonaceous solid wastes. As a Principal Investigator (PI), he has led over 20 prestigious national and provincial-level research projects, including the National Major Science and Education Infrastructure Project under the 14th Five-Year Plan, the Leading Youth Team Program in Basic Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and multiple National Key R&D Programs of China. In recognition of his academic excellence, he was awarded the prestigious National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2023 along with several other high-level talent honors.

To date, Prof. YUAN has established a prolific academic track record, including over 180 SCI/EI-indexed papers published as the first or corresponding author, 7 co-authored books/chapters, 75 authorized Chinese invention patents, and 4 international invention patents. His pioneering contributions have earned him numerous top-tier accolades, notably the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award and four First Prizes at the provincial/ministerial level, including the Guangdong Provincial Technology Invention First Prize and the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science First Prize.

Selected Publications

1. Mengyu Zhai, Yufeng Wu, Shaonan Tian, Haoran Yuan*, Bin Li, Xubiao Luo, Guohe Huang, Yupeng Fu, Mengye Zhu, Yifan Gu, Wei Huan, Yu Dai, Huaidong Wang, Liming Yang, Xiaofei Yin, Gongqi Liu, Zhi Li, Jing Gu, Yazhuo Wang, Yong Chen, Tieyong Zuo. A circular economy approach for the global lithium-ion battery supply chain. Nature. 2025, 646, 1114-1121

2. Zejian Liu, Jing Gu, Gongqi Liu, Yufeng Wu, Shaonan Tian, Jun Wang, Haoran Yuan*, Yong Chen. High-performance phosphate cathode from revitalizing spent battery slag via Joule heating. Matter. 2025, 8(12), 102322

3. Dong Liang, Rui Shan, Jing Gu, Shuxiao Wang, Leilei Cheng, Haoran Yuan*, Yong Chen. Unraveling the impact of three coordinate nitrogen (N3c) vacancies inporous carbon nitride nanobelt for boosted photocatalytic degradation ofmicroplastics and antibiotics. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy. 2024,358,124402.

4. Leilei Cheng¹, Shaonan Tian¹, Dong Liang, Jing Gu, Ruizhe Chen, Xueru Chen, Haoran Yuan*, Yong Chen. Enhanced hydroconversion of polyethylene via dual-functional catalysis: Exploiting ZSM-22 pore-mouth catalysis and Ru electronic effect. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2024, 486, 150332.

5. LeiLei Cheng, RuiZhe Chen, WeiQiang Zhu, ShaoNan Tian, Jing Gu, Haoran Yuan*, Yong Chen. Parameter Selection for the Hydroconversion of Waste Polyethylene Plastic Under Mild Conditions: A Comprehensive Evaluation. Science China Technological Sciences. 2024, 67, 2413–2426.

6. Leilei Cheng, Xueru Chen, Jing Gu, Noriyuki Kobayashi, Haoran Yuan*, Yong Chen. Chemical recycling of waste plastics: current challenges and perspectives. Fundamental Research. 2025, 5(3), 919-922

7. Gongqi Liu, Zejian Liu, Jing Gu, Haoran Yuan*, Yufeng Wu, Yong Chen. A facile new process for the efficient conversion of spent LiFePO4 batteries via (NH4)2S2O8-assisted mechanochemical activation coupled with water leaching. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2023, 471, 144265.

8. Hui Liu, Jing Gu, Honggang Fan, Haoran Yuan*, Yufeng Wu. Thermal conversion performance, kinetic mechanism and products of electric vehicle lithium battery diaphragms. Energy Conversion and Management. 2023, 295, 117612.

9. Leilei Cheng, Yuyuan Zhang, Yazhuo Wang, Jing Gu, Haoran Yuan*, Yong Chen, Pyrolysis of long chain hydrocarbon-based plastics via self-exothermic effects: The origin and influential factors of exothermic processes. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2022, 424, 127476.

10. Lifang Deng, Haoran Yuan*, Xin Qian, Qiang Lu, Lufeng Wang, Huawen Hu, Yong Chen, Municipal sludge-derived carbon dots-decorated, N-doped hierarchical biocarbon for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. Resources, Conservation & Recycling. 2022, 177, 105980.

Awards and Honors

1. 2021, “Response Mechanisms for the Thermal Decomposition, Upgrading, and Reconstruction of Complex Long-Chain Organic Solid Waste,” First Prize, Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Award; Lead Investigator

2. 2021, “Technologies and Equipment for the Efficient Pyrolysis and High-Quality Utilization of Copper-Based Waste Materials with Organic Coatings,” First Prize, China Nonferrous Metals Industry Science and Technology Award; Fourth Contributor

3. 2019, “Technologies and Equipment for the Safe Disposal of High-Moisture Organic Solid Waste and the High-Value Utilization of Soil,” Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, First Prize in the 2019 Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Award (Technical Invention Category), Lead Investigator

4. 2019, “Key Technologies and Applications for Resource Recycling and Synergistic Pollution Prevention and Control at Ultra-Large-Scale Solid Waste Disposal Sites,” Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, First Prize, 2019 Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award, Third Principal Investigator

5. 2019, “Technologies for High-Value Utilization of Rural Cash Crop Waste,” Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, First Prize, 2019 Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Award (Technical Invention Category), Third Principal Investigator

6. 2011, “Comprehensive Technologies and Applications for Resource Recovery and Energy Conversion of Organic Solid Waste,” State Council, Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, 10th Principal Investigator

7. 2023, “Most Beautiful Science and Technology Worker” of Guangdong, awarded by the Guangdong Association for Science and Technology, the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Guangzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, and the Guangdong Provincial Office of National Defense Science, Technology, and Industry

8. 2022, Guangdong May 1st Labor Medal, awarded by the Guangdong Provincial Federation of Trade Unions

9. 2019, 2019 Science Exploration Award in the Energy and Environmental Protection Category, awarded by the Tencent Charity Foundation

10. 2018, Guangdong Youth May 4th Medal, awarded by the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China

· Recycling of Retired New Energy Devices (e.g., spent batteries and solar modules)

· Clean Utilization and Upcycling of Municipal and Industrial Organic Solid Wastes

1. National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, “Thermochemical High-Value Utilization of Combustible Solid Wastes” (Jan 2024 – Dec 2028), Principal Investigator.

2. CAS 14th Five-Year Plan Major Science and Education Infrastructure Project, “Capacity Building Project for the Recycling of New Energy Devices” (Apr 2024 – Dec 2028), Principal Investigator.

3. CAS Leading Youth Team Program in Basic Research, “Novel Green Recycling Methods for Core Components in New Energy Equipment” (Jul 2022 – Jul 2027), Principal Investigator.

4. National Key R&D Program of China, “Complete Technologies and Integrated Demonstration for Intelligent Dismantling and High-Value Upcycling of End-of-Life Electric Vehicles” (Jan 2023 – Dec 2026), Principal Investigator.

5. National Key R&D Program of China, “Efficient Pyrolysis Technology and Large-Scale Equipment for Municipal and Industrial Organic Solid Wastes” (Dec 2018 – Dec 2022), Principal Investigator.