Dr. DU earned her Ph.D. in Science from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2015. Focusing on critical catalytic scientific challenges in renewable energy conversion, she has been dedicated to the development of supported nanocluster and single-atom metal catalysts. She has achieved breakthrough advances in mechanistic studies of strong metal-support interactions (SMSI), scalable synthesis strategies for sub-nanometer catalysts, and adsorption modulation mechanisms of oxygen-containing functional groups on metal catalysts. These contributions have propelled the development of catalytic theory and the creation of novel catalytic materials, providing theoretical foundations for the industrial upgrading of energy conversion technologies. To date, Dr. Du has published over ten research papers as first or corresponding author in prestigious international journals including Nature Communications, Chemical Reviews, ACS Catalysis, Chinese Journal of Catalysis, and Chemical Engineering Journal. Her work has garnered more than 1,500 citations, including three ESI highly cited papers.

Selected Publications

1.Xiaorui Du, Chongshuai Gao, Jiaxin Huang, Yanbin Cui, Shijun Liu, Chenguang Wang*. Efficient reductive amination of furfural to primary amine on Pt/TiO₂ catalyst: A manifestation of the nanocluster proximity effect. ACS Catalysis 2025, 15, 6, 4654-4664.

2. Jiaxin Huang, Chongshuai Gao, Shijun Liu,Xiaorui Du*, Wenguang Zhou*, Chenguang Wang*. CuPd/Al₂O₃ single atom alloy catalyst facilitates the catalytic transfer hydrodeoxygenation of furfural to 2-methylfuran. Chemical Engineering Journal 2025, 504, 158731.

3. Xiaorui Du,^# Yike Huang,^# Xiaoli Pan, Xunzhu Jiang, Yang Su, Jingyi Yang, Yalin Guo, Bing Han, Chengyan Wen, Chenguang Wang*, Botao Qiao*, Top-down fabrication of active interface between TiO₂ and Pt nanoclusters. Part 2: Catalytic performance and reaction mechanism in CO oxidation. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 2024, 58, 247-254

4. Xiaorui Du,^# Yike Huang,^# Xiaoli Pan, Xunzhu Jiang, Yang Su, Jingyi Yang, Yalin Guo, Bing Han, Chengyan Wen, Chenguang Wang*, Botao Qiao*, Top-down fabrication of active interface between TiO₂ and Pt nanoclusters. Part 1: Redispersion process and mechanism. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 2024, 58, 237-246

5. Xiaorui Du, Hailian Tang, Botao Qiao. Oxidative strong metal-support interactions. Catalysts 2021, 11, 896.

6. Xiaorui Du,^# Yike Huang,^# Xiaoli Pan, Bing Han, Yang Su, Qike Jiang, Mingrun Li, Hailian Tang, Gao Li, Botao Qiao. Size-dependent strong metal-support interactionin TiO₂ supported Au nanocatalysts. Nature Communications 2020, 11, 5811.

7. Rui Lang,^# Xiaorui Du,^# Yike Huang, Xunzhu Jiang, Qian Zhang, Yalin Guo, Kaipeng Liu, Botao Qiao, Aiqin Wang, Tao Zhang. Single-atom catalysts based on the metal-oxide interaction. Chemical Reviews 2020, 120, 11986.

8. Xiaorui Du, Guojun Zou, Xiaolai Wang. Controllable and scalable synthesis of ordered mesoporous silica nanosheets by using acidified g-C₃N₄ as a lamellar surfactant. Nanotechnology 2017, 28, 29LT01.

9. Xiaorui Du, Guojun Zou, Zhonghao Wang, Xiaolai Wang. A scalable chemical route to soluble acidified graphitic carbon nitride: an ideal precursor for isolated ultrathin g-C₃N₄ nanosheets. Nanoscale 2015, 7, 8701.

10. Xiaorui Du, Guojun zou, Yan Zhang, Xiaolai Wang. A novel strategy for low-temperature synthesis of Ruddlesden–Popper type layered perovskite La₃Mn₂O_7+δ for methane combustion. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2013, 1, 8411.

▪ Directional Design and Investigation of Catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications

▪ Valorization of Biomass-Derived Molecules

▪ Value-Added Conversion of Waste Resins