Zhen Li, PhD
Professor, School of Radiation Mediation and Protection, Soochow University，
Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China
Tel: 86-13776097416, Fax: 86-512-65884830
E-mail: zhenli@suda.edu.cn
Education Background:
PhD in Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, 2005.
MSc in Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, 2002.
BSc in Applied Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), China, 1999.
Professional Experience:
09. 2014 --- present: Professor at School of Radiation Mediation and Protection, Soochow University, China.
07. 2012 --- 08.2014: Research Fellow at Institute for Superconducting & Electronic Materials (ISEM), University of Wollongong, Australia.
06. 2009 --- 06, 2012:Queensland Smart Futures Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials, Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Australia.
07. 2008 --- 06. 2009: UQ Postdoctoral Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials, Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Australia.
11. 2006 --- 06. 2008: Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry-Biology, University of Siegen, Germany.
10. 2005 --- 10. 2006: Full-time research associate in the Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Research Interests:
Magnetic, semiconductor and metallic nanomaterials exhibit strong size-dependent properties and great potential in diverse bioapplications. An application is in molecular imaging such as MRI, CT, optical imaging, SPECT and PET for diagnosis and treatment of cancers and diseases. Prof. Li’s research focuses on preparation and application of advanced molecular imaging probes for accurate diagnosis and treatment of cancers, including: (i) High-performance magnetic probes for T1 and/or T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging; (ii) Highly sensitive multifunctional probes for multimodal imaging; and (iii) novel nanotheranostics.
Research Experience and Accomplishments:
Prof. Li has substantial research experience in preparation and application of nanomaterials:
09. 2002 --- 07. 2005: PhD study at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Invented a one-pot reaction technology to prepare medically applicable Fe3O4 nanoagents from organic or inorganic iron precursors in polar organic solvents without the consideration of the balance between Fe2+ and Fe3+ (Refer to Chinese patents CN03136275.3 and CN03136273.7, and publications Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2005, 44, 123, impact factor (IF) 13.3, cited 156 times; Adv. Mater., 2005, 17, 1001, IF 15.4, cited 241 times; Chem. Mater., 2004, 16, 1391, IF 8.5, cited 228 times).
10. 2005 --- 10. 2006: Full-time research associate in the Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Developed an environmentally friendly aqueous route to prepare water-soluble ultra-small magnetic nanoparticles for simultaneously serving as positive and negative dual contrast agent of MRI (refer to Adv. Funct. Mater., 2012, 22, 2387, IF 10.4; Small, 2008, 4, 231, cited 71 times; Adv. Healthcare Mater., 2013, 2, 958).
11. 2006 --- 06. 2008: Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry-Biology, University of Siegen, Germany.
Developed a robust method to prepare high-perfornace nanocatalysts for the solution-liquid-solid growth of high-quality homogenous and heterogeneous colloidal semiconductor nanowires for diverse applications (refer to Small, 2008, 4, 1698; Adv. Funct. Mater., 2009, 19, 3650; Small, 2010, 6, 376; Small, 2011, 7, 2464).
07. 2008 --- 06. 2012: Queensland Smart Futures Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials, Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Australia.
Further developed the SLS method to prepare the first examples of tunable magnetic ions doped colloidal semiconductor nanowires for fabrication of high-performance nanodevices (refer to Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49, 2777, hot article; Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 11894; Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 1263).
07. 2012 --- 8. 2014: Research Fellow at Institute for Superconducting & Electronic Materials (ISEM), University of Wollongong, Australia.
Invented two ambient scalable methods to prepare binary and ternary metal chalcogenides for energy conversion and storage (refer to J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 17626; Nano Energy, 2015, 15， 193; Nano Energy, 2014, 13, 609).
? Competitive Grants
Prof. Li is the chief investigator of the following two projects:
1. “Ultrasmall magnetic iron oxide based multimodal imaging probes”, NSFC 81471657, 2015 - 2018.
2. “Multimodal nanotheranostics”, Jiangsu Specially Appointed Professorship, 2015 – 2018.
Before join the Soochow University, Dr. Li was the Chief investigator of the following projects:
1. Zhen Li, Max Lu “Nanostructure Engineering of Semiconductor Nanowires for High Performance Thermoelectrics” ARC DP 2013, $310,000.
2. Lianzhou Wang, Shanqing Zhang, Zhen Li “Plasmon-enhanced Photocatalysts for Solar-driven Wastewater Pollutant Removal” ARC DP 2013, $341,000.
3. Zhen Li “Multifunctional magnetic nanomaterials: robust contrast agents for the detection and treatment of cancer”, Queensland Smart Futures Fellowship, $300,000, 01/06/2010-31/05/2012.
4. Zhen Li “Fluorescent Semiconductor Nanowires”, Queensland International Fellowship, $35,000, 01/12/2009-31/08/2010.
5. Zhen Li “Robust Intracellular Probes Based on Fluorescent Semiconductor Nanowires”, University of Queensland Early Career Researcher funding, $35,000, 01/01/2010-31/12/2011.
6. Zhen Li “Target multi-modal contrast agents for molecular imaging and therapy”, University of Queensland New Staff funding, $12,000, 01/01/2010-31/12/2011.
? Teaching and supervision Experience
Dr. Li gave lectures for two courses (CHEE4301 and CHEE4302) when he worked at the University of Queensland (UQ). CHEE4301 is about Synthesis of One Dimensional Inorganic Nanomaterials, and CHEE4302 is about Corrosion and Electrochemistry. He has been awarded UQ ResTeach Fellowship due to the excellence in teaching.
Prof. Li has supervised two PhD graduates (Dr. Yian Zhu and Dr. Bai Yang), he is currently (co)supervising 7 PhD, including:
Miss Ling Wen (2014 PhD candidate, Co-supervise with Prof. Mingyuan Gao at Soochow University)
Miss Ling Chen (2014 PhD candidate, Co-supervise with Prof. Zhifang Chai at Soochow University)
Miss Lijuan Zhang (2014 PhD candidate, Co-supervise with Prof. Shixue Dou at University of Wollongong)
Miss Jinyan Xiong (2013 PhD candidate, Co-supervise with Prof. Shixue Dou at University of Wollongong)
Mr Shaohua Zhang (2013 PhD candidate, Co-supervise with Prof. Shixue Dou at University of Wollongong)
Miss Xinqi Chen (2012 PhD candidate, Co-supervise with Prof. Shixue Dou at University of Wollongong)
Mr Chao Han (2012 PhD candidate, Co-supervise with Prof. Shixue Dou at University of Wollongong)
? Professional Advisory
I have been invited to review manuscripts from a number of leading journals in Chemistry, Materials, and Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, such as Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.; Adv. Mater.; Adv. Energy Mater.; Adv. Funct. Mater.; Adv. Sci; SMALL; NANO Res.; Nanoscale; J. Mater. Chem. A, J. Phys. Chem. C; J. Appl. Mater. Interfaces, etc.
Representative Recent Publications:
>100 journal articles; 1 book chapter;2 patents
>40% papers are in journals with an impact factor >5.0 (14 papers are in journals with an impact factor >10.0 )
>2600 citations (5 papers have been cited more than 100 times); h-index 24 (citations were obtained from ISI Web of Knowledge in May. 2015).
Scholarly book chapter
1. *Z. Li, Q. Sun, Z. H. Zhu, S. C. Smith, Gaoqing (Max) Lu, “Colloidal Semiconductor Nanowires” in One-Dimensional Nanostructures: Principles and Applications, Edited by Tianyou Zhai and Jiannian Yao, Wiley-VCH 2013, pp65-102. (Corresponding Author)
Refereed journal articles (IF = impact factor 2013)
2. X. Q. Chen, *Z. Li, S. X. Dou, Ambient facile synthesis of gram-scale copper selenide nanostructures from commercial copper and selenium powder, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces., 2015, revised (IF = 5.9; Corresponding Author)
3. C. Han, *Z. Li, G. Q. Lu, S. X. Dou, Robust scalable synthesis of surfactant-free thermoelectric metal chalcogenide nanostructures, Nano Energy, 2015, 15， 193-204. (IF = 10.2; Corresponding Author)
4. Y. Bai, C. Han, X. Q. Chen, H. Yu, X. Zong, *Z. Li, *L. Z. Wang, Boosting the efficiency of quantum dot sensitized solar cells up to 7.11% through simultaneous engineering of photocathode and photoanode, Nano Energy., 2014, 13, 609-619. (IF = 10.2; Corresponding Author)
5. S. H. Zhang, W. J. Li, B. Tan, S. L. Chou, *Z. Li, S. X. Dou, One-pot synthesis of ultra-small magnetite nanoparticles on the surface of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets as anode for sodium-ion batteries, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 4793-4798. (IF = 6.6; Corresponding Author)
6. X. Q. Chen, *Z. Li, Y. Bai, Q. Sun, *L. Z. Wang, S. X. Dou, Room-temperature synthesis of Cu2-xE (E =S, Se) nanotubes with hierarchical architecture as high-performance counter electrodes of quantum-dots-sensitized solar cells, Chem. Eur. J., 2015, 21, 1055-1063 (IF = 5.7; Corresponding Author, hot article and back cover).
7. X. Q. Chen, *Z. Li, J. P. Yang, Q. Sun, S. X. Dou, Aqueous Preparation of Surfactant-free Copper Selenide Nanowires, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2015, 442, 140-146. (IF = 3.6; Corresponding Author)
8. Q. Sun, C. X. Sun, A. J. Du, *Z. Li, Charged-controlled Separation of Nitrogen from Natural Gas Using Boron Nitride Fullerene, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2014, 118, 30006-30012. (IF = 4.8; Corresponding Author)
9. C. Han, Q. Sun, Z. X. Cheng., J. L. Wang, *Z. Li, G. Q. Lu, S. X. Dou, Ambient Scalable Synthesis of Surfactant-free Thermoelectric CuAgSe Nanoparticles with Reversible Metallic-n-p Conductivity Transition, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 17626-17633. (IF = 11.4; Corresponding Author)
10. J. Y. Xiong, *Z. Li, J. Chen, S. Q. Zhang, L. Z. Wang, S. X. Dou, Facile synthesis of highly efficient 1D plasmonic photocatalysts through Ag@Cu2O core-shell hetero-nanowires, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces., 2014, 6, 15716-15725 (IF = 5.9; Corresponding Author).
11. C. Han, *Z. Li, W. J. Li, S. L. Chou, S. X. Dou, Controlled Synthesis of Copper Telleride Nanostructures for Long-cycling Anode in Lithium Ion Batteries, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 11683-11690. (IF = 6.6; Corresponding Author)
12. H. W. Zhang, L. H. Jing, J. F. Zeng, Y. Hou, *Z. Li, *M. Y. Gao, Revisiting the Coordination Chemistry for Preparing Manganese Oxide Nanocrystals in the Presence of Oleylamine and Oleic Acid, Nanoscale 2014, 6, 5918-5925. (IF = 6.7, Corresponding Author)
13. Y. K. Shan, Z. Xiao, Y. M. Chuan, H. L. Li, M. L. Yuan, *Z. Li, S. X. Dou, One-pot Aqueous Synthesis of Cysteine-Capped CdTe/CdS Core-shell Nanowires, J. Nanoparticle Res., 2014, 16, 2420 (IF = 2.3; Corresponding Author).
14. *Z. Li, Q. Sun, Y. Zhu, B. Tan, Z. P. Xu, S. X. Dou, Ultra-small fluorescent inorganic nanoparticles for bioimaging, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014, 2, 2793-2818 (IF = 6.6; Feature article; Corresponding Author).
15. Q. Sun, M. Wang, *Z. Li, A. J. Du, D. J. Searles, A Computational Study of Carbon Dioxide Adsorption on Solid Boron, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 12695-12706. (IF = 4.2; Corresponding Author; Back cover)
16. Q. Sun, M. Wang, *Z. Li, A. J. Du, D. J. Searles, Carbon Dioxide Capture and Gas Separation on B80, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2014, 118, 2170 -2177. (IF = 4.8; Corresponding Author)
17. C. Han, *Z. Li, S. X. Dou, Recent progress in thermoelectric materials, Chin. Sci. Bulletin, 2014, 59, 2073-2091. (IF = 1.3; Invited review, Corresponding Author; Front cover)
18. X. M. Dong, K. Wang, C. J. Zhao, X. Z. Qian, S. Chen, *Z. Li, H. K. Liu, S. X. Dou, Direct synthesis of RGO/Cu2O composite films on copper foils for supercapacitors, J. Alloy Comp., 2014, 586, 745 - 753. (IF = 2.7; Corresponding Author)
19. Y. Zhu, H. Hong, Z. P. Xu, *Z. Li, W. Cai, Quantum Dot-Based Nanoprobes for In Vivo Targeted Imaging, Curr. Molecular Med. 2013, 13, 1549. (IF = 3.6, Corresponding Author; Front cover)
20. Q. Sun, *Z. Li, D. J. Searles, Y. Chen, G. Q. (Max) Lu, A. J. Du, Charge-Controlled Switchable CO2 Capture on Boron Nitride Nanomaterials, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, 8246-8253. (IF = 11.4; Corresponding Author)
21. Y. Zhu, *Z. Li, M. Chen, H. M. Cooper, Z. P. Xu, Tuning core-shell SiO2@CdTe@SiO2 fluorescent nanoparticles for Cellular labeling, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013, 1, 2315-2323. (IF = 6.6)
22. Q. Sun, M. Wang, *Z. Li, P. Li, W. H. Wang, X. J. Tan, A. J. Du, Nitrogen removal from natural gas using solid boron: a first-principles computational study, Fuel, 2013, 109, 575-583. (IF = 3.4; Corresponding Author)
23. Q. Sun, M. Wang, *Z. Li, Y. Y. Ma, A. J. Du, CO2 capture and gas separation on boron carbon nanotubes, Chem. Phys. Lett., 2013, 575, 59-66. (IF = 2.0; Corresponding Author)
24. K. P. Kandel, U. Pietsch,*Z. Li, ?. Kurtulus, Doping Induced Structural Change in Colloidal Semiconductor Nanowires, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 4444-4450. (IF = 4.2; Corresponding Author)
25. Y. H. Lan, X. Z. Qian, C. J. Zhao, Z. M. Zhang, X. Chen, *Z. Li, High performance visible light driven photocatalysts AgX@g-C3N4 (X=Cl, Br, I) nanocomposites, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2013,395, 75-80. (IF = 3.6; Corresponding Author)
26. Y. Zhu, *Z. Li, M. Chen, H. M. Cooper, G. Q. (Max) Lu, Z. P. Xu, Preparation of Highly Fluorescent CdTe/CdS Quantum Dots under Neutral-pH Conditions for Biological Applications, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2013, 390, 3-10. (IF = 3.6; Corresponding Author;)
27. *Z. Li, S. X. Wang, Q. Sun, H. L. Zhao, H. Lei, M. B. Lan, Z. X. Cheng, X. L. Wang, S. X. Dou, G. Q. Lu, Ultrasmall Manganese Ferrite Nanoparticles as Positive Contrast Agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Adv. Healthcare Mater, 2013, 2, 958-964. (IF = 4.9; Corresponding Author)
28. *Z. Li, Q. Sun, X. D. Yao, Z. H. Zhu, G. Q. Lu, Semiconductor Nanowires for Thermoelectrics, J. Mater. Chem. 2012, 22, 22821-22831. (IF = 6.6; Corresponding Author)
29. *Z. Li, P. W. Yi, Q. Sun, H. Lei, H. L. Zhao, Z. H. Zhu, S. C. Smith, M. B. Lan, G. Q. Lu, Ultrasmall Water-soluble and Biocompatible Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Positive and Negative Dual Contrast Agents, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2012, 22, 2387-2393 (IF = 10.4; Corresponding Author)
30. *Z. Li, A. J. Du, Q. Sun, M. Aljada, Z. H. Zhu, G. Q. Lu, Field-effect transistors fabricated from diluted magnetic semiconductor colloidal nanowires, Nanoscale 2012, 4, 1263-1266. (IF = 6.7; Corresponding Author).
31. Y. Zhu, *Z. Li, M. Chen, H. M. Cooper, G. Q. (Max) Lu, Z. P. Xu, Synthesis of Robust Sandwich-Like SiO2@CdTe@SiO2 Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Cellular Imaging, Chem. Mater.,2012, 24, 421-423. (IF = 8.5, Corresponding Author)
32. H. Zhang, X. Huang, L. Li, G. W. Zhang, I. Hussain, *Z. Li, B. Tan, Photoreductive Synthesis of Water-soluble Fluorescent Metal Nanoclusters, Chem. Commun. 2012, 48, 567-569. (IF = 6.7; Corresponding Author)
33. D. Liu, *Z. Li, Q. Sun, X. Kong, A. Z. Zhao, Z. X. Wang, In Situ FT-IR Study of Thiophene Adsorbed on the Surface of Sulfided Mo Catalysts, Fuel, 2012, 92, 77-83. (IF = 3.4; Corresponding Author)
34. *Z. Li, A. J. Du, Q. Sun, M. Aljada, L. N. Cheng, M. J. Riley, Z. H. Zhu, Z. X. Cheng, X. L. Wang, J. Hall, E. Krausz, S. Z. Qiao, S. C. Smith, G. Q. Lu, Cobalt-doped Cadmium Selenide Colloidal Nanowires, Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 11894-11896. (IF = 6.6; Corresponding Author)
35. *Z. Li, X. D. Ma, Q. Sun, Z. Wang, J. Liu, Z. H. Zhu, S. Z. Qiao, S. C. Smith, G. Q. Lu, A. Mews, Synthesis and Characterization of Colloidal Core-Shell Semiconductor Nanowires, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2010, 27, 4325. (IF = 3.0; Corresponding Author)
36. *Z. Li, L. N. Cheng, Q. Sun, Z. H. Zhu, M. J. Riley, M. Aljada, Z. X. Cheng, X. L. Wang, S. Z. Qiao, S. C. Smith, G. Q. Lu, Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor Nanowires Prepared by Solution-Liquid-Solid Method, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49, 2777-2781. (IF = 11. 3; Hot article; Corresponding Author)
Honors and Awards:
· The First Prize of Beijing Science & Technology Award, 2014
· Jiangsu Specially Appointed Professorship, 2014
· The Queensland Smart Future Fellowship, 2009
· The Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, 2006
· The Queensland International Fellowship, 2009
· The University of Queensland (UQ) Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2008
· UQ ResTeach Fellowship, 2011
· UQ-Manning Clark House Fellowship, 2010
Contact Information：
Professor Zhen Li
School of Radiation Mediation and Protection, Soochow University，
Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China
Tel: 86-13776097416, Fax: 86-512-65884830
E-mail: zhenli@suda.edu.cn