Prof. Jason Chun-Ho LAM

Academic Background

Research Interests

Our group focuses on developing green electrocatalytic reactions to convert biomass and different wastes stocks to high-value products. We design different electrocatalysts and reaction conditions to control yield, selectivity, and reaction mechanisms. We have 3 main research directions:

1) Electrocatalytic Selective Upgrading of Biomass (Yard and Agricultural Waste) to High-Value Products
2) Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAOPs) Treatment of Pollutants in Wastewater
3) Electrochemical Extraction of Metals from E-Waste

Outside of the lab, I enjoy designing workshops for the younger generations and companies to highlight the importance of waste upcycling.

Course Taught

SEE6214 Solid Waste Treatment and Management
SEE3003 Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies
SEE2000 Professional Development I

PhD Candidate and Postdoc Position(s) Availability

PhD Candidate (4 years)

• Candidates with at least 1 first author (or co-first author) in SCI-indexed journal is preferred. However, candidates with no publications can also be considered if strong research experiences are presented.
• Candidates who are interested in the listed topics are welcome to e-mail me, jason.lam@cityu.edu.hk, with their CV and their first-author (or co-first author) publication(s). Candidates are also highly welcome to propose their own research topics in the related areas.
• Candidate will be expected to publish 3 – 5 quality papers during his/her PhD study under my mentorship.

Postdoc (Normally 2+ years, contract is renewed annually)

• Duties

  • Publish in high impact journal (1 – 2 papers per year)
  • Co-mentor junior students
  • Co-supervise some of the industrial-sponsored projects

• Requirements

  • Good background in electrocatalysis (HER, OER, ECH, AOP …etc) and/or organic chemistry (synthesis, catalysis, or characterization) and/or material science is preferred.
    At least 2 first-author papers in SCI-indexed journals.

• Salary and Conditions of Service

  • Salary offered will be highly competitive, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Fringe benefits include leave, medical and dental consultations at the campus clinic.
  • Note: If candidate’s PhD degree is obtained from a top 100 university in the world (based on QS / THE / ARWU list), he or she may gain additional salary from the HK government talent researcher program. Subjected to position availability; please discuss with me for more details.

• Application

  • Applications will be accepted until all the positions are filled. Please send me the most current CV and publications at Jason.lam@cityu.edu.hk. Suitable candidates will be invited for an online interview within 1 – 2 weeks.

City University of Hong Kong is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to the principle of diversity. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, especially applicants who will enhance the diversity of our staff.

On-going Research Projects

Publications

Most Updated List: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Ap48oUcAAAAJ

2024 (As of Feb)

• Liu, S.; Jin, Y.; Huang, S.; Zhu, Q.; Shao, S.; Lam, J. C.-H.* One-pot redox cascade paired electrosynthesis of gamma-butyrolactone from furoic acid. Nature Communications. 2024, 15 (1), 1141. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45278-z.
• Jin, ; Petrovic, P. V.; Huang, S.; Banerjee, S.; Nandy, A.; Anastas, P. T.; Lam, J. C.-H.* Carbocation Mechanism Revelation of Molecular Iodine-Mediated Dehydrogenative Aromatization of Substituted Cyclic Ketones to Phenols. The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2024, 89 (5), 3226-3237.
• Zhu, Q.; Gong, B.; Huang, S.; Jin, Y.; Liu, S.; Shao, S.; Cataldo, T.; Yang, Y.; Bedford, N. M.; Lam, J. C.-H.* Rhombohedral ZnIn₂S₄-Catalysed Anodic Direct Electrochemical Oxidative Cleavage of C-O Bond in α-O-4 Linkages in Ambient Conditions. Green Chem. 2024, 10.1039/D4GC00338A. DOI: 10.1039/D4GC00338A.
• He, J.; Zhou, P.; Zhang, S.; Lam, J. C.-H.; Liao, Y.; Zhang, Z. Thermo-/photo-catalysts for aerobic oxidative cyanation of diverse oxygen-containing feedstocks. Green Chem. 2024, 26 (4), 1831-1845.
• Hu, T.; Feng, J.; Yan, W.; Tian, S.; Sun, J.; Liu, X.; Wei, D.; Wang, Z.; Yu, Y.; Lam, J. C.-H.; et al. Piezocatalysis for Chemical–Mechanical Polishing of SiC: Dual Roles of t-BaTiO₃ as a Piezocatalyst and an Abrasive. Small, 2024, 2310117.

2023

• Wang, S.; Liu, K.; Jin, Y.; Huang, S.; Lam, J. C.-H.*, Amorphous RuO₂ Catalyst for Medium Size Carboxylic Acid to Alkane Dimer Selective Kolbe Electrolysis in an Aqueous Environment, ChemSusChem, 2023, e202300222.
• Wang, Y.; Li, B.*; Gao, A.; Ding, K.; Xing, X.; Wei, J.; Huang, Y.; Lam, J. C.-H.*; Subramanian, K.; Zhang, S., Volatile-char interactions during biomass pyrolysis: Effect of biomass acid-washing pretreatment, Fuel, 2023, 340, 127496.
• Wan, Y.; Ding, K.*; Lam, J. C. -H.*; Zhong, D.*; Zhang, S., How do crystal shapes of nano-ceria determine its ketonization performance during biomass pyrolysis?, Fuel Processing Technology, 2023, 241, 107584.
• Jia, X.; Zhao, X.; Bi, Z.; Zhang, H.; Huang, S.; Lam, J. C. -H.*; Li, W.; Li, Y.*; Wågberg, T.; Hu, G.*, Rod-shaped lanthanum oxychloride-decorated porous carbon material for efficient and ultra-fast removal of phosphorus from eutrophic water, Separation and Purification Technology, 2023, 306, 122713.
• Yang, J.; Au, W. C.; Law, H.; Leung, C. H.; Lam, J. C. -H.*; Nah, T.*, pH affects the aqueous-phase nitrate-mediated photooxidation of phenolic compounds: implications for brown carbon formation and evolution, Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 2023, 25(2), 176-189.

2022

• Huang, S.; Gong, B.; Jin, Y.X.; Sit, H.-L.; Lam, J. C.-H.*, The Structural Phase Effect of MoS₂ in Controlling the Reaction Selectivity between Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation and Dimerization of Furfural, ACS Catal., 2022, 12 (18), 11340-11354. (Featured on Front Cover)
  
• Huang, S.; Jin, Y.X.; Zhang, M.; Yan, K.; Feng, S.P.; Lam, J. C.-H.*, MoS₂-Catalyzed Selective Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Aromatic Aldehydes in an Aqueous Environment, Green Chem., 2022, 24, 7974-7987.
• Liu, K.; Huang, S.; Jin, Y.; Lam, J. C.-H.* Teaching Electrometallurgical Recycling of Metals from Waste Printed Circuit Board (WPCB) via Slurry Electrolysis using Benign Chemicals, Chem. Educ., 2022, (Minor Revision, Resubmitted)
• Song, B.; Cao, X.; Gao, W.; Aziz, S.; Gao, S.; Lam, C.-H.; Lin, R., Preparation of nano-biochar from conventional biorefineries for high-value applications. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 2022, 157, 112057.
• Liu, K.; Huang, S.; Jin, Y.; Ma, L.; Wang, W.-X.; Lam, J. C.-H.*, A green slurry electrolysis to recover valuable metals from waste printed circuit board (WPCB) in recyclable pH-neutral ethylene glycol. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2022, 433, 128702.
• Jin, Q.; Tao, D.; Lu, Y.; Sun, J.; Lam, C. H.; Su, G.; He, Y., New insight on occurrence of liquid crystal monomers: A class of emerging e-waste pollutants in municipal landfill leachate. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2022, 423, 127146.
• Wang, X.; Li, C.; Lam, C. H.; Subramanian, K.; Qin, Z.-H.; Mou, J.-H.; Jin, M.; Chopra, S. S.; Singh, V.; Ok, Y. S.; Yan, J.; Li, H.-Y.; Lin, C. S. K., Emerging waste valorisation techniques to moderate the hazardous impacts, and their path towards sustainability. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2022, 423, 127023.
• Deng, W.; Syed-Hassan, S. S. A.; Lam, C. H.; Hu, X.; Wang, X.; Xiong, Z.; Han, H.; Xu, J.; Jiang, L.; Su, S.; Hu, S.; Wang, Y.; Xiang, J., Polymerization during low-temperature electrochemical upgrading of bio-oil: Multi-technique characterization of bio-oil evolution. Energy Convers. Manage. 2022, 253, 115165.
• Khan, R. J.; Lau, C. Y.; Guan, J.; Lam, C. H.; Zhao, J.; Ji, Y.; Wang, H.; Xu, J.; Lee, D.-J.; Leu, S.-Y., Recent advances of lignin valorization techniques toward sustainable aromatics and potential benchmarks to fossil refinery products. Bioresource Technology 2022, 346, 126419.
• Lang, L.; Li, Y.; Lam, J. C.-H.*; Ding, Y.; Yin, X.; Wu, C., Enhancing the selectivity of hydrocarbons during the Kolbe electrolysis of biomass-derived short-chain carboxylic acids by anionic surfactants. Sustainable Energy & Fuels 2022, 6 (11), 2797-2804.
• Deng, W.; Wang, X.; Lam, C. H.; Xiong, Z.; Han, H.; Xu, J.; Jiang, L.; Su, S.; Hu, S.; Wang, Y.; Xiang, J., Evolution of coke structures during electrochemical upgrading of bio-oil. Fuel Processing Technology 2022, 225, 107036.

2021

• Wang, X.; Deng, W.; Lam, C. H.; Xiong, Y.; Xiong, Z.; Xu, J.; Jiang, L.; Su, S.; Hu, S.; Wang, Y.; Xiang, J., Coke formation and its impacts during electrochemical upgrading of bio-oil. Fuel 2021, 306, 121664.
• Chen, Q.; Song, B.; Li, X.; Wang, R.; Wang, S.; Xu, S.; Reniers, F.; Lam, C. H.*, Enhancing the Properties of Photocatalysts via Nonthermal Plasma Modification: Recent Advances, Treatment Variables, Mechanisms, and Perspectives. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2021, 60 (47), 16813-16826.
• Huang, S.; Yi, J.; Pan, Y.; Wang, C.; Jin, Y.; Song, Y.; Xu, Y.; Lam, C. H.*; Li, H.; Xu, H., Steering Hole Transfer from the Light Absorber to Oxygen Evolution Sites for Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting. Advanced Materials Interfaces 2021, 8 (22), 2101158.
• Fan, Y.; Li, L.; Yang, G.; Sun, Y.; He, L.; Wu, P.; Lam, C. H.; Song, B., Suppression Effect of Gamma-Valerolactone on the Mild Alkaline Pretreatment of Hybrid Pennisetum. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2021, 9 (44), 14846-14856.
• Yang, J.; Au, W. C.; Law, H.; Lam, C. H.; Nah, T., Formation and evolution of brown carbon during aqueous-phase nitrate-mediated photooxidation of guaiacol and 5-nitroguaiacol. Atmospheric Environment 2021, 254, 118401.
• Garedew, M.; Lam, C. H.*; Petitjean, L.; Huang, S.Q.; Song, B.; Lin, F.; Jackson, J.E.; Saffron, C. M.; Anastas, P. T.* “Electrochemical Upgrading of Depolymerized Lignin: A Review of Model Compound Studies” Green Chem., 2021, 23, 2868-2899.
• Peng, Y.; Ruan, Q.;  Lam, C. H.;  Meng, F.;  Guan, C.-Y.;  Santoso, S. P.;  Zou, X.;  Yu, E. T.;  Chu, P. K.; Hsu, H.-Y., Plasma-implanted Ti-doped hematite photoanodes with enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation performance. J. Alloys Compd. 2021, 870, 159376.
• Tu, Q.; Parvatker, A.; Garedew, M.; Harris, C.; Eckelman, M.; Zimmerman, J.; Anastas, P. T.; Lam, C. H.*, Electrocatalysis Demonstrates Significant Climate Change Mitigation Potential for Chemical and Fuel Production, Environ. Sci. Technol. 2021, 55(5), 3240-3249.
• Song, B.; Lin, R.; Lam, C. H.; Wu, H.; Tsui, T.-H.; Yu, Y., Recent Advances and Challenges of Inter-disciplinary Biomass Valorization by Integrating Hydrothermal and Biological Techniques. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 2021, 135, 110370.

2020

• Xin, J.; Liu, M.; Zhang, G.; Wang, J.; Xia, Q.; Sun, Y.; Zhou, Z.; Zhang, W.; Wang, S.; Lam, C. H.*; Yang, C.; Shen, J.; Chaudhari, R., Chemical Synthesis of Adipic Acid from Glucose and Derivatives: Challenges for Nanocatalyst Design. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2020, 8, 51, 18732–18754.
• Garedew, M.; Lin, F.; Song, B.; de Winter, T. M.; Jackson, J.E.; Saffron, C. M.; Lam, C. H.*; Anastas, P. T.* “Greener Routes to Biomass Waste Valorization: Lignin Transformation Through Electrocatalysis for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels Production” ChemSusChem, 2020, 13, 1-25.
• Lam, C. H.*; Deng, W.; Lang, L.; Jin, X.; Hu, X.; Wang, Y., Minireview on Bio-Oil Upgrading via Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation: Connecting Biofuel Production with Renewable Power. Energy Fuels 2020, 34 (7), 7915-7928.
• Hu, X.; Zhang, Z.;  Gholizadeh, M.;  Zhang, S.;  Lam, C. H.;  Xiong, Z.; Wang, Y., Coke Formation during Thermal Treatment of Bio-oil. Energy Fuels, 2020, 34 (7), 7863-7914.

2019

• Lam, C. H.*; Jackson, J. E. “Teaching Electrochemistry with Common Objects: Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Acetol with U.S. Coins” J. Chem. Educ., 2019, 97 (1), 172-177.
• Lam, C. H.; Escande, V.; Mellor, K.; Zimmerman, J. B.; Anastas, P. T.* “Teaching Atom Economy and E-Factor Concepts through a Green Laboratory Experiment: Aerobic Oxidative Cleavage of Meso-Hydrobenzoin to Benzaldehyde using a Heterogeneous Catalyst” J. Chem. Educ., 2019, 96 (4), 761-765.

Before Joining the School of Energy and Environment

• Erythropel, H. C.; Zimmerman, J. B.; de Winter, T. M.; Petitjean, L.; Melnikov, F.; Lam, C. H.; Lounsbury, A. W.; Mellor, K. E.; Janković, N. Z.; Tu, Q.; Pincus, L. N.; Falinski, M. M.; Shi, W.; Coish, P.; Plata, D. L.; Anastas, P. T. “The Green ChemisTREE: 20 Years After Taking Root with the 12 Principles” Green Chem., 2018, 20, 1929-1961. (Featured on Front Cover)
  
• Lam, C. H.; Bloomfield A. J.; Anastas, P. T. “Switchable Production of Valuable Feedstocks from Glycerol via Electrocatalytic Oxidation with Earth Abundant Metal Water Oxidation Catalyst” Green Chem., 2017, 19, 1958-1968.
• Escande, V. E.*; Lam, C. H.*; Coish, P.; Anastas, P. T. “Heterogeneous Sodium-Manganese Oxide Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Cleavage of 1,2-diols” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 9561 – 9565. (*Contributed Equally) (Featured as Hot Paper)
• Lam, C. H.; Das, S.; Erickson, N.; Hyzer, C.; Garedew, M.; Anderson, J. E.; Wallington, T. J.; Tamor, M. A.; Jackson, J. E.; Saffron, C. M. “Towards Sustainable Hydrocarbon Fuels with Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Oil and Electrocatalytic Upgrading” Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2017, 1, 258-266. (Featured on Front Cover)
  
• Escande, V. E.; Lam, C. H.; Claude, G.; Anastas, P. T. “EcoMnOx, a Biosourced Catalyst for Selective Aerobic Oxidative Cleavage of Activated 1,2-Diols” ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2017, 5 (4), 3214-3222.
• Gillet, S.; Petitjean, L.; Aguedo, M.; Lam, C. H.; Blecker, C.; Anastas, P. “Impact of Lignin Structure on Oil Production via Hydroprocessing with a Copper-Doped Porous Metal Oxide Catalyst” Bioresour. Technol., 2016, 233, 216-226.
• Lam, C. H.; Lowe, C.; Li, Z.; Longe, K.; Rayburn, J.; Caldwell, M.; Houdek, C.; Maguire J.; Saffron, C. M.; Miller, D. J.; Jackson, J. E. “Electrocatalytic Upgrading of Model Lignin Monomers with Earth Abundant Metal Electrodes” Green Chem., 2015, 17, 601-609.
• Li, Z.; Garedew, M.; Lam, C. H.; Luczek, K.; Jackson, J. E.; Miller, D. J.; Saffron, C. M. “Mild Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation and Hydrodeoxygenation of Bio-oil Derived Phenolic Compounds Using Ruthenium Supported on Activated Carbon Cloth” Green Chem., 2012, 14, 2540-2549.
• Li, Z.; Kelkar, S.; Lam, C. H.; Luczek, K.; Jackson, J. E.; Miller, D. J.; Saffron, C. M. “Aqueous Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Furfural Using a Sacrificial Anode” Electrochim. Acta 2012, 64, 87-93.
• Patents – Jackson, J. E.; Lam, C. H.; Saffron, C. M.; Miller, D. J. “Electrolyzer Reactor and Related Methods” 2016 (Publication no.: US-20160024669)
• Patents – Jackson, J. E.; Lam, C. H.; Saffron, C. M.; Miller, D. J. “Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation and Hydrodeoxygenation of Oxygenated and Unsaturated Organic Compounds” 2014 (Publication no.: US-20140110268)

Selected Media Coverage

(2021) An interview with Hong Kong TVB Pearl to discuss the potential of biomass and yard waste in Hong Kong. Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWbUp5NaN-k&t=123s	(2022) An invited lecture by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to discuss the application of biomass.
(2023) An interview with City University of Hong Kong Talent and Education Development (TED) Office. Featured on TED Newsletter.  https://www.cityu.edu.hk/ted/newsletters/pdf/ TED_Newsletter(May-2023).pdf	(2021) An interview with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) to discuss how biomass can promote HK’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality
(2019) A news article discussing the chemical potential of waste crude glycerol.	(2020) CityU TV Media Coverage城市大學電視-可降解塑膠訪問 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OC6hNUwAEw