On the afternoon of December 8, 2025, Professor Zeng Jie, President of Anhui University of Technology, Chair Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and leading talent of the National “Ten Thousand Talents Program”, was invited to the School of Energy and Mechanical Engineering at Nanjing Normal University to deliver an academic report titled “New Processes in Carbon Dioxide Catalytic Conversion.” The report systematically showcased the latest research advancements made by his team in the field of CO2 catalytic conversion and utilization, presenting innovative achievements ranging from fundamental research to technology integration. The event was attended by Prof. Yang Hongmin, Prof. Zhao Chuanwen, as well as faculty and graduate students in related fields. The report was chaired by Prof. Yang Hongmin.

Professor Zeng began by contextualizing the topic within the era of “green manufacturing”. He pointed out the limitations of traditional chemical catalysis (“fast but imprecise”) and biological catalysis (“precise but slow”), proposing a new paradigm of “chemical-biological hybrid catalysis.” This approach holds promise for overcoming the bottlenecks of single systems, enabling the efficient and directed conversion of CO₂ into high-value-added products. Professor Zeng highlighted his team’s work in deeply elucidating the mechanisms of CO₂ catalytic reactions by constructing a “multi-modal in-situ characterization platform for working conditions,” combining synchrotron radiation and in-situ spectroscopy techniques. Addressing the urgent challenge in China of producing long-chain α-olefins (such as POE), his team developed Cu-Fe-based catalysts that directly convert CO₂ hydrogenation into C4+ olefins under atmospheric pressure, achieving an olefin selectivity of 66.9% among hydrocarbons. This provides a new alternative to traditional petroleum-based routes. Furthermore, the team created a highly active Co₄N catalytic system for CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol, where the formation of Co₄NHₓ active centers effectively promotes CO₂ activation. To tackle issues like catalyst sintering and carbon deposition, the team proposed a “dynamic confined nano-island” strategy, successfully stabilizing platinum single atoms and low-nuclearity cluster catalysts, which demonstrated excellent activity and stability in reactions such as dry reforming of methane.

Professor Zeng also emphasized a novel “electrocatalysis-synthetic biology” coupling pathway driven by renewable energy. His team designed a novel solid-state electrolyte reactor that enables the continuous, “separation-free” production of pure liquid products such as formic acid and acetic acid, with product purity reaching electronic chemical grade. Furthermore, by employing gene editing to modify microbial metabolic pathways, the team successfully converted one-carbon feedstocks generated from electrocatalysis into high-value products such as glucose, oils, lycopene, and biodegradable plastics (PHB). This preliminary work establishes a complete technological chain of “CO₂ → electrocatalytic products → biological fermentation → high-value molecules.”

In conclusion, Professor Zeng outlined future directions in the field, including challenges such as separation-free production of diverse high-purity liquid products, enhancement of cellular metabolic efficiency, system integration, and cost control. He emphasized the importance of deep interdisciplinary collaboration to advance “electrochemistry-synthetic biology” integrated systems toward large-scale applications. During the Q&A session, faculty and students actively raised questions on topics such as new processes in CO₂ catalytic conversion, the precise design, characterization, and application of “nano-island” catalysts. Professor Zeng provided detailed responses based on his team’s research examples, fostering a lively and engaging discussion.

The report systematically presented a complete research framework—from in-situ analysis of catalytic mechanisms and rational design of new materials to reactor innovation and cross-scale system integration—vividly illustrating the developmental pathway of cutting-edge research from fundamental breakthroughs to systemic innovation. The presentation not only broadened the academic horizons of the attendees but also offered valuable insights for young researchers on how to conduct problem-oriented, interdisciplinary innovative research aligned with the national “Dual Carbon” strategy.