ABOUT PI
Dr. Will Yung-Kang Peng (彭詠康) obtained his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2009 from National Chung Cheng University (Taiwan) and graduated as a Master of Science in 2011 from National Taiwan University. After a year of military service (R.O.C.) and research assistant (NTU), he started a PhD in 2013 at Wolfson Catalysis Centre of Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory at University of Oxford (UK) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. S. C. Edman Tsang, for which he received a Clarendon scholarship from University of Oxford (top 3% graduate of 2013 year). He obtained his PhD degree in 2017 and stayed in the same group for postdoc (2017-2018). During his stay in Oxford, he has authored publications in some respectable journals such as JACS, Nature Communication, Nano Today and Materials Today. His research interest is using NMR-active probe to investigate surface features of faceted catalysts in both qualitative and quantitative manner. He joined the City University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor in May 2018.
Timeline of his road to City U:
Sept. 2017 – Apr. 2018 Postdoc @ University of Oxford
Sept. 2013 – Aug. 2017 DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry @ University of Oxford
Sept. 2012 – Aug. 2013 Research Assistant @ National Taiwan University
Aug. 2011 – July 2012 Second Lieutenant (mechanized infantry) @ R.O.C. Army
Sept. 2009 – June 2011 Master in Physical Chemistry @ National Taiwan University
Sept. 2005 – June 2009 Bachelor in Chemistry @ National Chung Cheng University
Awards and Honors:
2016 Studying Abroad Scholarship (Taiwan)
2014 Skinner Prize for the Best Poster Presentation (Oxford)
2013 Clarendon Scholarship for PhD study (Oxford)
2011 Yian M.S. Thesis Award (NTU)
2011 Dean’s Award (NTU)
2005 – 09 Presidential Award (four times) (CCU)
Fundings:
12. Jan. 2025 – Dec. 2027 “Bioinspired Haloperoxidase Mimicry by CeO2-based Nanozymes with High H2O2-to-HOBr Conversion Combats Marine Biofouling on Steel Surfaces" General Research Fund, RGC HK (735,368 HKD)
11. Jan. 2023 - Dec. 2025 “揭示单原子/团簇纳米酶活性位点结构-电荷量-酶促活性的关系及其在葡萄糖检测之研究” 面上项目, 四川省基础与应用基础研究基金 (100,000 RMB)
10. May. 2022 - April. 2024 “Materials Development and Their Surface Engineering for Non-reductive CO2 Upcycling to High Value-added Chemicals: From Fundamental Understanding to Practical Applications” CityU Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Grant (SIRG) (300,000 HKD)
9. Jan. 2022 – Dec. 2024 “The rational design of artificial nanozymes for urease mimicking: the stoichiometric release of NH3 from urea hydrolysis at ambient and elevated temperature" General Research Fund, RGC HK (666,015 HKD)
8. Mar. 2021 - Feb. 2023 “In-situ Water Removal for Non-reductive CO2 Conversion with Alcohols/Amines into High Value-added Carbonates/Ureas/Carbamates over MgO Nanosheets with Polar (111) Surface” Chow Sang Sang Group Research Fund, CityU HK (250,000 HKD)
7. Jan. 2021 - Dec. 2023 “Cu2O酶促活性机理及其晶面依赖性于葡萄糖检测之研究” 面上项目, 广东省基础与应用基础研究基金 (100,000 RMB)
6. Jan. 2021 – Dec. 2023 “Bridging the Gap between Natural Enzyme and Artificial Nanozyme: a thorough Structure-activity Study of Well-defined Single Atom Catalysts in Glucose Detection" General Research Fund, RGC HK (666,512 HKD)
5. Jan. 2020 – Dec. 2022 "纳米CeO2形貌与表面Ce化学状态的鉴定及其模拟酶活性之研究" 国家自然科学基金-青年科学基金项目. (260,000 RMB)
4. Jan. 2020 – Dec. 2022 “Identifying the Chemical State of Cerium Hosted by Various CeO2 Facets as Surface Fingerprint and Its Facet-dependent Phosphatase-mimetic Activity" Early Career Scheme, RGC HK (467,695 HKD)
3. May 2019 – April 2021 “Achieving Exceptional High Glucose Sensitivity at a Low Cost by Surface Understanding of Morphology-controlled CeO2 Nanoparticle" Applied Research Grant, CityU HK (222,000 HKD)
2. June 2018 – June 2020 “An Investigation into the Surface Effects of Faceted TiO2 on Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production" CityU Start-Up Grant, CityU HK (200,000 HKD)
1. May 2018 – May 2020 “Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Single Metal Site Supported on Nanocatalysts" Provost Startup fund, CityU HK (750,000 HKD)