Dr. Guangming Cai

Post-doctoral fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada, November 2024 to date
PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada, 2024
MSc in Chemical Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, 2019
BSc in Pharmaceutical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China, 2016

From my experience, I know that catalytic reactions are particularly important and they often conform to certain catalytic reaction kinetics, which directly or indirectly determine the reaction directions. Right now, my research focuses on chemical conversion for drop in liquid fuel (OME) and exploration of mechanism with kinetic means.

Dr. Peng Zhang

Post-doctoral fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada, August 2025 to date
PhD student in Chemistry, China University of Petroleum- Beijing, China, 2025
BSc in Applied Chemistry, China University of Petroleum- Beijing, China, 2019

My research focuses on the surface modification of metal oxides and elucidating the structure-reactivity relationship through a combination of experiments and DFT calculations. The specific reaction centers on deep oxidation, encompassing the oxidation processes of soot, CO, and VOCs. One of my efforts is to investigate the facet-dependent performance of metal oxides by crystal facet engineering. Another aspect of my work involves modulating the dominant exposed surfaces and investigating their structure-reactivity relationships, including near-surface doping, and supporting noble metal clusters (single atoms or nanoparticles).

Junfeng Guo

PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Sept 2019 to date
MSc in Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, South Africa, 2019
BSc in Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, South Africa, 2014

My research involves the solid acid catalyzed synthesis of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether from methanol derived from sustainable feedstocks, where I studied the kinetics and structure effects of the catalysts on this reaction, as well as possible deactivation mechanisms. My past research experience has been focused on designing experimental systems for the selective oxidation of methane at high pressures inspired by DFT studies.

Abel Tetteh Sika-Nartey

PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Sept 2021 to date
MSc in Chemistry, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey, 2021
BSc in Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 2015

My previous research was geared towards a novel synthesis method of catalytic metal hydroxide nanostructures for low temperature aerobic oxidation of alkylarenes via activation of C(sp³)-H bonds. In-situ spectroscopic methods/techniques were utilized to probe these materials and the catalytic reaction mechanisms. My current study focusses on employing kinetic and mechanistic studies to investigate solvent effects on catalytic C-O bond cleavage in heterogeneous catalytic reactions. A fundamental and molecular scale understanding of this catalytic process, among others, can address current global issues of climate change and sustainable energy production.

Sebastian Cook

PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Sept 2023 to date
MESc in Chemical Engineering, Western University, Canada, 2023
BESc in Chemical Engineering, Western University, Canada, 2021

I believe chemical engineering and catalysis in particular is an incredibly important part in solving several issues that plague society today. This importance has established my deep passion for renewable fuels research starting with my master’s degree at Western University. There I researched a key step for the creation of sustainable diesel being the consequences of the catalyst pellet architecture in a methanol to dimethoxymethane reaction. Currently at Toronto I am examining the upgrading of simple alcohols to higher carbon compounds over zeolitic materials for the use in sustainable aviation fuel.

Kamal Nayan

PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Sept 2023 to date
B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, India, 2023

I study metal-hydrogen chemistry in the condensed phase to gain electrocatalytic kinetic insight from thermocatalytic reaction system.