Tong Li

Prof. Dr. Tong Li is a W3 Professor and Chair for Atomic-scale Characterization at the Institute for Materials, Ruhr-University Bochum (Germany). He leads Project C4 in the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 247 (CRC/TRR 247), focusing on composition-processing-defect-structure-property correlations in thin films. His academic journey includes a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford (2011), followed by postdoctoral research at Oxford and Johnson Matthey, and roles as an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow and Junior Professor at RUB.

Education:

• B.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2005)
• M.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering, Queen Mary, University of London (2007)
• D.Phil. in Materials, University of Oxford (2011)

Research Interests: Prof. Li specializes in atomic-scale characterization of advanced materials, with a focus on catalytic alloys, nanocatalysts, and thin films. His work employs advanced techniques like atom probe tomography to study material composition and structure-property relationships. Key areas include energy materials, thermoelectrics, and photocatalytic systems.

Publications: His research spans catalytic nanomaterials, alloy oxidation mechanisms, and low-temperature hydrogen production. Notable contributions include pioneering work on core-shell nanocatalysts and atomic-level analysis of thermoelectric materials.

Awards:

• Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2016)
• EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Scheme (2012)
• EPSRC PhD Scholarship (2007–2011)
• Queen Mary’s Drapers Transfer Prize (2007)

Grants & Affiliations: His leadership in CRC/TRR 247 reflects his role in collaborative energy research. Previous affiliations include the Max Planck Institutes for Iron Research and Chemical Energy Conversion.

Labs & Facilities: His work is conducted at the Institute for Materials, leveraging cutting-edge microscopy and atom probe tomography facilities.