Six Chinese scholars were elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2012.
Ren Yonghua, Chair Professor of Chemistry Department of the University of Hong Kong, was awarded the World Outstanding Female Scientist Achievement Award in 2011.
Ren Yonghua graduated from the Department of Chemistry of the University of Hong Kong in 1985 with a first-class honours bachelor’s degree, and obtained a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Hong Kong in 1988. In 1997, he was promoted to Professor of Chemistry Department of Hong Kong University, and in 1999, he became Chair Professor. In 2000, he was appointed as the head of the chemistry department.
In 2005, he won the second prize of National Natural Science Award for "Study on Molecular Design and Luminescence Properties of Transition Metal Alkynyl and chalcogenide Cluster Complexes".
In November 2010, she was awarded the "L ‘Oré al-UNESCO Prize for Women and Science" in 2011 for her research achievements in luminescent materials, solar energy and photochemistry, becoming the second Hong Kong person to win this award. On March 4th, 2011, I received the prize in Paris, France.
Major awards
2007 -2008 Outstanding Lecturer in Chemical Research at Texas A&M University [1]
Hong Kong Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in 2007.
Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Developing Countries in 2006
2005 -2006 "Outstanding Research Achievement Award" of Hong Kong University
2006 Eikohsha Award for Asian and Oceanographic Photochemistry Scientists of Japan Photochemistry Society.
In 2005 -2006, the Royal Chemical Society awarded the Centennial Lecture Award and Medal (the first Chinese in the world won this honor).
Second prize of National Natural Science Award in 2005
Top ten outstanding young people in Hong Kong in 2002 (awarded by the Hong Kong General Association of the International Youth Chamber of Commerce)
Academician of China Academy of Sciences in 2001
In 2000 -2001, Qiu Cha was an outstanding scientific researcher of Qiu Cha Foundation.
Research Interests
The major focus of our research is on the molecular design and synthesis of novel inorganic/ organometallic metal complexes that may find potential applications as functional metal-based molecular materials. Of particular interest are luminesce nt polynuclear metal complexes that show weak metal-metal interactions and luminescent metal complex and supramolecular systems of charge-transfer exci ted states, with d6, d8 or d10 metal centres, in particular those containing alkynyl, chalcogenido, chalcogenolato, pnictogenido and polypyridyl ligands. Through the systematic study of the electronic spectroscopy of the newly synthesized metal complex systems, a fundamental understanding of the spectroscopic and luminescence origin as well as the structure-property relationship of these complexes could be es tablished. Apart from their fundamental spectroscopic, mechanistic, electrochemical, photoluminescence (PL), and photochemical studies, attempts will be made to explore their potential applications as functional molecular materials in the following areas:
Optoelectronic Materials
The exploration of triplet emitters for electroluminescence (EL) and chromophoric materials for solar energy conversion and organic photovoltaic applications has attracted immense interest. The project involves the design and synthesis of novel metal-based molecular triplet emitters for the fabrication of high-efficiency organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and chromophoric materials for efficient light capture and charge separation in solar energy conversion. The absorption and emission colours could be r eadily tuned through various chemical modification and assembly strategies. Molecular materials with other optoelectronic functions including nonlinear optical (NLO) capabilities will also be explored.
Spectrochemical and Luminescence Chemosensors and Biolabels
The project involves the design and synthesis of luminescent metal complexes capable of showing selective binding and molecular recognition properties to substrates of environmental and biological interests, such as ions, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxygen, gases and vapours, solvents, DNA and proteins, which could be accomplished through the incorporation of various functional ligands such as those containing macrocycles and calixarene-type receptor s ites. Extension of the work will also be made to design molecular materials as probes for changes in temperature and the microenvironment.
Photochromic and Photoswitching Materials
The project involves the design and synthesis of metal complexes capable of exhibiting photochromic and photoswitching behaviour via photoinduced trans -cis isomerization or ring-opening/closing processes, which may find applications in optical switches, memory and storage. Intramolecular sensitization of the photochromic and photoswitching moieties by the metal complex chromophore will be explored.
Supramolecular Assemblies and Organogels
The project involves the design and synthesis of supramolecular assemblies and organogels through the control and utilization of various non-covalent i nteractions. Incorporation of metal-ligand chromophores into these assemblies and organogels will be made to produce stimuli-responsive materials with interesting optical and luminescence reporting behaviour.
Molecular Electronics
The project involves the study of the electronic communication between metal centres across alkynyl bridges of our newly synthesized luminescent carbon -rich rigid-rod and hyperbranched metal alkynyl systems and their possible utilization as building blocks for molecular wires and junctions based on th e intriguing electron delocalization properties and the molecular rigidity of the alkynyl unit.
Nanoclusters and Nanomaterials
The project involves the design and synthesis of metal chalcogenido, chalcogenolato, and pnictogenido clusters of various nuclearity and the study of their optical properties. The exploitation of these clusters as single-source molecul ar precursors for the synthesis of nanoparticles that may have interesting semiconducting and optical properties will be made. The controlled template- directed synthesis of nanomaterials will also be made.
Selected Publications
A.Y.Y. Tam, K.M.C. Wong, V.W.W. Yam, J.Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 6253.
V.W.W. Yam, J.K.W. Lee, C.C. Ko, N. Zhu, J.Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 912.
M.J. Li, Z.F. Chen, V.W.W. Yam, Y.B. Zu, ACS Nano, 2008, 2, 905.
S.Y. Yu, Q.F. Sun, T.K.M. Lee, E.C.C. Cheng, Y.Z. Li, V.W.W. Yam, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2008, 47, 4551.
K.M.C. Wong, L.L. Hung, W.H. Lam, N. Zhu, V.W.W. Yam, J.Am. Chem. Soc., 2007,129, 4350.
C. Yu, K.H.Y. Chan, K.M.C. Wong, V.W.W. Yam, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2006, 103, 19652.
V.W.W. Yam, K.H.Y. Chan, K.M.C. Wong, B.W.K. Chu, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2006, 45, 6169.
V.W.W. Yam, K.M.C. Wong, L.L. Hung, N. Zhu, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2005, 44, 3107.
S.K. Yip, E.C.C. Cheng, L.H. Yuan, N. Zhu, V.W.W. Yam, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2004,43, 4954.
V.W.W. Yam, C.C. Ko, N. Zhu, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 12734.
D.B. Yu, V.W.W. Yam, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 13200.
V.W.W. Yam, X.X. Lu, C.C. Ko, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2003, 42, 3385.
V.W.W. Yam, Acc. Chem. Res., 2002, 35, 555.
V.W.W. Yam, K.M.C. Wong, N. Zhu, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2002, 124, 6506.
V.W.W. Yam, E.C.C. Cheng, N. Zhu, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2001, 40, 1763.
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