Can Li - Biography#

Professor Can Li received his PhD from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1988. He is currently a chair professor at DICP, director of Excellent Research Center on Artificial Photosynthesis supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and President of the Catalysis Society of China.

Can Li is a distinguished scientist for his seminal contribution to catalysis, especially in the field of photocatalysis for artificial photosynthesis of solar fuels. He is among pioneer scientists in developing in-situ and operando spectroscopy, time-resolved spectroscopy and charge imaging spectroscopy for better understanding the essential relationship between catalyst structures and reaction mechanisms; and he demonstrated the "liquid sunshine" project in China for the large-scale production of liquid solar fuels through the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 utilizing green hydrogen from photocatalytic water splitting and photovoltaic-powered water electrolysis, which is now widely recognized as one of the most practical routes for decarbonization.

Can Li received numerous awards for his scientific achievements, including International Catalysis Award from the International Association of Catalysis Societies, Advance of Catalysis Award from the Asian-Pacific Association of Catalysis Society, National Catalysis Lifetime Achievement Award of China, Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize, etc. He was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a member of the Academy of Science for Developing Countries (TWAS), and a foreign member of Academia Europaea.