Gang Han Andy Professor

2009.08–2014.05   Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

National University of Singapore, Singapore, Supervisor: Neal Tai-Shung Chung

2004.09–2008.07   B.S. in Applied Chemistry

Dalian University of Technology, China

Professor

College of Environmental Science and Engineering

Nankai University, China

Professional Experience

Advanced Porous Materials and Functional Interfaces for Energy-Efficient Separations

The Han Lab focuses on the rational design, synthesis, and characterization of multi-scale pores/channels materials and functional interfaces for applications in energy-efficient molecular separations and environmental sustainability.

Our Culture and Values

The Han Lab is a diverse group composed of dedicated scientists and engineers working on creating advanced separation devices for environmental applications through a combination of materials science and chemical and environmental engineering. The Lab values rigorous scientific work, creativity, collaboration, and lab safety. We strive to create a respectful and inclusive atmosphere where all group members can express viewpoints aimed at strengthening our research. We aim to help all group members achieve their dreams, hopes, and professional goals.

Research Interests

The Han Lab focuses on the molecular-level design, synthesis, and characterization of multi-scale organic and inorganic pores/channels and functional interfaces that can enable effective discrimination of molecules as well as understanding the nontrivial structure–property–performance relationships leading to improved separation in order to rationally design future materials. Our research is targeted towards developing know-how on artificial porous materials and “smart” interfaces to tackle and address the recalcitrant challenges pertaining to separations and environmental sustainability. The ultimate goal of our research is to develop high-throughput, energy-efficient, and exquisitely selective separation materials and devices. Ongoing research topics revolve around six main themes:

• Tunable microporous and mesoporous materials with multi-scale pores/channels

• Functional interfaces that can facilitate separations

• Materials for desalination and water purification

• Highly selective and robust membranes for organic solvents filtration

• The fundamental understanding of how matter interacts at the interface

• Performance of separation materials in complex and highly variable environments

1.      National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2021.07–2024.06, PI.

2.      Leading Young Scientist of Nankai University, 2021.07–2025.06, PI.

3.      “Purifying Water from Boron Contamination with Highly Selective Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Membranes”, MIT  Abdul Latif Jameel Water & Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) Seed Fund Program, 2018–2020, co-PI.

4.      “Synthesis and Characterization of Polymer-ZIF Hybrid Materials Using Post-Synthetic Modification”, ExxonMobil, 2019–2021, key participant.

5.      “Thin-Film Metal-Organic Framework Membranes for Energy-Efficient Separations”, MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) Energy Research Seed Fund Program, 2018, key participant.

6.      “Membrane Development for Osmotic Power Generation, Part 1: Materials Development and Membrane Fabrication” (1102-IRIS-11-01), Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) under its Environment and Water Research Programme, 2013–2017, key participant.

7.      “Membrane Development for Osmotic Power Generation, Part 2: Module Fabrication and System Integration” (1102-IRIS-11-02), Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) under its Environment and Water Research Programme, 2015–2017, key participant.

8.      “Advanced FO Membranes and Membrane Systems for Wastewater Treatment, Water Reuse and Seawater Desalination”, Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) under its Competitive Research Program, 2011–2015, key participant.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8943-569X

Web of Science (Publons): https://publons.com/researcher/2236873/gang-han/

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Han-Gang-3

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.sg/citations?user=CIrIcKcAAAAJ&hl=en

Selected journal publications

43. Shanshan He, Bin Zhu, Xu Jiang, Gang Han, Songwei Li, Yanqiu Zhang, Lu Shao. Symbiosis-inspired de novo synthesis of ultrahigh MOF growth mixed matrix membranes for sustainable carbon capture. PNAS, 2022 119 (1) e2114964119.

42. Yanqiu Zhang, Jing Guo, Gang Han, Yongping Bai, Qingchun Ge, Jun Ma, Cher Hon Lau, Lu Shao. Molecularly soldered covalent organic frameworks for ultrafast precision sieving. Sci. Adv. 7, eabe8706 (2021).

41. Xu Jiang, Shanshan He, Gang Han, Jun Long, Songwei Li, Cher Hon Lau, Sui Zhang, Lu Shao. Aqueous one-step modulation for synthesizing monodispersed ZIF-8 nanocrystals for mixed-matrix membrane. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 13, 9, 11296–11305.

40. Katherine Mizrahi Rodriguez, Sharon Lin, Albert X. Wu, Gang Han, Justin J. Teesdale, Cara M. Doherty, Zachary P. Smith. Leveraging free volume manipulation to improve membrane separation performance of amine-functionalized PIM-1. Angew.Chem. Int. Ed. 60 (2021) 6593–6599.

39. Jiangtao Liu#, Gang Han#, Dieling Zhao, Kangjia Lu, Jie Gao, Tai-Shung Chung. Self-standing and flexible covalent organic framework (COF) membranes for molecular separation. Sci. Ads. 2020, 6: eabb1110.

38. Gang Han, Katherine Mizrahi Rodriguez, Qihui Qian, Zachary P. Smith. Acid-modulated synthesis of high surface area amine-functionalized MIL-101(Cr) nanoparticles for CO2 separations. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 59 (2020) 18139–18150.

37. Katherine Mizrahi Rodriguez, Albert X. Wu, Qihui Qian, Gang Han, Sharon Lin, Francesco M. Benedetti, Hyunhee Lee, Won Seok Chi, Cara M. Doherty, Zachary P. Smith. Facile and time-efficient carboxylic acid functionalization of PIM-1: Effect on molecular packing and gas separation performance. Macromolecules 53 (2020) 6220–6234.

36. Qihui Qian, Patrick A. Asinger, Moon Joo Lee, Gang Han, Katherine Mizrahi Rodriguez, Sharon Lin, Francesco M. Benedetti, Albert X. Wu, Won Seok Chi, Zachary P. Smith. MOF-based membranes for gas separations. Chem. Rev. 120 (2020) 8161–8266.

35. Charles Tai-Chieh Wan#, Diego Lopez Barreiro#, Antoni Forner-Cuenca, Jack-William Barotta, Morgan J. Hawker, Gang Han, Hyun-Chae Loh, Admir Masic, David L. Kaplan, Yet-Ming Chiang, Fikile R. Brushet, Francisco J. Martin-Martinez, Markus J. Buehler. Exploration of biomass-derived activated carbons for use in vanadium redox flow batteries. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 8 (2020) 9472−9482.

34. Gang Han, Qihui Qian, Katherine Mizrahi Rodriguez, Zachary P. Smith. Hydrothermal synthesis of sub-20 nm amine-functionalized MIL-101(Cr) nanoparticles with high surface area and enhanced CO2 uptake. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 59 (2020) 7888–7900.

33. Qihui Qian, Won Seok Chi, Gang Han, Smith P. Zachary. Impact of post-synthetic modification routes on filler structure and performance in metal-organic framework-based mixed-matrix membranes. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 59 (2020) 5432–5438.

32. Dangchen Ma, Gang Han, Zhuo Fan Gao; Shing Bor Chen. Continuous UiO-66-type metal-organic framework thin film on polymeric support for organic solvent nanofiltration. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 11 (2019) 45290–45300.

31. Gang Han, Jiang Tao Liu, Kang Jia Lu, Tai-Shung Chung. Advanced anti-fouling membranes for osmotic power generation from wastewater via pressure retarded osmosis (PRO). Environ. Sci. Technol. 52 (2018) 6686–6694.

30. Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung, Martin Weber, Christian Maletzko. Low-pressure nanofiltration hollow fiber membranes for effective fractionation of dyes and inorganic salts in textile wastewater. Environ. Sci. Technol. 52 (2018) 3676–3684.

29. Gang Han, Yingnan Feng, Tai-Shung Chung, Martin Weber, Christian Maletzko. Phase inversion directly induced tight ultrafiltration (UF) hollow fiber membranes for effective removal of textile dyes. Environ. Sci. Technol. 51 (2017) 14254–14261.

28. Dangchen Ma, Shing Bo Peh, Gang Han*, Shing Bor Chen*. Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes incorporated with super-hydrophilic metal-organic framework (MOF) UiO-66: Towards enhancement of water flux and salt rejection. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9 (2017) 7523–7534.

27. Gang Han, Zhen Lei Cheng, Tai-Shung Chung. Thin-film composite (TFC) hollow fiber membrane with double-polyamide active layers for internal concentration polarization and fouling mitigation in osmotic processes. J. Membr. Sci. 523 (2017) 497–504.

26. Gang Han, Sun Sun Chan, Tai-Shung Chung. Forward osmosis (FO) for water reclamation from emulsified oil/water solutions: Effects of membrane and emulsion characteristics. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 4 (2016) 5021–5032.

25. Gang Han, Jieliang Zhou, Chunfeng Wan, Tianshi Yang, Tai-Shung Chung. Investigations of inorganic and organic fouling behaviors, antifouling and cleaning strategies for pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) membrane using seawater desalination brine and wastewater. Water Res. 103 (2016) 264–275.

24. Gang Han, Can-Zeng Liang, Tai-Shung Chung, Martin Weber, Claudia Staudt, Christian Maletzko. Combination of forward osmosis (FO) process with coagulation/flocculation (CF) for potential treatment of textile wastewater. Water Res. 91 (2016) 361−370.

23. Gang Han, Jos S. de Wit, Tai-Shung Chung. Water reclamation from emulsified oily wastewater via effective forward osmosis hollow fiber membranes under the PRO mode. Water Res. 81 (2015) 54−63.

22. Gang Han, Sui Zhang, Xue Li, Tai-Shung Chung. Progress in pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) membranes for osmotic power generation. Prog. Polym. Sci. 51 (2015) 1–27.

21. Gang Han, Baiwang Zhao, Fengjiang Fu, Tai-Shung Chung, Martin Weber, Claudia Staudt, Christian Maletzko. High performance thin-film composite membranes with mesh-reinforced hydrophilic sulfonated polyphenylenesulfone (sPPSU) substrates for osmotically driven processes. J. Membr. Sci. 502 (2016) 84–93.

20. Gang Han, Jian Zuo, Chunfeng Wan, Tai-Shung Chung. Hybrid pressure retarded osmosis−membrane distillation (PRO−MD) process for osmotic power and clean water generation. Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. 1 (2015) 507–515.

19. Gang Han, Qingchun Ge, Tai-Shung Chung. Conceptual demonstration of novel closed-loop pressure retarded osmosis process for sustainable osmotic energy generation. Appl. Energ. 132 (2014) 383−393.

18. Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung. Robust and high performance pressure retarded osmosis hollow fiber membranes for osmotic power generation. AIChE J. 60 (2014) 1107−1119.

17. Gang Han, Peng Wang, Tai-Shung Chung. Highly robust thin-film composite pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) hollow fiber membranes with high power densities for renewable salinity-gradient energy generation. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47 (2013) 8070−8077.

16. Gang Han, Sui Zhang, Xue Li, Tai-Shung Chung. High performance thin film composite pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) membranes for renewable salinity-gradient energy generation. J. Membr. Sci. 440 (2013) 108–121.

15. Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung, Masahiro Toriida, Shoji Tamai. Thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes with novel hydrophilic supports for desalination. J. Membr. Sci. 423–424 (2012) 543–555.

14. Gang Han, Sui Zhang, Xue Li, Natalia Widjojo, Tai-Shung Chung. Thin film composite forward osmosis membranes based on polydopamine modified polysulfone substrates with enhancements in both water flux and salt rejection. Chem. Eng. Sci. 80 (2012) 219–231.

13. Yingran He, Jiangtao Liu, Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung. Novel thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes consisting of a zwitterionic co-polymer for selenium and arsenic removal. J. Membr. Sci. 555 (2018) 299–306.

12. Dangchen Ma, Gang Han, Shing Bo Peh, Shing Bor Chen. Water-stable metal-organic framework UiO-66 for performance enhancement of forward osmosis membranes. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 56 (2017) 12773–12782.

11. Yingnan Feng, Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung, Martin Weber, Natalia Widjojo, Christian Maletzko. Effects of polyethylene glycol on the membrane formation and properties of hydrophilic sulfonated polyphenylenesulfone (sPPSU) membranes. J. Membr. Sci. 531 (2017) 27–35.

10. Qingchun Ge, Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung. Effective As(III) removal by a multi-charged hydroacid complex draw solute facilitated forward osmosis-membrane distillation (FO-MD) processes. Environ. Sci. Technol. 50 (2016) 2363–2370.

9. Yingnan Feng, Gang Han, Liling Zhang, Shing-Bor Chen, Tai-Shung Chung, Martin Weber, Claudia Staudt, Christian Maletzko. Rheology and phase inversion behavior of polyphenylenesulfone (PPSU) and sulfonated PPSU for membrane formation. Polymer 99 (2016) 72–82.

8. Lin Luo, Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung, Martin Weber, Claudia Staudt, Christian Maletzko. Oil/water separation via ultrafiltration by novel triangle-shape tri-bore hollow fiber membranes from sulfonated polyphenylenesulfone. J. Membr. Sci. 476 (2015) 162–170.

7. Zhiwei Thong, Gang Han, Yue Cui, Jie Gao, Tai-Shung Chung, Sui Yung Chan, Shawn Wei. Novel nanofiltration membranes consisting of a sulfonated pentablock copolymer rejection layer for heavy metal removal. Environ. Sci. Technol. 48 (2014) 13880−13887.

6. Jia Hong Pan, Gang Han, Rui Zhou, X. S. Zhao. Hierarchical N-doped TiO2 hollow microspheres consisting of nanothorns with exposed anatase {101} facets. Chem. Commun. 47 (2011) 6942–6944.

5. Esther Swin Hui Lee, Jun Ying Xiong, Gang Han, Chun Feng Wan, Qing Yu Chong, Tai-Shung Chung.A pilot study on pressure retarded osmosis operation and effective cleaning strategies. Desalination 420 (2017) 273–282.

4. Lin Luo, Peng Wang, Sui Zhang, Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung. Novel thin-film composite tri-bore hollow fiber membrane fabrication for forward osmosis. J. Membr. Sci. 461 (2014) 28–38.

3. Soleyman Sahebi, Sherub Phuntsho, Leonard Tijing, Gang Han, Dong Suk Han, Ahmed Abdel-Wahab, Ho Kyong Shon. Thin-film composite membrane on a compacted woven backing fabric for pressure assisted osmosis. Desalination 406 (2017) 98–108.

2. Tai-Shung Chung, Xue Li, Rui Chin Ong, Qingchun Ge, Honglei Wang, Gang Han. Emerging forward osmosis (FO) technologies and challenges ahead for clean water and clean energy applications. Curr. Opin. Chem. Eng. 1 (2012) 246–257.

1. Pei Zhang, Shufen Zhang, Gang Han. Synthesis of novel asymmetric Zinc (II) phthalocyanines bearing octadecyloxyl and glucosyl groups. Molecules 14 (2009) 3688–3693.

Books & chapters

9. Gang Han, Yingnan Feng. Hollow Fiber Membranes: Fabrication and Applications (ISBN: 978-0-12-821876-1). Chapter 22: Recent development of pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) hollow fiber membranes. Edited by Tai-Shung Chung and Yingnan Feng, Elsevier, pages 473-493, 2021.

8. Wenxiao Gai, Gang Han. Membrane Technology for Osmotic Power Generation by Pressure Retarded Osmosis (ISBN: 978-0-367-25592-3). Chapter 2: Recent development of flat-sheet PRO membranes. Edited by Chun Feng Wan and Tai-Shung Chung, CRC press Taylor & Francis Group, pages 21-42, 2020.

7. Wenxiao Gai, Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung. Membrane Technology for Osmotic Power Generation by Pressure Retarded Osmosis (ISBN: 978-0-367-25592-3). Chapter 3: Recent development of hollow fiber PRO membranes. Edited by Chun Feng Wan and Tai-Shung Chung, CRC press Taylor & Francis Group, pages 43-62, 2020.

6. Zhen Lei Cheng, Gang Han. Membrane Technology for Osmotic Power Generation by Pressure Retarded Osmosis (ISBN: 978-0-367-25592-3). Chapter 12: Design of other pressure retarded osmosis hybrid processes (Pressure retarded osmosis–membrane distillation and pressure retarded osmosis–forward osmosis). Edited by Chun Feng Wan and Tai-Shung Chung, CRC press Taylor & Francis Group, pages 285-318, 2020.

5. Zhenlei Cheng, Gang Han. Membrane Distillation: Membranes, Hybrid Systems, and Pilot Studies (ISBN: 978-0-367-25447-6). Chapter 12: Pressure retarded osmosis-membrane distillation. Edited by Kang-Jia Lu and Tai-Shung Chung, CRC press Taylor & Francis Group, pages 285-300, 2020.

4. 韩刚，钟台生，崔月，罗琳。薄膜科技概论（ISBN: 9789577633446）。第八章正渗透。五南出版社，台湾，207-241页，2019年7月10日。

3. Gang Han, Chunfeng Wan, Tai-Shung Chung. Membrane-Based Salinity Gradient Processes for Water Treatment and Power Generation (ISBN: 978-0-444-63961-5). Chapter 6: Hollow-fiber membranes for salinity gradient processes. Edited by Sarper Sarp and Nidal Hilal, Elsevier, pages 175-200, 2018.

2. Sui Zhang, Gang Han, Xue Li, Chunfeng Wan, Tai-Shung Chung. Sustainable Energy from Salinity Gradients (ISBN: 978-0-08-100323-7). Chapter 2: Pressure retarded osmosis: Fundamentals. Edited by Andrea Cipollina, Giorgio Micale, Woodhead Publishing, Elsevier, Pages 19-54, 2016.

1. Xue Li, Gang Han, Tai-Shung Chung. Forward Osmosis: Fundamentals and Applications (ISBN 978-0-7844-7923-0). Chapter 20: Membrane development for pressure retarded osmosis. Edited by Ho Kyong Shon, Sherub Phuntsho, Tian C. Zhang, Rao Y. Surampalli. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), pages 465-487, 2015.

Patents

3. Martin Weber, Christian Maletzko, Martin Heijnen, Tai-Shung Chung, Gang Han. Integral asymmetric membrane of polyamide-imide and sulfonated polyarylether sulfone. WO 2019/076668 A1, 25 April 2019.

2. Gang Han and Tai-Shung Chung. Thin film composite membranes. WO 2014/042593, 20 March 2014.

1. Katsunori Nishiura, Masahiro Toriida, Masaji Tamai, Tai-Shung Chung, Gang Han. Resin composition for microporous supporting membrane and microporous supporting membrane using the same and semipermeable membrane. P001200874JP01, 9 Jan 2014.

2021   100 Young Academic Leader Program, Nankai University, China

2018   Shortlisted for Singapore NRF Fellowship, National Research Foundation, Singapore

2015   Young Chemical Engineer of the Year Award–Singapore, IChemE

2014   NAMS Student Fellowship, North American Membrane Society, USA

2014   The Sustainable Technology Award–Highly Commended, IChemE, Singapore

2014   Young Chemical Engineer of the Year Award–Highly Commended, IChemE, Singapore

2011-2012   Top Cited Paper Award for Chemical Engineering Science, Elsevier

2011-2012   Top Cited Paper Award for Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, Elsevier

2009   NUS Research Scholarship, National University of Singapore, Singapore

2008   Outstanding Bachelor Thesis Award, Dalian University of Technology, China

2008   Graduate with Honor, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology                                          

2007   The Chinese Petroleum Corporations Scholarship, PetroChina Company Limited, China

2005–2007   Comprehensive University Scholarship, Dalian University of Technology, China

2005   The Specialized Scholarship of Excellent Achievement, Dalian University of Technology, China