Faculty 

Summary

Dr. Jiabao Yi is a Distinguished Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department (ChE). Dr. Yi earned his Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Tianjin University, China (1992), and his PhD in Materials Science from the National University of Singapore in 2008. Previously a professor at the School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Australia, his groundbreaking research spans advanced nanomaterials for energy, environmental, and biomedical applications, with notable contributions to mesoporous and 2D materials, magnetic nanoparticles, and first-principles calculations.

EDUCATION

Tianjin University, China - Bachelor of Materials Science and Engineering, 1992
National University of Singapore - PhD in Materials Science, 2008

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY


  • Distinguised Professor, Chemical Engineering Department, KFUPM from Dec 2024 - Present
  • Professor, School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Australia from 1, 2024 to Nov 2024
  • Associate Professor, School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Australia from 6. 2018 to 12, 2023  
  • Senior Lecturer, School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW Australia from 4. 2016 to 5.2018  
  • Senior Lecturer/ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellow, School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW Australia from 4. 2011 to 4. 2016
  • Lee Kuan Yew Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Materials Science and Engineering,  National University of Singapore, Singapore from 8. 2008 to 4. 2011  
  • Research Fellow, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore from 1. 2007 to 7. 2008 
  • Research Engineer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore from 3. 2005 to 12. 2006

RESEARCH INTEREST

  • Advanced nanomaterials for energy applications. Currently my major research focuses on the mesoporous materials for energy applications including supercapacitor, battery,  hydrogen evolution and sensors. More recently, I developed research topic of magnetic nanomaterials for microplastics decomposition, photocatalytic reaction, and ammonia synthesis using nanoscale heating, which has strongly enhanced the efficiency. The new ideas have achieved three fundings as lead CI (one ARC DP, two linkage projects). 
  • 2D materials, 2D materials based magnetic semiconductors and devices: The fabrication of new type of 2D materials and their applications, 2D based magnetic semiconductors, mechanism of the ferromagnetism and spin dynamics as well as the fabrication of high performance spintronics devices, which utilize spin rather than charge for the switch “on” or “off”. It is promising for the next generation devices with low power, high speed, multifunction and without heat dissipation. This topic is associated with Yi’s QEII fellowship, Discovery project and Future Fellowship.
  • Nanostructured materials, magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) for bioapplications: The fabrication of magnetic nanoparticles, magnetic nanorings and magnetic crystals with different shapes, the characterization of these nanostructures and the applications in hyperthermia and magnetic resonance image (MRI) as well as drug delivery. Efforts will also be made on the magnetic biosensors using these nanostructures. Currently doing some research by integrating magnetic nanoparticle with siRNA for targeted delivery.
  • First principles calculations: Using density function theory based on First principles calculations to study the electronic and magnetic properties of materials. 

RESEARCH IMPACT

Recognised materials scientist in advanced materials and their applications in energy, environment and biomedical applications. I have been serving as the grant reviewers for the funding applications of Europe, China, New Zealand, Singapore, and Australia (ARC fellowship, DP, LIEF, and Linkage). I am also a reviewer of many high impact journals, such as Nature Electronics, Nature Communications, Science Advances, Advanced Materials, and ACS Nano etc. Have been awarded several prestigious fellowships, both in Singapore and Australia, including Lee Kuan Yew Postdoctoral Fellowship, QEII fellowship and Future Fellowship). 

Dr. Jiabao Yi Distinguished Professor Chemical Engineering Department Building 16, Room 204 +966(13)860-5214 +966(13)860-4234 jiabao.yi@kfupm.edu.sa