Research

This project leverages 3D mesoporous carbon foams-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) technology to recover rare earth elements (REEs). The unique extraction architecture demonstrate (1) Selective Recovery: Unlike traditional methods that struggle to distinguish between REEs and common metals (like iron or copper), our nanomaterial-based technique is highly selective for rare earth ions. (2) Environmental Sustainability: Traditional REE extraction relies on energy-intensive pyrometallurgy or intensive toxic solvent extraction (hydrometallurgy) that generates significant hazardous waste. Our SPE method significantly reduces the need for toxic solvents and lowers energy consumption. (3) Efficiency and Scalability: The 3D architecture of the carbon foam provides a massive surface area for ion capture, enabling higher yields and faster processing times. This innovation is designed to be commercially scalable, with pilot testing aimed at disrupting current domestic supply chains.

(a) Illustration of e-waste containing REEs (b) REE extraction comparison of 3D graphene foams (GOA) and diglycolamide-conjugated 3D graphene foam (D-GOA)*

*Chunka Zhou, Weijia Yan, Yunchong, Jingjing Qiu. “3D carbon aerogels for sustainable solid-phase adsorption of neodymium”. Chemical Engineering Journal, 524: 169636, DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.169636 (2025).

Qiu’s group has more than 10 years of experience on non-invasive cancer therapy, centering on the engineering of stimuli-responsive nanomedicines that maximize therapeutic precision while eliminating systemic toxicity. The major breakthrough involves the design of pH-responsive, rod-shaped assemblies utilizing semishell Janus nanoparticles that remain dormant in healthy tissue but undergo structural transitions in the acidic microenvironment of tumors. This site-specific activation optimizes photothermal conversion efficiency, allowing for the targeted destruction of malignant cells through near-infrared light-induced heat without surgical intervention. By integrating asymmetric nanoparticle chemistry with localized biochemical triggers, our work has established a sophisticated platform for non-invasive brain cancer therapy, advancing precision medicine to offer safer, highly effective alternatives to traditional cancer treatments.

In vitro evaluations of cancer cell membrane (CCM)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle penetration into tumor spheroids. a) Central cross-section U87 spheroids penetrated by DiD-labellednanoparticles. b) Mean penetration depth of various nanoparticles. Scale bar: 100 μm. Data were analyzed with One-way ANOVA (n = 4). ** p < 0.01,*** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001*

By integrating bio-inspired design with stimuli-responsive nanomaterials, Qiu’s group has established a new paradigm for solving critical challenges in drinking water scarcity, environmental sustainability, and human health. Our research excels in multi-scale engineering: we engineer molecular sieving channels via fullerene-tailored graphene oxide for low-energy desalination, design pH-responsive microbots for optimized photothermal degradation, and develop macro-scale, fish-gill-inspired aerogels to capture micro/nanoplastics with high efficiency. Collectively, those research bridge the gap between fundamental materials science and applied environmental engineering, offering a versatile toolkit of “smart” materials capable of autonomous sensing and highly selective separation.

Schematic illustrations of (a) multiscale architecture of fish gills, (b) fabrication procedures for Bidirectional Chitosan/cellulose nanofibrills/polydopamine aerogel, and (c) microplastic removal by adsorptive filtration system through multiple intermolecular interactions.*

*Yunchong Yang, Weijia Yan, Jun Ma, David Carmona, Chunka Zhou, Elise Nguyen, Jingjing Qiu. “Fish Gill-Inspired Bidirectional Porous Polysaccharide Aerogels for Micro/Nanoplastics Removal“.  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 17(46): 63488-63499, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5c18203 (2025).