Zhe
YANG
楊哲
PhD in Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong
Selected Publications
1. Yang, F., Yong, M., Li, Z., Yang, Z.*, Xiwang Zhang “Breaking the trade-off between lithium purity and lithium recovery: A comprehensive analysis based on membrane structure-property-performance relationships”, Water Research, 281, 123678, (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.123678.
2. Lu, X., Wang, L., Peng, H., Zhu, X.,*Yang, Z.*, Wei, J. and Liu, B.* “Double Nanofoaming Enhanced Interfacial Polymerization towards Ultra-High Performance Nanofiltration Membranes”, Environmental Science & Technology, 59, 36, 19593-19603, (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c07291
3. Long, L., Wu, C., Shao, S., Yang, Z., Sarkar, P.* and Tang. C.Y.* “Assessment of Permeance and Selectivity of Thin-Film Composite Polyamide Membranes for Diverse Applications”, Nature Water, 3, 668-682, (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44221-025-00431-w.
4. Gan, Q., Liu, W., Xiao, Q., Yang, Z.,Guo, H.,* Elimelech, M.*and Tang, C.Y* “Plasmonic Nano-heating Actuates Ultra-selective Reverse Osmosis Membranes for Versatile Water Purification”, Nature Sustainability, (2025), 8, 1190-1198, (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01636-3.
5. Zhou H., Zhang, X., Li, Z., Qiu, Z., Yang, Z., Dai, R.* and Wang, Z.* “Amphiphilic Nanowire-Assisted Monomer Shuttling Enables Ultra Selective Reverse Osmosis Membranes for Water Purification”, Nature Communications, 16, 1, 6102, (2025). DOI: /10.1038/s41467-025-61488-5.
6. Hu, Y., Sarkar, P., Peng, L., Wang, F.,*Yang, Z., and Tang, C.Y* “Design Ultrathin Polyamide Membranes against Funnel Effect: A Novel Zone-of-Influence-Based Approach”, Environmental Science & Technology, 59, 21, 10600-10607, (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c01365.
7. Wu, C., Long, L., Yang, Z., Hu, Y., Peng, L.E.,* and and Tang, C.Y.* “Unraveling the Role of Funnel Effect vs. Gutter Effect in Water Permeance and Antifouling Performance of Polyamide Nanofiltration Membranes”, Water Research, 285, 124056, (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124056.
8. Shao, S., Zhou, C., Xing, J., Long, L., Zhu, Y., Yang, Z., Liu, Y.* and Tang, C.Y.* “Probing Selective Pollutant Removal in Nanofiltration Processes: Critical Insights from Separation Factor and Removal Difference”, Water Research, 288, 124661, (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124661.
9. Lu, X., Wang, L., Zhu, X.,* Qiu, L., Yang, Z., Xu, D., Wei, J., Zhang, Q., Chen, C., Niu, S. and Liu, B.* “Unveiling Decrosslinking Degree on Polyamide Nanofiltration Membranes: Structure–Performance Relationship and Micropollutant Removal”, Water Research, 288, 124763, (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124763.
10. Yan, W., Ma, L., Zhu, X.,* Kang, X., Qiu, L., Yang, Z., Li, J.,* Xu, D., Song, M. and Wu, D.* “Alkali-Etching-Induced Regeneration of Polyester Nanofiltration Membranes: Enhancing Sustainable Separation and Anti-FSouling Performance”, Desalination, 613, 119028, (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2025.119028.
11. Lu, X., Wang, L., Zhu, X.,* Wei, J., Wu, D., Qiu, L., Xu, D., Liang, H., Yang, Z., and Liu, B.* “Customizing Membrane Microstructures for Targeted Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances for Healthy Drinking Water”, Journal Membrane Science, 717, 123627, (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2024.123627.
12. Qiu, L., Gong, S., Qiu, Q., Zhu, X.,* Xu, D., Kang, X., Wu, D., Wang, F., Yang, Z. and Cheng, X.* “Sodium Citrate-Modulated Interfacial Polymerization towards Highly Permeable NF Membranes for Simultaneously Enhanced Mineral/Nom Selectivity and Anti-Fouling Performance”, Desalination, 601, 118541, (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2025.118541.
13. Yong, M., Yang, Y., Sun L., Tang, M., Wang, Z., Xing, C., Hou, J., Zheng, M., Chui, T.F,M., Li, Z.* and Yang, Z* “Nanofiltration Membranes for Efficient Lithium Extraction from Salt-Lake Brine: A Critical Review”, ACS Environmental Au, 5, 1, 12-34, (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.4c00061.
14. Gan, B., Peng, L., Liu, W., Zhang, L., Wang, L., Long, L., Guo, H., Song, X., Yang, Z.* and Tang, C.Y* “Ultra-permeable Silk-based Polymeric Membranes for Vacuum-driven Nanofiltration”, Nature Communications., 15 (1), 8656, (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53042-6.
15. Wu, S., Peng, L., Yang, Z., Sarkar, P., Barboiu, M., Tang, C.Y* and Fane A.G. “Next-generation Desalination Membranes Empowered by Novel Materials: Where Are We Now”, Nano-Micro Letters., 17 (1), 1-24, (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01606-y.
16. Gan, Q., Hu, Y., Wu, C., Yang, Z., Peng, L. and Tang, C.Y* “Nanofoamed Polyamide Membranes: Mechanisms, Developments, and Environmental Implications”, Environmental Science & Technology, 58, 47, 20812-20829, (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c06434.
17. Wang, L., Zhang, M., Shu, Y., Han, Q., Long, L., Chen, B., Wang, M., Li, L., Cao, S., Yang, Z., Liu, B., Wang, Z. and Tang, C.Y* “Covalently Modified Mos2 for the Fabrication of Interlayered Thin Film Composite Membranes with Excellent Structural Stability against Swelling and Drying in Organic Solvent Nanofiltration”, Journal Membrane Science, 707, 122985, (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2024.122985.
18. Wang, L., He, H., Gan, Q., Guo, H., Yang, Z., Xu, L. and Tang, C.Y* “Polar Solvent-Induced Spontaneous Nanofoaming for Synthesizing Ultra-High-Performance Polyamide Nanofiltration Membranes”, Nano Letters, 24, 9, 4374-4399 (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01512.
19. Sarkar, P., Wu, C., Yang, Z. and Tang, C.Y* “Empowering Ultrathin Polyamide Membranes at the Water–energy Nexus: Strategies, Limitations, and Future Perspectives”, Chemical Society Review., 53, 9, 4374-4399 (2024). Featured by Inside Front Cover. DOI: 10.1039/D3CS00803G.
20. Yang, Z. Wu, C., and Tang, C.Y* “Making Waves: Why Do We Need Ultra-permeable Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Treatment?”, Water Research X, 19, 100172, (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2023.100172.
21. Liu, W., Long, L., Yang, Z., Wang, L., Gan, Q., Zhou, S., Sarkar, P., Guo, H.* and Tang, C.Y* “Enhancing the Removal of Organic Micropollutants by Nanofiltration Membrane with Fe (III)-tannic acid interlayer: Mechanisms and Environmental Implications”, Water Research, 245, 120623, (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120623.
22. Gan, Q., Peng, L.,*, Yang, Z., Sun, P., Wang, L., Guo, H. and Tang, C.Y* “Demystifying the Role of Surfactant in Tailoring Polyamide Morphology for Enhanced Reverse Osmosis Performance: Mechanistic Insights and Environmental Implications”, Environmental Science & Technology, 57, 4, 1819-1827, (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08076.
23. Gan, Q., Wu, C., Long, L., Peng, L.,*, Yang, Z., Guo, H. and Tang, C.Y* “Does Surface Roughness Necessarily Increase the Fouling Propensity of Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes by Humic Acid?”, Environmental Science & Technology, 57, 6, 2548-2556, (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07872.
24. Q, Y., Wu, S., Xia, L., Ren, L., Shao, J.,* Shen, J.,* Yang Z., Tang, C.Y., Wu, C., Bruggen, B. and Zhao, Y.*, “Ionic Resource Recovery for Carbon Neutral Papermaking Wastewater Reclamation by A Chemical Self-Sufficiency Zero Liquid Discharge System”, Water Research, 229, 119451, (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119451.
25. Shao, S., Zeng, F., Long, L., Zhu, X., Peng, L., Wang, F., Yang, Z.* and Tang, C.Y* “Nanofiltration Membranes with Crumpled Polyamide Film: A Critical Review on Mechanisms, Performances, and Environmental Applications”, Environmental Science & Technology, 56, 18, 12811-12827 (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04736.
26. Long, L., Wu, C., Yang, Z.* and Tang, C.Y* “Carbon Nanotube Interlayer Enhances Water Permeance and Antifouling Performance of Nanofiltration Membranes: Mechanisms and Experimental Evidence”, Environmental Science & Technology, 56, 4, 2656-2664, (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07332.
27. Gan, Q., Peng, L.,* Guo, H., Yang, Z. and Tang, C.Y.* “Cosolvent-Assisted Interfacial Polymerization toward Regulating the Morphology and Performance of Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes: Increased m-Phenylenediamine Solubility or Enhanced Interfacial Vaporization”, Environmental Science & Technology, 56, 14, 10308-10316, (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01140.
28. Zhou, S., Long, L., Yang, Z., So, S., Gan, B., Guo, H.,* Feng, S. and Tang, C.Y.* “Unveiling the Growth of Polyamide Nanofilms at Water/Organic Free Interfaces: Toward Enhanced Water/Salt Selectivity”, Environmental Science & Technology, 56, 14, 10279-10288, (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08691.
29. Guo, H., Dai, R., Xie, M., Peng, L., Yao, Z., Yang, Z., Nghiem, L., Synder, S., Wang, Z.* and Tang, C.Y.* “Tweak in Puzzle: Tailoring Membrane Chemistry and Structure toward Targeted Removal of Organic Micropollutants for Water Reuse”, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 9, 4, 247-257, (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00094.
30. Shao, S., Shi D., Hu, J., Qing, W., Li, X., Li, X., Ji, B., Yang, Z., Guo, H. and Tang, C.Y.* “Unraveling the Kinetics and Mechanism of Surfactant-Induced Wetting in Membrane Distillation: An In Situ Observation with Optical Coherence Tomography”, Environmental Science & Technology, 56, 1, 556-563, (2021). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05090.
31. Yang, Z., Wang, F., Guo, H., Peng, LE, Ma, X., Song, X.*, Wang, Z. and Tang, C.Y.* “Mechanistic Insights into the Role of Polydopamine Interlayer towards Improved Separation Performance of Polyamide Nanofiltration Membranes”, Environmental Science &Technology, 54, 18, 11611-11621, (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03589.
32. Yang, Z.,#,* Sun, P.,# Li, X., Gan, B., Wang, L., Song, X., Park, H. and Tang, C.Y.* “A Critical Review on Thin-film Nanocomposite Membranes with Interlayered Structure: Mechanisms, Recent Developments, and Environmental Applications”, Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 24, 15563-15583, (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05377.
33. Yin, J., Yang, Z.,* Tang, C.Y. and Deng, B.* “Probing the Contributions of Interior and Exterior Channels of Nanofillers toward the Enhanced Separation Performance of a Thin-film Nanocomposite Reverse Osmosis Membrane”, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 7, 10, 766-772, (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00507.
34. Sun, P.#, Yang, Z.,# (Co-first author) Song, X., Lee, J., Tang, C.Y.* and Park, H.* “Interlayered Forward Osmosis Membranes with Ti3C2Tx MXene and Carbon Nanotubes for Enhanced Municipal Wastewater Concentration”, Environmental Science & Technology, 55, 19, 13219-13230, (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01968. (IF: 11.3; Web of Science Citations: 52)
35. Peng, LE, Yao, Z, Yang, Z., Guo, H.,* and Tang, C.Y.* “Dissecting the Role of Substrate on the Morphology and Separation Properties of Thin Film Composite Polyamide Membranes: Seeing Is Believing”, Environmental Science & Technology, 54 (11), 6978-6986, (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01427.
36. Yang, Z., Guo, H., Yao, Z., Mei, Y., and Tang, C.Y.* “Hydrophilic Silver Nanoparticles Induce Selective Nanochannels in Thin Film Nanocomposite Polyamide Membranes”, Environmental Science & Technology, 53 (9), 5301-5308, (2019). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00473.
37. Song, X., Gan, B., Yang, Z., Tang, C.Y., and Gao C.J.* “Confined Nanobubbles Shape the Surface Roughness Structures of Thin Film Composite Polyamide Desalination Membranes”, Journal of Membrane Science, 582, 342-349, (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.04.027.
38. Yang, Z., Zhou, Z., Guo, H., Yao, Z., Ma, X., Song, X., Feng, S. and Tang, C.Y.* “Tannic Acid/Fe3+ Nanoscaffold for Interfacial Polymerization: Towards Enhanced Nanofiltration Performance”, Environmental Science & Technology, 52, 16, 9341-9349, (2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02425.
39. Tang, C.Y.,* (Advisor) Yang Z., Guo, H., Wen, J., Nghiem, L. and Cornelissen, E.* “Potable Water Reuse through Advanced Membrane Technology”, Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (18), 10215-10223, (2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00562.
40. Yang, Z., Ma, X. and Tang C.Y.* “Recent Development of Novel Membranes for Desalination”, Desalination, 434, 37-59, (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2017.11.046.
41. Ma, X., Yao, Z., Yang Z., Guo, H., Xu, Z., Tang, C.Y.,* and Elimelech M. “Nanofoaming of Polyamide Desalination Membranes to Tune Permeability and Selectivity”, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 5, 123-130, (2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00016.
42. Ma, X., Yang Z., Yao, Z., Guo, H., Xu Z. and Tang, C.Y.* “Interfacial Polymerization with Electrosprayed Microdroplets: Toward Controllable and Ultrathin Polyamide Membranes”, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 5, 117-122, (2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.7b00566.
43. Guo H., Yao Z., Wang, J., Yang, Z., Ma, X., and Tang, C.Y.* “Non-Polyamide Based Nanofiltration Membranes Using Green Metal-Organic Coordination Complexes: Implications for the Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants”, Environmental Science & Technology, 53, 5, 2688-2694, (2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06422.
44. Guo, H., Deng, Y., Yao, Z., Yang Z., Wang, J., Lin, C., Zhang, T., Zhu, B. and Tang, C.Y.*, “A Highly Selective Surface Coating for Enhanced Membrane Rejection of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds: Mechanistic insights and Implications”, Water Research, 121, 197-203, (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.037.
45 .Guo, H., Yao, Z., Yang, Z., Ma, X., Wang, J. and Tang, C.Y.* “A One-step Rapid Assembly of Thin Film Coating Using Green Coordination Complexes for Enhanced removal of Trace Organic Contaminants by Membranes”, Environmental Science & Technology, 51, 21, 12638-12643, (2017). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03478.
46. Yang, Z., Wu, Y., Wang, J., Cao, B., and Tang, C.Y.* “In Situ Reduction of Silver by Polydopamine: A Novel Antimicrobial Modification of a Thin-Film Composite Polyamide Membrane”, Environmental Science & Technology, 50, 17, 9543-9550, (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01867.
Honors and Awards
2026 ES&T and ES&T Letters James J. Morgan Early Career Award - Asia Pacific Region
2025 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
The 2024 Rising Star in Environmental Research