Wenhao Ren

Wenhao Ren

School of Chemical Engineering

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr. Wenhao Ren is an innovative researcher in the fields of nanomaterials, electrocatalysis and battery technologies. He has published over 50 high-quality refereed journal papers, containing 1 ESI Hot papers, 4 ESI Highly Cited papers. These include 15 papers as the first/co-first authors and 2 as the co-corresponding authors in flagship Materials and Chemistry journals including Nat. Commun., Joule, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Nano Lett., Adv. Energy Mater., Adv. Funct. Mater., ACS Catalysis, etc. He has achieved an h-index of 35 and total citations of > 4,500 (Google Scholar). Dr Ren has also been involved in several industrial projects and applied for 2 PCT patents, and 3 Chinese patents as the co-inventor.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - 2026 DECRA Fellow University of Adelaide
    2020 - 2023 Postdoc (Marie Curie Fellow) The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
    2017 - 2020 Postdoc The University of New South Wales
    2012 - 2017 PhD Wuhan University of Technology

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2012 - 2017 Wuhan University of Technology China PhD

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2025 Ren, W., Zhang, H., Chang, M., Chen, N., Ma, W., Gu, J., . . . Hu, X. (2025). Field-enhanced CO electroreduction in membrane electrolyzers at a dehydrated interface. Chem, 11(2), 102352-1-102352-8.
    DOI Scopus2
    2023 Ren, W., Ma, W., & Hu, X. (2023). Tailored water and hydroxide transport at a quasi-two-phase interface of membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer for CO electroreduction. Joule, 7(10), 2349-2360.
    DOI Scopus17
    2023 Chang, M., Ren, W., Ni, W., Lee, S., & Hu, X. (2023). Ionomers Modify the Selectivity of Cu-Catalyzed Electrochemical CO<inf>2</inf> Reduction. ChemSusChem, 16(5), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus18 WoS2 Europe PMC4
    2022 Ren, W., Xu, A., Chan, K., & Hu, X. (2022). A Cation Concentration Gradient Approach to Tune the Selectivity and Activity of CO<inf>2</inf> Electroreduction. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 61(49), 6 pages.
    DOI Scopus65 WoS14 Europe PMC19
    2022 Xu, W., Zhao, K., Liao, X., Sun, C., He, K., Yuan, Y., . . . Lu, J. (2022). Proton Storage in Metallic H<inf>1.75</inf>MoO<inf>3</inf> Nanobelts through the Grotthuss Mechanism. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 144(38), 17407-17415.
    DOI Scopus77 WoS22 Europe PMC25
    2022 Ren, W., Tan, X., Jia, C., Krammer, A., Sun, Q., Qu, J., . . . Zhao, C. (2022). Electronic Regulation of Nickel Single Atoms by Confined Nickel Nanoparticles for Energy-Efficient CO<inf>2</inf> Electroreduction. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 61(26), 5 pages.
    DOI Scopus148 WoS53 Europe PMC35
    2022 Qu, J., Yang, W., Wu, T., Ren, W., Huang, J., Yu, H., . . . Cairney, J. M. (2022). Atom probe specimen preparation methods for nanoparticles. Ultramicroscopy, 233, 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS2 Europe PMC1
    2022 Sun, Q., Zhao, Y., Ren, W., & Zhao, C. (2022). Electroreduction of low concentration CO<inf>2</inf> at atomically dispersed Ni-N-C catalysts with nanoconfined ionic liquids. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 304, 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus50 WoS20
    2022 Zhang, Y., Chen, X., Cen, W., Ren, W., Guo, H., Wu, S., . . . Zhao, C. (2022). Flash-assisted doping graphene for ultrafast potassium transport. Nano Research, 15(5), 4083-4090.
    DOI Scopus9 WoS4
    2021 Tressoldi, P. E., & Storm, L. (2021). Stage 2 Registered Report: Anomalous perception in a Ganzfeld condition - A meta-analysis of more than 40 years investigation. F1000research, 10, 234.
    DOI Scopus3 Europe PMC1
    2021 Ren, W., Tan, X., Qu, J., Li, S., Li, J., Liu, X., . . . Zhao, C. (2021). Isolated copper–tin atomic interfaces tuning electrocatalytic CO<inf>2</inf> conversion. Nature Communications, 12(1), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus168 WoS92 Europe PMC41
    2021 Jia, C., Li, S., Zhao, Y., Hocking, R. K., Ren, W., Chen, X., . . . Zhao, C. (2021). Nitrogen Vacancy Induced Coordinative Reconstruction of Single-Atom Ni Catalyst for Efficient Electrochemical CO<inf>2</inf> Reduction. Advanced Functional Materials, 31(51), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus157 WoS71
    2021 Sun, Q., Ren, W., Zhao, Y., & Zhao, C. (2021). Gram-scale synthesis of single-atom metal-N-CNT catalysts for highly efficient CO<inf>2</inf>electroreduction. Chemical Communications, 57(12), 1514-1517.
    DOI Scopus23 WoS14 Europe PMC3
    2021 Qin, M., Ren, W., Jiang, R., Li, Q., Yao, X., Wang, S., . . . Mai, L. (2021). Highly Crystallized Prussian Blue with Enhanced Kinetics for Highly Efficient Sodium Storage. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 13(3), 3999-4007.
    DOI Scopus155 WoS74 Europe PMC31
    2021 Jia, C., Tan, X., Zhao, Y., Ren, W., Li, Y., Su, Z., . . . Zhao, C. (2021). Sulfur-Dopant-Promoted Electroreduction of CO<inf>2</inf> over Coordinatively Unsaturated Ni-N<inf>2</inf> Moieties. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 60(43), 23342-23348.
    DOI Scopus151 WoS72 Europe PMC39
    2021 Su, Z., Chen, J., Ren, W., Guo, H., Jia, C., Yin, S., . . . Zhao, C. (2021). “Water-in-Sugar” Electrolytes Enable Ultrafast and Stable Electrochemical Naked Proton Storage. Small, 17(40), 9 pages.
    DOI Scopus52 WoS28 Europe PMC15
    2020 Peng, X., Guo, H., Ren, W., Su, Z., & Zhao, C. (2020). Vanadium hexacyanoferrate as high-capacity cathode for fast proton storage. Chemical Communications, 56(79), 11803-11806.
    DOI Scopus61 WoS34 Europe PMC15
    2020 Wu, S., Mo, J., Zeng, Y., Wang, Y., Rawal, A., Scott, J., . . . Chen, X. (2020). Shock Exfoliation of Graphene Fluoride in Microwave. Small, 16(12), 10 pages.
    DOI Scopus26 WoS23 Europe PMC4
    2020 Zhao, Y., Tan, X., Yang, W., Jia, C., Chen, X., Ren, W., . . . Zhao, C. (2020). Surface Reconstruction of Ultrathin Palladium Nanosheets during Electrocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction. Angewandte Chemie, 132(48), 21677-21682.
    DOI
    2020 Guo, H., Goonetilleke, D., Sharma, N., Ren, W., Su, Z., Rawal, A., & Zhao, C. (2020). Two-Phase Electrochemical Proton Transport and Storage in α-MoO<inf>3</inf> for Proton Batteries. Cell Reports Physical Science, 1(10), 16 pages.
    DOI Scopus78 WoS39
    2020 Yang, W., Zhao, Y., Chen, S., Ren, W., Chen, X., Jia, C., . . . Zhao, C. (2020). Defective Indium/Indium Oxide Heterostructures for Highly Selective Carbon Dioxide Electrocatalysis. Inorganic Chemistry, 59(17), 12437-12444.
    DOI Scopus58 WoS30 Europe PMC10
    2020 Ren, W., & Zhao, C. (2020). Paths towards enhanced electrochemical CO2 reduction. National Science Review, 7(1), 7-9.
    DOI Scopus54 WoS44 Europe PMC10
    2020 Ahmed, M. I., Liu, C., Zhao, Y., Ren, W., Chen, X., Chen, S., & Zhao, C. (2020). Metal–Sulfur Linkages Achieved by Organic Tethering of Ruthenium Nanocrystals for Enhanced Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 59(48), 21465-21469.
    DOI Scopus66 WoS46 Europe PMC14
    2020 Zhao, Y., Tan, X., Yang, W., Jia, C., Chen, X., Ren, W., . . . Zhao, C. (2020). Surface Reconstruction of Ultrathin Palladium Nanosheets during Electrocatalytic CO<inf>2</inf> Reduction. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 59(48), 21493-21498.
    DOI Scopus128 WoS99 Europe PMC30
    2020 Ren, W., Tan, X., Chen, X., Zhang, G., Zhao, K., Yang, W., . . . Zhao, C. (2020). Confinement of Ionic Liquids at Single-Ni-Sites Boost Electroreduction of CO<inf>2</inf>in Aqueous Electrolytes. ACS Catalysis, 10(22), 13171-13178.
    DOI Scopus77 WoS46
    2020 Jia, C., Ren, W., Chen, X., Yang, W., & Zhao, C. (2020). (N, B) Dual Heteroatom-Doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon Framework for Efficient Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 8(15), 6003-6010.
    DOI Scopus59 WoS42
    2020 Su, Z., Ren, W., Guo, H., Peng, X., Chen, X., & Zhao, C. (2020). Ultrahigh Areal Capacity Hydrogen-Ion Batteries with MoO<inf>3</inf> Loading Over 90 mg cm<sup>−2</sup>. Advanced Functional Materials, 30(46), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus86 WoS48
    2019 Wang, Q., Ren, W., Gao, F., Qiu, C., Wang, Q., Gao, F., & Zhao, C. (2019). Thermally Activated Multilayered Carbon Cloth as Flexible Supercapacitor Electrode Material with Significantly Enhanced Areal Energy Density. ChemElectroChem, 6(6), 1768-1775.
    DOI Scopus34 WoS29
    2019 Ren, W., Tan, X., Yang, W., Jia, C., Xu, S., Wang, K., . . . Zhao, C. (2019). Isolated Diatomic Ni-Fe Metal–Nitrogen Sites for Synergistic Electroreduction of CO<inf>2</inf>. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 58(21), 6972-6976.
    DOI Scopus875 WoS613 Europe PMC186
    2019 Qin, M., Ren, W., Meng, J., Wang, X., Yao, X., Ke, Y., . . . Mai, L. (2019). Realizing Superior Prussian Blue Positive Electrode for Potassium Storage via Ultrathin Nanosheet Assembly. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 7(13), 11564-11570.
    DOI Scopus103 WoS81
    2019 Chen, X., Bo, X., Ren, W., Chen, S., & Zhao, C. (2019). Microwave-assisted shock synthesis of diverse ultrathin graphene-derived materials. Materials Chemistry Frontiers, 3(7), 1433-1439.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS11
    2019 Yao, X., Ke, Y., Ren, W., Wang, X., Xiong, F., Yang, W., . . . Mai, L. (2019). Retraction to: Defect-Rich Soft Carbon Porous Nanosheets for Fast and High-Capacity Sodium-Ion Storage (Advanced Energy Materials, (2019), 9, 6, (1803260), 10.1002/aenm.201803260). Advanced Energy Materials, 9(8), 1 page.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS9
    2019 Jia, C., Dastafkan, K., Ren, W., Yang, W., & Zhao, C. (2019). Carbon-based catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction. Sustainable Energy and Fuels, 3(11), 2890-2906.
    DOI Scopus95 WoS57
    2019 Ren, W., Tan, X., Yang, W., Jia, C., Xu, S., Wang, K., . . . Zhao, C. (2019). Isolated Diatomic Ni‐Fe Metal–Nitrogen Sites for Synergistic Electroreduction of CO<sub>2</sub>. Angewandte Chemie, 131(21), 7046-7050.
    DOI
    2019 Ren, W., Zhu, Z., Qin, M., Chen, S., Yao, X., Li, Q., . . . Zhao, C. (2019). Prussian White Hierarchical Nanotubes with Surface-Controlled Charge Storage for Sodium-Ion Batteries. Advanced Functional Materials, 29(15), 10 pages.
    DOI Scopus180 WoS116
    2019 Yang, W., Chen, S., Ren, W., Zhao, Y., Chen, X., Jia, C., . . . Zhao, C. (2019). Nanostructured amalgams with tuneable silver-mercury bonding sites for selective electroreduction of carbon dioxide into formate and carbon monoxide. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 7(26), 15907-15912.
    DOI Scopus44 WoS32
    2019 Yao, X., Ke, Y., Ren, W., Wang, X., Xiong, F., Yang, W., . . . Mai, L. (2019). Defect-Rich Soft Carbon Porous Nanosheets for Fast and High-Capacity Sodium-Ion Storage. Advanced Energy Materials, 9(6), 1-9.
    DOI Scopus315 WoS233
    2019 Ahmed, M. I., Chen, S., Ren, W., Chen, X., & Zhao, C. (2019). Synergistic bimetallic CoFe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> clusters supported on graphene for ambient electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogen to ammonia. Chemical Communications, 55(81), 12184-12187.
    DOI Scopus56 WoS42 Europe PMC9
    2018 Ren, W., Chen, X., & Zhao, C. (2018). Ultrafast Aqueous Potassium-Ion Batteries Cathode for Stable Intermittent Grid-Scale Energy Storage. Advanced Energy Materials, 8(24), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus179 WoS132
    2018 Yao, X., Zhu, Z., Li, Q., Wang, X., Xu, X., Meng, J., . . . Mai, L. (2018). 3.0 v High Energy Density Symmetric Sodium-Ion Battery: Na<inf>4</inf>V<inf>2</inf>(PO<inf>4</inf>)<inf>3</inf>∥Na<inf>3</inf>V<inf>2</inf>(PO<inf>4</inf>)<inf>3</inf>. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 10(12), 10022-10028.
    DOI Scopus80 WoS67 Europe PMC7
    2018 Ren, W., Liu, D., Sun, C., Yao, X., Tan, J., Wang, C., . . . Mai, L. (2018). Nonhierarchical Heterostructured Fe2O3/Mn2O3 Porous Hollow Spheres for Enhanced Lithium Storage. Small, 14(26), 9 pages.
    DOI Scopus98 WoS80 Europe PMC11
    2017 Zhang, G., Xiong, T., Yan, M., Xu, Y., Ren, W., Xu, X., . . . Mai, L. (2017). In Operando Probing of Sodium-Incorporation in NASICON Nanomaterial: Asymmetric Reaction and Electrochemical Phase Diagram. Chemistry of Materials, 29(19), 8057-8064.
    DOI Scopus20 WoS16
    2017 Xu, X., Niu, C., Duan, M., Wang, X., Huang, L., Wang, J., . . . Mai, L. (2017). Alkaline earth metal vanadates as sodium-ion battery anodes. Nature Communications, 8(1), 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus143 WoS120 Europe PMC28
    2017 Ren, W., Qin, M., Zhu, Z., Yan, M., Li, Q., Zhang, L., . . . Mai, L. (2017). Activation of Sodium Storage Sites in Prussian Blue Analogues via Surface Etching. Nano Letters, 17(8), 4713-4718.
    DOI Scopus269 WoS208 Europe PMC38
    2017 Ren, W., Zhu, Z., An, Q., & Mai, L. (2017). Emerging Prototype Sodium-Ion Full Cells with Nanostructured Electrode Materials. Small, 13(23), 31 pages.
    DOI Scopus107 WoS103 Europe PMC17
    2017 Zhang, L., Zhao, K., Yu, R., Yan, M., Xu, W., Dong, Y., . . . Mai, L. (2017). Phosphorus Enhanced Intermolecular Interactions of SnO2 and Graphene as an Ultrastable Lithium Battery Anode. Small, 13(20), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus106 WoS90 Europe PMC10
    2017 Zhao, K., Wen, M., Dong, Y., Zhang, L., Yan, M., Xu, W., . . . Mai, L. (2017). Thermal Induced Strain Relaxation of 1D Iron Oxide for Solid Electrolyte Interphase Control and Lithium Storage Improvement. Advanced Energy Materials, 7(6), 10 pages.
    DOI Scopus77 WoS74
    2017 Ren, W., Li, S., Gao, L., Huang, S., Zhang, L., Qiang, C., . . . Zhi, K. (2017). Low-dose propranolol for infantile hemangioma of the head and neck: Analysis of 23 consecutive patients. PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, 59(2), 213-217.
    DOI WoS6 Europe PMC7
    2016 Chen, C., Ren, W., Gao, L., Cheng, Z., Zhang, L., Li, S., & Zhi, P. K. -Q. (2016). Function of obturator prosthesis after maxillectomy and prosthetic obturator rehabilitation. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY, 82(2), 177-183.
    DOI WoS22 Europe PMC20
    2016 Yan, M., Zhao, L., Zhao, K., Wei, Q., An, Q., Zhang, G., . . . Mai, L. (2016). Cycling-Stable Cathodes: The Capturing of Ionized Oxygen in Sodium Vanadium Oxide Nanorods Cathodes under Operando Conditions (Adv. Funct. Mater. 36/2016). Advanced Functional Materials, 26(36), 6498.
    DOI
    2016 Ren, W., Yao, X., Niu, C., Zheng, Z., Zhao, K., An, Q., . . . Mai, L. (2016). Cathodic polarization suppressed sodium-ion full cell with a 3.3 V high-voltage. Nano Energy, 28, 216-223.
    DOI Scopus103 WoS86
    2016 Yan, M., Zhao, L., Zhao, K., Wei, Q., An, Q., Zhang, G., . . . Mai, L. (2016). The Capturing of Ionized Oxygen in Sodium Vanadium Oxide Nanorods Cathodes under Operando Conditions. Advanced Functional Materials, 26(36), 6555-6562.
    DOI Scopus20 WoS19
    2016 Wei, Q., Xu, Y., Li, Q., Tan, S., Ren, W., An, Q., & Mai, L. (2016). Novel layered Li3V2(PO4)3/rGO&C sheets as high-rate and long-life lithium ion battery cathodes. Chemical Communications, 52(56), 8730-8732.
    DOI Scopus27 WoS27 Europe PMC2
    2016 Ren, W., Zheng, Z., Xu, C., Niu, C., Wei, Q., An, Q., . . . Mai, L. (2016). Self-sacrificed synthesis of three-dimensional Na3V2(PO4)3 nanofiber network for high-rate sodium-ion full batteries. Nano Energy, 25, 145-153.
    DOI Scopus249 WoS200
    2016 Zhang, L., Zhao, K., Luo, Y., Dong, Y., Xu, W., Yan, M., . . . Mai, L. (2016). Acetylene Black Induced Heterogeneous Growth of Macroporous CoV2O6 Nanosheet for High-Rate Pseudocapacitive Lithium-Ion Battery Anode. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 8(11), 7139-7146.
    DOI Scopus90 WoS79 Europe PMC15
    2016 Yan, M., Zhang, G., Wei, Q., Tian, X., Zhao, K., An, Q., . . . Mai, L. (2016). In operando observation of temperature-dependent phase evolution in lithium-incorporation olivine cathode. Nano Energy, 22, 406-413.
    DOI Scopus33 WoS26
    2016 Wang, L., Hu, Z., Zhao, K., Luo, Y., Wei, Q., Tang, C., . . . Mai, L. (2016). Hollow spherical LiNi<sub>0.5</sub>Mn<sub>1.5</sub>O<sub>4</sub> built from polyhedra with high-rate performance via carbon nanotube modification. SCIENCE CHINA-MATERIALS, 59(2), 95-103.
    DOI WoS29
    2015 Ren, W., Zheng, Z., Luo, Y., Chen, W., Niu, C., Zhao, K., . . . Mai, L. (2015). An electrospun hierarchical LiV3O8 nanowire-in-network for high-rate and long-life lithium batteries. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 3(39), 19850-19856.
    DOI Scopus64 WoS51
    2015 Niu, C., Meng, J., Wang, X., Han, C., Yan, M., Zhao, K., . . . Mai, L. (2015). General synthesis of complex nanotubes by gradient electrospinning and controlled pyrolysis. Nature Communications, 6(1), 9 pages.
    DOI Scopus402 WoS349 Europe PMC80
    2014 Ren, W. H., Zhao, K. N., Zheng, Z. P., & Mai, L. Q. (2014). Nanowire material and its application in electrochemical energy storage field. Gongneng Cailiao Journal of Functional Materials, 45(12), 12010-12018.
    DOI Scopus1

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Principal Supervisor Design and synthesis of nanostructured carbon-based catalysts for electrochemical reduction of CO2 Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Yuhang Ye
    2025 Principal Supervisor Design of novel catalysts for seawater splitting Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Hongzhou Pan
    2024 Principal Supervisor Electrochemical conversion of small molecules into value-added chemicals Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Kai Dong
    2024 Principal Supervisor A Novel Metal-based Catalyst for Highly Selective CO2 Electroreduction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Qi Wei
    2024 Co-Supervisor Design of Cu-based catalysts for selective electroreduction of carbon dioxide to C2+ products. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Dehuang Zhuo
    2024 Principal Supervisor Fabrication of Cost-Effective High-Performance Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalyst and Effective Catalyst Layer for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Minqiu Lan
    2024 Co-Supervisor Novel Material (MOFs) Synthesis using Microfluidic Reactor Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Sebete Mabaleha
    2024 Co-Supervisor Novel Material (MOFs) Synthesis using Microfluidic Reactor Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Ayesha Sandaruwani Makandana Kankanamalage

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Design of novel catalysts for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction. The University of Adelaide - Doctorate Full Time Jing Yang

  • Mentoring
    Date Topic Location Name
    2024 - 2027 Electrocatalysis for the synthesis of small moleculars School of Chemical Engineering Kai Dong
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