Zoom meeting: https://kaust.zoom.us/j/94565178345?from=addon

Abstract

The rational design of catalytic materials that simultaneously achieve high activity, selectivity, and durability under realistic operating conditions remains a grand challenge. At the atomic and molecular levels, catalytic transformations proceed through complex, multistep pathways that couple proton–electron transfer events, competitive adsorption phenomena, and the dynamic restructuring of active sites. These processes are inherently multiscale, spanning localized electronic interactions, mesoscale reorganization of active surfaces, and reactor-level transport phenomena. Over the past century, advances in surface science, quantum chemistry, and operando characterization have significantly advanced our mechanistic understanding of catalysis. Nevertheless, theoretical frameworks and experimental approaches have often evolved in parallel rather than in concert, with each probing specific spatial or temporal domains in isolation. This lack of integration hinders the development of a coherent, predictive picture of catalytic processes that can effectively inform design strategies.

To bridge these gaps, we propose the concept of “spatiotemporal control” as a holistic framework that integrates catalytic research across multiple scales. This framework emphasizes the coupled nature of spatial dimensions-ranging from the atomic to the reactor scale-and temporal regimes, spanning ultrafast electron transfer on the picosecond scale to slow structural evolution over seconds or longer. Within this perspective, our group have been focusing on key topics including the origins of spatial and temporal complexity in heterogeneous electrocatalysis; statistical physics approaches that connect atomistic and mesoscale processes; and the interplay of equilibrium and non-equilibrium dynamics across temporal regimes. Finally, we highlight how spatiotemporal control can guide the design of next-generation catalytic systems, advancing clean energy and industrial applications while accelerating their translation from fundamental discovery to scalable technology.

Biography

Dr. Huabin Zhang received his Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2013, where he continued as an Assistant Professor after graduation. In 2014, he started postdoctoral research at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan, and subsequently worked as a Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, from 2017 to 2020. He later joined King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, as an Assistant Professor. In addition to his research activities, Dr. Zhang holds academic service positions, including serving as an Associate Editor of Science Advances.

His research focuses on the atomic-level design and development of catalysts for photo- and electrocatalysis. He has published more than 170 SCI-indexed papers, which have collectively received over 21,000 citations with an H-index of 74. He has been consecutively recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics from 2021 through 2025.