Our research focuses on the molecular design, precise synthesis, and industrial application of high-performance anion exchange membranes (AEMs) towards alkaline water electrolysis on the basis of bio-inspired principles. The AEMs can be integrated with transition metal-based catalysts and coupled with renewable energy sources, providing a new pathway to explore the economic efficiency and stability of hydrogen production. In addition, the developed AEMs can be also extended to carbon-neutral fields such as fuel cells and carbon dioxide resource utilization, which have been regarded as key factors for energy conversion and storage.

Publications：

L. Yin, R. Ren, L. He, W. Zheng, Y. Guo, L. Wang, H. Lee, J. Du, Z. Li, T. Tang, G. Ding, L. Sun*, Stable Anion Exchange Membrane Bearing Quinuclidinium for High performance Water Electrolysis, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024, 63, e202400764. 10.1002/anie.202400764.

W. Zheng, L. He, T. Tang, R. Ren, H. Lee, G. Ding, L. Wang, L. Sun*, Poly(Dibenzothiophene‐Terphenyl Piperidinium) for High‐Performance Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024, e202405738. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202405738.

Qinglu Liu, Tang Tang, Ziyu Tian, Shiwen Ding, Linqin Wang, Dexin Chen, Zhiwei Wang, Wentao Zheng, Husileng Lee, Xingyu Lu, Xiaohe Miao, Lin Liu, Licheng Sun* A high-performance watermelon skin ion-solvating membrane for electrochemical CO₂ reduction, nature communications, 2024, 15, 6722, 10.1038/s41467-024-51139-6.

T. Tang, H. Lee, Z. Wang, Z. Li, L. Wang, D. Chen, W. Zheng, Q. Liu, L. He, G. Ding, Z. Tian, L. Sun*, Bioinspired anion exchange membranes with dual steric cross-linking centers for industrial-scale water electrolysis, Energy & Environmental Science, 2024, 17, 7816-7828. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EE02428A.

L. Yin, R. Ren, L. He, H. Lee, Q. Zhang, G. Ding, L. Wang, L. Sun, Polyarylmethylpiperidinium (PAMP) for Next Generation Anion Exchange Membranes, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025, 64, e202503715. 10.1002/anie.202503715

Q. Zhang, R. Ren, L. Yin, L. Sun, Alkali-Stable Cations and Anion Exchange Membranes, Chemistry—A European Journal 2025, 31, e202404264. 10.1002/chem.202404264.

W. Zheng, R. Ren, L. Yin, T. Tang, G. Ding, H. Lee, L. Sun, OH− conductivity enhancement of quinuclidinium-based anion exchange membrane by the introduction of dibenzothiophene, Journal of Membrane Science, 2025, 733, 124300.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2025.124300.

OER＆HER

Our research focuses on the on the zero-based design and scalable preparation of transition metal-based OER and HER catalysts with the advantages of low cost, easy reproducibility, and scalability in the AEM-WE. We are dedicated to developing innovative synthetic pathways and structural designs for novel catalysts, striving to overcome the resource and cost limitations of traditional precious metal materials. By synergistically integrating with advanced AEMs, the strategic transition to clean energy technologies such as water electrolysis for green hydrogen production, CO₂ reduction, and fuel cells can be greatly promoted.

OER:

Z. Li, G. Lin, L. Wang, H. Lee, J. Du, T. Tang, G. Ding, R. Ren, W. Li, X. Cao, S. Ding, W. Ye, W. Yang, and L. Sun*. Seed-assisted formation of NiFe anode catalysts for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis at industrial-scale current density. Nature Catalysis, 2024, 7(8), 944-952. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-024-01209-1

W. Li, Y. Ding, Y. Zhao, Z. Li, G. Lin, L. Wang, and L. Sun*. Zwitterion‐Modified NiFe OER Catalyst Achieving Ultra‐Stable Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis via Dynamic Alkaline Microenvironment Engineering. Angewandte Chemie, 2025, 137, e202505924. https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202505924

S. Ding, Z. Li, G. Lin, L. Wang, A. Dong, and L. Sun*. Enhancing Mass Transfer in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis by Overlaid Nickel Mesh Substrate. ACS Energy letters, 2024, 9, 8, 3719–3726. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c01568

J. Du, Z. Li, L. Wang, Y. Ding, W. Ye, W. Yang, and L. Sun*. Anion Exchange Membrane Seawater Electrolysis at 1.0 A cm−2 With an Anode Catalyst Stable for 9000 H. Advanced Science, 2025, 12, 2416661. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202416661

HER:

A. Dong, G. Lin, Z. Li, W. Wu, X. Cao, W. Li, L. Wang, Y. Zhao, D. Chen, and L. Sun*. Interlayer-bonded Ni/MoO2 electrocatalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction with stability over 6000 h at 1000 mA cm-2. Nature Communications, 2025, 16, 4955. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59933-6

G. Lin, A. Dong, Z. Li, W. Li, X. Cao, Y. Zhao, L. Wang, and L. Sun*. An Interlayer Anchored NiMo/MoO2 Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis at High Current Density. Advanced Materials, 2025, 37, 2507525. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202507525

H. Lee, G. Ding, L. Wang, Y. Ding, T. Tang, and L. Sun*. Suppressing Mo-Species Leaching in MoOx/A-Ni3S2 Cathode for Stable Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis at Industrial-Scale Current Density. Advanced Science, 2025, 12, 2502478. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202502478

AEM Beyond

Through the coupling with renewable energy, the anion exchange membrane electrolyzers can serve as reactors to drive the oxidation and reduction of organic substrates for the production of high-value-added chemicals (such as furandicarboxylic acid, furandimethanol, NADH, etc.) by using water as both the oxygen and hydrogen source. This research focuses on the development of novel and highly active catalysts, as well as high-performance electrolyzer reactors those integrate the anion exchange membranes, aiming at establishing a practical and promising green electrochemical synthesis paradigm based on AEM electrolyzers.

Publications：

1.Chen, D.; Ding, Y.; Cao, X.; Wang, L.; Lee, H.; Lin, G.; Li, W.; Ding, G.; Sun, L.*, Highly Efficient Biomass Upgrading by a Ni−Cu Electrocatalyst Featuring Passivation of Water Oxidation Activity. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62 (37), e202309478. (https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202309478.)

2.Cao, X.; Ding, Y.; Chen, D.; Ye, W.; Yang, W.; Sun, L.*, Cluster-Level Heterostructure of PMo₁₂/Cu for Efficient and Selective Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of High-Concentration 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (36), 25125–25136. (https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c08205.)

3.Chen, D.; Li, W.; Liu, J.; Sun, L.*, Bio-Inspired Proton Relay for Promoting Continuous 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Electrooxidation in a Flowing System. Energy Environ. Sci. 2025, 18 (7), 3120–3128. (https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EE05745G.)

4.Ding, G.; Lee, H.; Cao, X.; Li, Z.; Liu, J.; Wang, L.; Ding, Y.; Yin, L.; Sun, L.*, 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Oxidation in Scaled Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer with NiCuO_x Catalyst. ACS Energy Lett. 2025, 571–578. (https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c03257.)

5.Chen, D.; Ding, Y.; Cao, X.; Sun, L.*, Heterostructured Ni-Co Electrocatalyst with Enhanced Interfacial Charge Transfer for Efficient Biomass Upgrading. Appl. Catal., B 2025, 378, 125539. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2025.125539.)

6.Sun, S.; Wu, Y.; Ding Y.; Wang L.; Cao, X.; Sun, L.*, Facet-Engineered Copper Electrocatalysts Enable Sustainable NADH Regeneration with High Efficiency J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 16630-16641. (https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c04431.)