NEWS

Dr. Yang Xiao, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Louisiana Tech University, has been awarded a prestigious national grant from the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum Research Fund aimed at supporting early-career faculty conducting fundamental research in energy and petroleum science.

This two-year, $110,000 Doctoral New Investigator award aims to make fuel and plastic production cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable through his project titled Selective Semi-Hydrogenation of Acetylene to Ethylene over Two-Dimensional Nanolayer Catalysts.

Xiao’s research focuses on a key challenge in the petrochemical industry: the purification of ethylene, which serves as a foundational building block for many plastics and similar materials. Even small amounts of impurities can significantly hinder the speed and efficiency of material production.  His project looks to solve this problem by utilizing a novel nanocatalyst that significantly enhances the purification. The goal is to reduce energy use, cut down on byproducts, and make the entire process more environmentally sustainable.

“This grant is an exciting opportunity to tackle a long-standing challenge in energy and materials manufacturing,” said Xiao. “Our work could help improve the way fuels and plastics are produced, making them cleaner and more cost-effective.”

The Doctoral New Investigator program is one of the most competitive research funding opportunities for early-career scientists in the U.S. It supports promising faculty within the first three years of starting their independent academic careers. Xiao joins a select group of researchers nationwide who are working on innovative energy solutions at institutions including Texas A&M, Penn State, Purdue, and the University of New Haven.

“Dr. Xiao’s research has the potential to transform processes in both petroleum refining and polymer production, two major industries in Louisiana” said Dr. Collin Wick, dean of the College of Engineering and Science. “This national recognition is well-deserved and reflects the caliber of innovation taking place at Louisiana Tech.”

For more information about the award and other funded projects, visit:
https://cen.acs.org/acs-news/ACS-Board-approves-80-new/103/web/2025/06