Faculty
Liu Leo Liu is an Associate Professor and tenure-track faculty member at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), where he leads a dedicated research team focusing on the development of multi-active ambiphilic main group centers. He has been a member of the Early Career Advisory Board for several prestigious journals, including Chem (2020-2023), the European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry (since 2022), Chinese Chemical Letters (since 2022), Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers (since 2024) and Acta Chimica Sinica (since 2024). His contributions to chemistry have been recognized with several awards, including the Chinese Chemical Society (CCS) Young Chemist Award (2022), the CCS Jingqing Rising Star Award (2022), the Huang Yao-Zeng Organometallic Chemistry Award for Young Chemists (2023-2024), the Distinguished Lectureship Award from the Chemical Society of Japan (2024) and the Chinese Chemical Society-Royal Society of Chemistry Young Chemist Award (2024).
Education and Employment:
June 2022 - present: Associate Professor (Tenure-track),
Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Sept 2020 - May 2022: Assistant Professor (Tenure-track),
Department of Chemistry, SUSTech, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Oct 2019 - Aug 2020: Post-doctoral Scholar,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory & University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
Advisors: Profs. F. Dean Toste, Kenneth N. Raymond and Robert G. Bergman
Oct 2016 - Sept 2019: Post-doctoral Fellow,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Advisor: Prof. Douglas W. Stephan
Oct 2015 - Jun 2016: Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (5th year),
Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Advisor: Prof. Yufen Zhao
Oct 2013 - Oct 2015: Joint Ph.D. study in Inorganic Chemistry (3rd-4th years),
University of California, San Diego, California, USA
Advisor: Prof. Guy Bertrand
Sept 2011 - Oct 2013: Ph.D. study in Organic Chemistry (1st-2nd years),
Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Advisor: Prof. Yufen Zhao
Sept 2007 - Jul 2011: B.Sc. in Chemistry,
Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Advisor: Prof. Yufen Zhao
Conference or Academic Communication after SUSTech:
40) 雙親性鋁賓, 第九屆全國結(jié)構(gòu)化學(xué)學(xué)術(shù)會議, Nanjing, China (May 18, 2025) (invited lecture)
39) 雙親性碳化合物, 第九屆全國結(jié)構(gòu)化學(xué)學(xué)術(shù)會議, Nanjing, China (May 18, 2025) (invited lecture)
38) 雙親性鋁賓, 2025氟氮化學(xué)與先進材料創(chuàng)新學(xué)術(shù)交流會日程, Shanghai, China (Feb 16, 2025) (invited lecture)
37) 雙親主族分子, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China (Jan 16, 2025) (invited lecture) (Host: Prof. Wei Zeng)
36) 雙親性鋁化合物, 第十二屆嶺南有機化學(xué)會議, Guangzhou, China (Dec 15, 2024) (invited lecture)
35) 雙親性碳化合物, 廣州分子工程+國際峰會, 2024年度合成化學(xué)青年學(xué)者學(xué)術(shù)交流研討會, Guangzhou, China (Nov 9, 2024) (invited lecture)
34) 雙親性碳化合物, 2024年度合成化學(xué)青年學(xué)者學(xué)術(shù)交流研討會, Changchun, China (Sept 23, 2024) (invited lecture)
33) 雙親性碳化合物, 化學(xué)未來：《化學(xué)學(xué)報》2024 青年論壇, Kunming, China (Sept 21, 2024) (invited lecture)
32) 雙親性碳元素化合物, 中國化學(xué)會第二十二屆全國金屬有機化學(xué)學(xué)術(shù)討論會, Tianjin, China (Aug 21, 2024) (invited award lecture)
31) Isolable Stannyne and Carbenes with an Inverted Electronic Configuration, the 26th International Conference on Physical Organic Chemistry, Beijing, China (Aug 20, 2024) (invited lecture)
30) 雙親性碳元素化合物, 合成化學(xué)前沿研討會, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China (Aug 18, 2024) (invited lecture) (Host: Prof. Jun-An Ma)
29) Isolable Stannyne and Carbenes with an Inverted Electronic Configuration, 45th International Conference on Coordination Chemistry, Fort Collins, USA (July 30, 2024) (invited lecture)
28) Isolable Stannyne and Carbenes with an Inverted Electronic Configuration, 14th International Conference on Heteroatom Chemistry, Tianjin, China (July 16, 2024) (invited lecture)
27) 雙親性主族元素化合物, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China (June 19, 2024) (invited lecture) (Host: Prof. Zhongshu Li)
26) 反電子態(tài)雙親性卡賓, the 34nd Chinese Chemical Society Congress, Guangzhou, China (June 17, 2024) (invited lecture)
25) Exploring the Frontiers of Low-Valent Carbon: Isolable Carbyne Anions and Carbenes with Inverted Electronic Configurations, The 104th CSJ Annual Meeting, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan (Mar 19, 2024) (invited keynote award lecture) (Host: Prof. Makoto Yamashita)
24) Ambiphilic Carbon Compounds, 金屬卡賓前沿交叉論壇, Northwest University, Xi'an, China (Feb 25, 2024) (invited lecture) (Host: Prof. Ying-Feng Han)
23) Ambiphilic Main Group Compounds, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China (Dec 22, 2023) (invited lecture) (Host: Prof. Yaofeng Chen)
22) Ambiphilic Main Group Compounds, Peking University, Beijing, China (Dec 8, 2023) (invited OPSS lecture) (Host: Prof. Yan Xu)
21) Enhancing Stability of Monometal-Substituted Carbene, Carbyne Anion Complex, and Free Stannyne with Phosphino Substituents, 24th International Conference on Phosphorus Chemistry, Ningbo, China (Nov 14, 2023) (invited lecture)
20) Multi-Active Ambiphilic Main Group Elements, 2023年合成化學(xué)青年學(xué)者學(xué)術(shù)交流研討會, Guangzhou, China (Nov 6, 2023) (invited lecture)
19) Multi-Active Ambiphilic Main Group Elements, 南開大學(xué)元素有機國家重點實驗室2023年學(xué)術(shù)年會, Nankai University, Tianjin, China (Oct 21, 2023) (invited lecture)
18) Stabilization of Ambiphilic Phosphorus-Boron Multiple Bonds, 中國化學(xué)會第四屆硼化學(xué)會議, Fuzhou, China (Sept 23, 2023) (invited lecture)
17) Multi-Active Ambiphilic Main Group Elements, 河南省硼化學(xué)與先進能源材料實驗室成立五周年學(xué)術(shù)研討會, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China (Aug 2, 2023) (Host: Profs Xuenian Chen and Qianyi Zhao) (invited lecture)
16) Tri-Active Ambiphilic Carbon Centers, The 33rd Chinese Chemical Society Congress, Qingdao, China (June 18, 2023). (invited lecture)
15) Multi-Active Ambiphilic Main Group Elements, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China (May 12, 2023) (Host: Profs Zhifang Li and Liliang Wang) (invited lecture)
14) Multi-Active Ambiphilic Main Group Elements, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China (April 17, 2023) (Host: Prof. Kuanguan Liu) (invited lecture)
13) Tri-Active Ambiphilic Carbon Centers, 中國化學(xué)會第六屆菁青論壇, Lanzhou, China (April 16, 2023) (invited lecture for awardee)
12) Tri-Active Ambiphilic Carbon Centers, 中國化學(xué)會第八屆全國結(jié)構(gòu)化學(xué)學(xué)術(shù)會議, Fuzhou, China (April 3, 2023) (invited lecture)
11) Multi-Active Ambiphilic Main Group Elements, 第二屆活性反應(yīng)中間體化學(xué)研討會, Hefei, China (April 1, 2023) (Host: Profs Zhenhua Gu and Hanmin Huang) (invited lecture)
10) Tri-Active Ambiphilic Carbon Centers, The 17th National Synthetic Organic Chemistry Symposium, Jinan, China (Nov 12, 2022) (invited lecture)
9) Tri-Active Ambiphilic Aluminium Centers, The 12th National Organic Chemistry Conference, Hefei, China (Sept 27, 2022) (invited lecture)
8) Tri-Active Ambiphilic Carbon Centers, The 9th Chinese Coordination Chemistry Conference, Zhengzhou, China (Aug 24, 2022) (invited lecture)
7) Ambiphilicity at Main Group Element Centers, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Host: Prof. Jiaxiang Chu), China (invited lecture) (Dec. 09, 2021)
6) The Dynamic Nature of Organophosphorus Compounds, Suzhou Research Institute of Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (Host: Prof. Lipeng Wu), China (invited lecture) (July 17, 2021)
5) The Dynamic Nature of Organophosphorus Compounds, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (Host: Prof. Chao Zheng), China (invited lecture) (July 16, 2021)
4) Phosphirene-Phosphinidene Rearrangement, The 32nd Chinese Chemical Society Congress, Zhuhai, China (April 19, 2021)
3) Phosphorus: The Carbon Copy, Shandong University (Host: Prof. Lingbing Kong), China (invited lecture) (Dec 11, 2020)
2) A Journey with Phosphorus, Zhengzhou University (Host: Prof. Zheng Duan), China (invited lecture) (Nov 23, 2020)
1) A Journey with Phosphorus, Ningbo University (Host: Profs Yufen Zhao and Yile Wu), China (invited lecture) (Nov 11, 2020)
The LLL group at SUSTech conducts research focused on the essential principles of both molecular organic and inorganic chemistry across the d- and p-block elements of the periodic table. We are embarked on a groundbreaking journey to synthesize new chemical structures previously thought to be non-existent. Our innovative approach proves that these unique entities can indeed be realized through meticulously rational design.
The inspiration for these groundbreaking investigations often stems from foundational textbook knowledge. Should you be preparing for an interview with Leo, a review of relevant academic texts is advised. While the challenges posed by these "non-existent" species are intellectually stimulating and indeed intriguing, they serve a purpose beyond mere intellectual curiosity. We leverage these unusual chemical species to create beneficial compounds, sometimes resulting in even more unconventional molecular structures.
More precisely, our research methodology employs an interdisciplinary approach, integrating synthetic chemistry, computational modeling, and spectroscopic techniques. We aim to develop the chemistry of (multi-active) ambiphilic centers based on main group elements. In doing so, we are not only advancing the boundaries of chemical science but also laying the groundwork for innovative applications in various domains.