On the afternoon of April 24, 2026, the 124th session of the "Mingde Lecture" series, hosted by the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, was successfully held in the Mingli Academic Lecture Hall. At the invitation of the School, Academician Andrey Rempel, Director of the Institute of Metallurgy of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciencesand a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, delivered an academic lecture titled "Semiconductor Photo-Adsorbents for Waste Water Cleaning". The lecture was chaired by Prof. Han Xiaojun.
In the lecture, Academician Rempel focused on the core theme of efficient visible-light-responsive semiconductor photocatalysts and systematically presented his research on TiO2 photocatalytic materials. The presentation was organized around three aspects. First, he established the evaluation criteria for visible-light-active photocatalytic materials and analyzed the principles governing TiO2’s phases, semiconductor properties, and nanoscale dimensions. Second, he introduced the fabrication processes of nanoporous TiO2 and TiO2 nanotubes, clarified the influence mechanism of annealing temperature, and explained the activation mechanism underlying the visible-light response of TiO2. Third, he presented the core research findings, highlighting the outstanding performance of TiO2-based nanocomposite photocatalysts as well as their prospects for applications across multiple fields. Through this systematic coverage, the lecture fully demonstrated the research progress and application value of TiO2 photocatalytic materials in green chemistry and environmental purification.
During the Q&A session, faculty members and students actively raised questions on topics including the regulation of TiO2 crystal phases, the activation mechanism of oxygen vacancies, and the industrial application of composite photocatalysts, creating a lively academic atmosphere. Drawing on his extensive research experience, Academician Rempel provided detailed and in-depth responses to each question, fully reflecting his solid academic expertise and open attitude toward scholarly exchange.
The lecture presented frontier progress and innovative ideas in the field of TiO2 photocatalytic materials, effectively broadening the academic horizons of the participants and deepening China-Russia academic exchanges in environmental catalysis and functional materials. The "Mingde Lecture" series, a flagship academic brand cultivated by the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, will continue to build high-level collaboration platforms, actively foster a collaborative and innovative academic environment, and continuously strengthen fundamental research capabilities.
