Publications

A full list of publications is available via Prof. Tong’s Google Scholar Page.

Selected Publications

2025

  1. Q, Z.; Lakra, A.; Somni, R. R.; Peng, W.; Li, G.; Hu, G.; Tong, Z. A robust atomically precise nanocluster catalyst for simultaneously C-O and C-C bond cleavage in lignin models. ACS Catalyst 2025, 15, 20270. https://doi/10.1021/acscatal.5c07479.
  2. Liu, J.; Qin, Z.; Li, Z.; Li, Q.; Tong, Z. Dual-responsive and fully-recoverable shape-memory polyurethane composite with pH-driven structural modulation and automatic shape transition. Chemical Engineering Journal 2025, 525, 170050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.170050.
  3. Zhang, J.; Zhang, Y.; Qin, Z.; Li, Z.; Tong, Z.; Zhao, Z.; Gascón, J. A.; Li, G. How Carbene Ligands Transform AuAg Alloy Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis. Angewandte Chemie 2025, 137 (10), e202420993. https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202420993.
  4. Lin, G.-S.; Gan, L.; Gao, J.; Ding, Y.; Wang, Z. L.; Chen, Y.; Zou, H.; Tong, Z. Regenerable Triboelectric Artificial Hyperaccumulator for Sustainable Heavy-Metals Detection and Remediation. Matter 2025, 102219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102219
  5. Gao, J.; Peng, W.; Galindo, A.; Slaton, E.; Perez Martinez, J.; Lan, G.; Tong, Z. Machine Learning-Guided Optimization for Ionic Liquid-Based Polyethylene Terephthalate Waste Recycling. Green Chem. 2025, 27 (24), 7357–7367. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5GC01998B.

2024

  1. Liu, R.; Li, Q.; Gan, L.; Chen, Y.; Tong, Z. Robust, Versatile, and Hemicellulose-Derived Biocomposite Janus Membrane for Saline Wastewater Desalination. Journal of Membrane Science 2024, 697, 122566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2024.122566.
  2. Liu, J.; Yuan, Y.; Gao, J.; Qin, Z.; Peng, W.; Lakra, A.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, S.; Liu, G.; Chen, Y.; Li, Q.; Tong, Z. Programmable Bionanocomposite Coated Fertilizers for Prolonged Controlled Release of Nitrogen. Chemical Engineering Journal 2024, 497, 154907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.154907.
  3. Gao, J.; Wahlen, A.; Ju, C.; Chen, Y.; Lan, G.; Tong, Z. Reinforcement Learning-Based Control for Waste Biorefining Processes under Uncertainty. Commun Eng 2024, 3 (1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-024-00183-7.

2023

  1. Peng, W.; Bao, H.; Wang, Y.; Cote, E.; Sagues, W. J.; Hagelin‐Weaver, H.; Gao, J.; Xiao, D.; Tong, Z. Selective Depolymerization of Lignin Towards Isolated Phenolic Acids Under Mild Conditions. ChemSusChem 2023, 16 (20), e202300750. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202300750.
  2. Chai, Y.; Bai, M.; Chen, A.; Xu, X.; Tong, Z.; Yuan, J.; Peng, L.; Shao, J.; Xiong, J.; Peng, C. Upcycling Contaminated Biomass into Metal-Supported Heterogeneous Catalyst for Electro-Fenton Degradation of Thiamethoxam: Preparation, Mechanisms, and Implications. Chemical Engineering Journal 2023, 453, 139814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.139814.

2022

  1. Zhang, S.; Yang, M.; Meng, S.; Yang, Y.; Li, Y. C.; Tong, Z. Biowaste-Derived, Nanohybrid-Reinforced Double-Function Slow-Release Fertilizer with Metal-Adsorptive Function. Chemical Engineering Journal 2022, 450, 138084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.138084.
  2. Yang, M.; Li, S.; Zhang, S.; Gao, B.; Tong, Z.; Cheng, D.; Chen, D.; Huang, R.; Yang, Y. Dense and Superhydrophobic Biopolymer-Coated Large Tablet Produced with Energy Efficient UV-Curing for Controlled-Release Fertilizer. J. Mater. Chem. A 2022, 10 (36), 18834–18844. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TA03702E.
  3. Meng, S.; Tong, Z.; Zhang, S.; Li, G.; Bao, H.; Bruner, S. D.; Li, Y. C.; Chen, Y. Biowaste-Derived, Hyperbranched Dendritic EDTA Analogue as an Anionic Biochelator with Superior Metal Affinity. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2022, 10 (6), 2010–2021. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c05190.
  4. Gao, H.; Zhong, S.; Zhang, W.; Igou, T.; Berger, E.; Reid, E.; Zhao, Y.; Lambeth, D.; Gan, L.; Afolabi, M. A.; Tong, Z.; Lan, G.; Chen, Y. Revolutionizing Membrane Design Using Machine Learning-Bayesian Optimization. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022, 56 (4), 2572–2581. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04373.

2021

  1. Pounds, K.; Jairam, S.; Bao, H.; Meng, S.; Zhang, L.; Godinez, S. (Arencibia); Savin, D. A.; Pelletier, W.; Correll, M. J.; Tong, Z. Glycerol-Based Dendrimer Nanocomposite Film as a Tunable pH-Sensor for Food Packaging. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 13 (19), 23268–23281. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c05145.
  2. Pei, X.; Gan, L.; Tong, Z.; Gao, H.; Meng, S.; Zhang, W.; Wang, P.; Chen, Y. Robust Cellulose-Based Composite Adsorption Membrane for Heavy Metal Removal. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2021, 406, 124746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124746.
  3. Li, T.; Tong, Z.; Zheng, Q.; Bao, H.; Partow, A.; Meng, S.; Li, L.; Li, Y. C. Fabrication of a Lignin-Based Magnetic Nanocomposite Adsorbent to Recover Phosphorus in Water for Agricultural Reuse. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2021, 9 (31), 10468–10478. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01492.

2020

  1. Zhang, S.; Yang, Y.; Tong, Z.; Gao, B.; Gao, N.; Shen, T.; Wan, Y.; Yu, Z.; Liu, L.; Ma, X.; Guo, Y.; Fugice, J.; Li, Y. C. Self-Assembly of Hydrophobic and Self-Healing Bionanocomposite-Coated Controlled-Release Fertilizers. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2020, 12 (24), 27598–27606. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c06530.
  2. Zhang, S.; Fu, X.; Tong, Z.; Liu, G.; Meng, S.; Yang, Y.; Helal, M. I. D.; Li, Y. C. Lignin–Clay Nanohybrid Biocomposite-Based Double-Layer Coating Materials for Controllable-Release Fertilizer. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2020, 8 (51), 18957–18965. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c06472.
  3. Zeng, J.; Tong, Z.; Bao, H.; Chen, N.; Wang, F.; Wang, Y.; Xiao, D. Controllable Depolymerization of Lignin Using Carbocatalyst Graphene Oxide under Mild Conditions. Fuel 2020, 267, 117100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117100.
  4. Bao, H.; Sagues, W. J.; Wang, Y.; Peng, W.; Zhang, L.; Yang, S.; Xiao, D.; Tong, Z. Depolymerization of Lignin into Monophenolics by Ferrous/Persulfate Reagent under Mild Conditions. ChemSusChem 2020, 13 (24), 6582–6593. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202002240.

2019

  1. Chen, N.; Wang, H.; Ling, C.; Vermerris, W.; Wang, B.; Tong, Z. Cellulose-Based Injectable Hydrogel Composite for pH-Responsive and Controllable Drug Delivery. Carbohydrate Polymers 2019, 225, 115207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115207.

2018

  1. Sagues, W. J.; Bao, H.; Nemenyi, J. L.; Tong, Z. Lignin-First Approach to Biorefining: Utilizing Fenton’s Reagent and Supercritical Ethanol for the Production of Phenolics and Sugars. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2018, 6 (4), 4958–4965. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b04500.

2016

  1. Chen, N.; Dempere, L. A.; Tong, Z. Synthesis of pH-Responsive Lignin-Based Nanocapsules for Controlled Release of Hydrophobic Molecules. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2016, 4 (10), 5204–5211. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b01209.
  2. Chen, N.; Zhu, J. Y.; Tong, Z. Fabrication of Microfibrillated Cellulose Gel from Waste Pulp Sludge via Mild Maceration Combined with Mechanical Shearing. Cellulose 2016, 23 (4), 2573–2583. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-0959-1.
  3. Chen, N.; Dempere, L. A.; Tong, Z. Synthesis of pH-Responsive Lignin-Based Nanocapsules for Controlled Release of Hydrophobic Molecules. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2016, 4 (10), 5204–5211. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b01209.

2015

  1. Zeng, J.; Yoo, C. G.; Wang, F.; Pan, X.; Vermerris, W.; Tong, Z. Biomimetic Fenton‐Catalyzed Lignin Depolymerization to High‐Value Aromatics and Dicarboxylic Acids. ChemSusChem 2015, 8 (5), 861–871. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201403128.
  2. Zeng, J.; Yoo, C. G.; Wang, F.; Pan, X.; Vermerris, W.; Tong, Z. Biomimetic Fenton‐Catalyzed Lignin Depolymerization to High‐Value Aromatics and Dicarboxylic Acids. ChemSusChem 2015, 8 (5), 861–871. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201403128.
  3. Chen, N.; Tong, Z.; Yang, W.; Brennan, A. B. Biocomposites with Tunable Properties from Poly(Lactic Acid)-Based Copolymers and Carboxymethyl Cellulose via Ionic Assembly. Carbohydrate Polymers 2015, 128, 122–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.04.015.

2014

  1. Zeng, J.; Tong, Z.; Wang, L.; Zhu, J. Y.; Ingram, L. Isolation and Structural Characterization of Sugarcane Bagasse Lignin after Dilute Phosphoric Acid plus Steam Explosion Pretreatment and Its Effect on Cellulose Hydrolysis. Bioresource Technology 2014, 154, 274–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.12.072.

2013

  1. Jairam, S.; Tong, Z.; Wang, L.; Welt, B. Encapsulation of a Biobased Lignin–Saponite Nanohybrid into Polystyrene Co-Butyl Acrylate (PSBA) Latex via Miniemulsion Polymerization. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2013, 1 (12), 1630–1637. https://doi.org/10.1021/sc4003196.

Graduate Studies

  1. Tong, Z.; Deng, Y. Synthesis of Polystyrene Encapsulated Nanosaponite Composite Latex via Miniemulsion Polymerization. Polymer 2007, 48 (15), 4337–4343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2007.05.032.