A Career in Catalysis: Shik Chi Edman Tsang

Professor Shik Chi Edman Tsang (1962–2025) made sustained and influential contributions to heterogeneous catalysis through a distinctive approach that integrates nanostructure design, advanced characterization, and mechanistic understanding. This Account, written by his former students, highlights the key research themes that defined his scientific career, centered on the principle that catalytic function arises from the controlled interplay of structure, electronic properties, and interfaces at the atomic scale. Early studies on carbon nanostructures and supported nanoparticles established the importance of direct structural observation in understanding catalytic behavior. These foundations evolved into systematic strategies for nanostructure-controlled catalysis. A central theme of Tsang’s work is the role of interfaces and local environment in governing reaction pathways. These principles are exemplified in catalytic processes relevant to energy and sustainability, including hydrogen evolution, CO2 hydrogenation, ammonia synthesis and decomposition, and biomass and plastic conversion. Tsang’s contributions also extend to electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, where atomic-scale design is combined with external driving forces, such as electrical bias, light, and thermal energy. In parallel, the integration of advanced characterization techniques, particularly synchrotron-based methods and electron microscopy, has enabled direct observation of active sites and their evolution under working conditions. Importantly, his work bridges fundamental science and practical application, demonstrating how atomic-level catalyst design can inform scalable technologies for sustainable energy and chemical production.
© 2026 The Author. Published by American Chemical Society