Yang Yang

Education Background

School of Environment Ph.D. - 2014 Tsinghua University
Visiting Graduate Student - 2013 California Institute of Technology
School of Environment B.S. - 2009 South China University of Technology

Experience

Assistant Professor Clarkson University , Current
Senior Research Scientist Caltech, 2018
Postdoctoral Scholar Caltech, 2018

Courses Taught

CE330 Fluid Mechanics
CE340 Introduction to Environmental Engineering
CE380 Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering
CE580 Environmental Chemistry
CE681 Environmental Physio-Chemical Processes

Teaching Interests

Faculty Advisor of the NYWEA Student Chapter at Clarkson University
Undergraduate advisor of Class of 2023
Graduate Admission Committee

Research Interests

Synthesis and characterization of advanced electro-active materials
Advance oxidation/reduction techniques for emerging contaminant removal and value-added chemical production.
Development and commercialization of decentralized water treatment techniques for WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) applications.

Awards

ES&T Letters Excellence in Review Award (2024)
CAPEES Early Career Award (2024)
40 Under 40 Recognition Program AAEES (2024)
NSF CAREER Award (2023)
The Inaugural best paper award of ACS ES&T Engineering (2021)
Clarkson Ignite Research Fellowship Award (2019)
Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology Best Paper Award (2019)

Awards Received by Students/Postdocs

Shasha Yang, PhD Graduate Student 2nd Place in the Student Design Competition during NYWEA 93rd Virtual Annual Meeting, February 16, 2021 Best Poster Presentation Award in 2021 Virtual CAPEES Student E-poster Competition, July 17, 2021 Three Awards of Excellence in Research in Electrochemistry, Sustainability, and Catalysis. Summer Research and Project Showcase of Clarkson University. 2020
Michaela Richey, Accepted High School Student Excellence in Electrochemistry Research Award. Summer Research and Project Showcase of Clarkson University. 2021
Farideh Hosseini Narouei. Postdoctoral Fellow Earth Institute Postdoctoral Research Program Fellowship. 2021

Grants

Title: CAREER: Piezoelectric Mechanocatalytic Destruction of PFAS in Solid Matrices at Ambient Conditions: An Integrated Research and Education Plan
Agency: National Science Foundation
Role: PI
Period: 05/01//2023 – 04/30/2028
Title: Nickel and Palladium Single-Atom Electrocatalysts for Selective Capture and Destruction of PFAS in Complex Water Matrices
Agency: National Science Foundation
Role: PI
Period: 08/01/2021 – 07/31/2024
Title: Deep Destruction of PFAS in Complicated Water Matrices by Integrated Electrochemical Oxidation and UV-Sulfite Reduction
Agency: DoD-SERDP
Role: PI with co-PI Dr. Jinyong Liu (University of California at Riverside)
Period: 09/30/2021 – 04/30/2023
Title: Electrochemical Treatment of Azoles in SCD
Agency: Global Foundries
Role: PI with co-PI Dr. Thomas M. Holsen
Period: 01/25/2021 – 12/31/2021
Title: Electrochemical Oxidation of Cyanobacteria and Cytotoxin
Agency: NYDEC
Role: PI with co-PI Dr. Stefan Grimberg
Period: 11/18/2019 - 11/30/2020
Title: Heterogeneous Photoelectrocatalytic Decomposition of Perfluorooctanoic Acid with a Mesoporous Structured Photoanode
Agency: NYS Department of Economic Development
Role: PI
Period: 07/01/2019 – 06/30/2024
Title: Development of Energy-efficient Wastewater Treatment for Removal of Pharmaceutical contaminants
Agency: NYS Department of Economic Development
Role: PI
Period: 04/01/2021 – 03/31/2022
Title: Innovative Technologies to Treat Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Landfill Leachate
Agency: Environmental Research & Education Foundation
Role: co-PI with PI Dr. Thomas M. Holsen
Period: 01/01/2020 – 02/14/2022
Title: Development of Reactive Electrochemical Membranes for Toilet Wastewater Treatment
Agency: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Role: co-PI with PI Dr. Michael R. Hoffmann (California Institute of Technology)
Period: 01/01/2020 – 12/31/2021
Title: Develop Educational Modules for Providing K-12 Students with Basic Principles and Engineering Concept behind the Design of Conventional and New Water/Wastewater Treatment Processes.
Agency: AEESP Foundation
Role: co-PI with PI Dr. Taeyoung Kim
Period: 07/01/2020 – 07/01/2021
Title: Ignite Fellowship: Microwave-assisted Electrocatalytic Conversion of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Clean Fuel
Agency: Clarkson University
Role: PI with co-PI Dr. Xiaocun Lu
Title: Covid 19 Special Solicitation Research Project: Regenerable Electrospun Nano-Fiber Filters for Efficient Bio-Aerosol Removal.
Agency: Clarkson University
Role: PI with co-PI Dr. Suresh Dhaniyala

Patents

System and method for electrochemical oxidation mitigation of harmful algal bloom and cyanotoxins. Y Yang. U.S. App. No. 17164347.
Reactive electrochemical membrane for wastewater treatment. Y Yang. U.S. App. No. 16/911,912
Electrolysis electrode featuring metal-doped nanotube array and methods of manufacture and using same. MR Hoffmann, Y Yang - US Patent 11,028,491, 2021. (Granted)

Publications

Yang, N.; Guan, Y.; Yang, S.; Olive, C.; Fernando, S.; Holsen, T.; Yang, Y.* PFAS Destruction and near Complete Defluorination of Undiluted Aqueous Film-Forming Foams at Ambient Conditions by Piezoelectric Ball Milling. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2025. 59, 3, 1854-1863. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c07906
Yang, S.; Cardenas, L. E. Q.; Fariha, A.; Shetewi, N.; Cazares, V. M.; Yang, N.; McCaffrey, L.; Wright, N.; Twiss, M.; Wang, S.; Grimberg, S. J.; Yang, Y.* Emerging Investigator Series: Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms by Electrochemical Ozonation: From Bench-Scale Studies to Field Applications. Environ. Sci. Water Res. Technol. 2024, 10, 2381-2391.
Guan, Y.; Liu Z.; Yang, N.; Yang, S.; Quispe Cardenas, L. E.; Liu J.*; Yang, Y.* Near-Complete Destruction of PFAS in Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) by Integrated Photo-Electrochemical Processes. Nature Water. 2024. 2, 443–452. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-024-00232-7
Quispe Cardenas, L. E.; Deptula, P. J.; Huerta, C. S.; Zhu, C.; Ye, Y.; Wang, S.; Yang, Y.* Electro-Fenton and Induced Electro-Fenton as Versatile Wastewater Treatment Processes for Decontamination and Nutrient Removal without Byproduct Formation. ACS EST Engg. 2023. 3, 10, 1547–1556. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.3c00128.
Yang, N.; Yang, S.; Ma, Q.; Beltran, C.; Guan, Y.; Morsey, M.; Brown, E.; Fernando, S.; Holsen, T. M.; Zhang, W.; Yang, Y.* Solvent-Free Nonthermal Destruction of PFAS Chemicals and PFAS in Sediment by Piezoelectric Ball Milling. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2023. 10, 2, 198–203. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00902.
Y. Zhang, X. Chen, C. Liang, L. Yin and Y. Yang, Reconstructing the coordination environment of single atomic Fe-catalysts for boosting the Fenton-like degradation activities. Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 2022, 315, 121536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121536
S. Yang, T. Michael, S. Fernando, S. Grimberg and Y. Yang, Mitigation of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) and cyanotoxins by electrochemical oxidation: from bench-scale study to field application. ACS EST Engg. (Accepted as Editor’s Choice and Front Cover)
H. Li, E. Quisepe, S. Yang, L. Yin and Y. Yang, Electrosynthesis of > 20 g/L H2O2 From Air. ACS EST Engg. 2022, 2, 2, 242–250. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.1c00366
Y. Zhang, Y. Yang, S. Yang, E. Quispe-Cardenas and M. R. Hoffmann, Application of Heterojunction Ni–Sb–SnO2 Anodes for Electrochemical Water Treatment. ACS EST Engg. 2021, 1, 8, 1236–1245. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.1c00122.
S. Wang, S. Yang, E. Quisepe, H. Yang, C. Sanfiorenzo, S. W. Rogers, K. Wang, Y. Yang, and M. R. Hoffmann, Removal of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Genes by UV-Assisted Electrochemical Oxidation on Degenerative TiO2 Nanotube Arrays. ACS EST Engg. 2021, 1, 3, 612–622. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.1c00011.
S. Wang, Y. Zhu, Y. Yang, J. Li and M. R. Hoffmann, Electrochemical Cell Lysis of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria: DNA Extraction from Environmental Water Samples. Electrochim. Acta 2020, 338, 135864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2020.135864.
Q. Zhuo, J. Wang, J. Niu, B. Yang and Y. Yang, Electrochemical Oxidation of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) Substitute by Modified Boron Doped Diamond (BDD) Anodes. Chem. Eng. J. 2020, 379, 122280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.122280.
Y. Zhang, X. Chen, S. Zhang, L. Yin and Y. Yang, Defective Titanium Dioxide Nanobamboo Arrays Architecture for Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation up to 780 nm. Chemical Engineering Journal 2020, 401, 126033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126033.
Y. Yang, Recent Advances in the Electrochemical Oxidation Water Treatment: Spotlight on Byproduct Control. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2020, 14 (5), 85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1264-7.
S. Yang, S. Fernando, T. M. Holsen and Y. Yang, Inhibition of Perchlorate Formation during the Electrochemical Oxidation of Perfluoroalkyl Acid in Groundwater. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2019, 6 (12), 775–780. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.9b00653.
Y. Yang, L. Lin, L. K. Tse, H. Dong, S. Yu, and M. R. Hoffmann, Membrane-Separated Electrochemical Latrine Wastewater Treatment. Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. 2019, 5 (1), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EW00698A.
J. Lim, Y. Yang, and M. R. Hoffmann, Activation of Peroxymonosulfate by Oxygen Vacancies-Enriched Cobalt-Doped Black TiO2 Nanotubes for the Removal of Organic Pollutants. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2019, 53 (12), 6972–6980. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01449.
Y. Yang, L Kao, Y. Liu, K. Sun, H. Yu, J. Guo, S. Y. H. Liou, and M. R. Hoffmann, Cobalt-Doped Black TiO2 Nanotube Array as a Stable Anode for Oxygen Evolution and Electrochemical Wastewater Treatment. ACS Catal. 2018, 8 (5), 4278–4287. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.7b04340.
J. T. Jasper, Y. Yang, and M. R. Hoffmann, Toxic Byproduct Formation during Electrochemical Treatment of Latrine Wastewater. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017, 51 (12), 7111–7119. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b01002.
Y. Yang, and M. R. Hoffmann, Synthesis and Stabilization of Blue-Black TiO2 Nanotube Arrays for Electrochemical Oxidant Generation and Wastewater Treatment. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2016, 50 (21), 11888–11894. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b03540.
Y. Yang, J. Shin, J. T. Jasper, and M. R. Hoffmann, Multilayer Heterojunction Anodes for Saline Wastewater Treatment: Design Strategies and Reactive Species Generation Mechanisms. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2016, 50 (16), 8780–8787. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00688.
X. Xie, J. Bahnemann, S. Wang, Y. Yang and M. R. Hoffmann, “Nanofiltration” Enabled by Super-Absorbent Polymer Beads for Concentrating Microorganisms in Water Samples. Sci Rep 2016, 6 (1), 20516. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep20516.
Y. Li, Y. Yang, G. Yu, J. Huang, B. Wang, S. Deng, and Y. Wang, Emission of Unintentionally Produced Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs) from Municipal Waste Incinerators in China. Chemosphere 2016, 158, 17–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.05.037.
S. Zhang, J. Huang, Y. Yang, Y. Li, B. Wang, Y. Wang, S. Deng and G. Yu, Rapid Mechanochemical Synthesis of VOx/TiO2 as Highly Active Catalyst for HCB Removal. Chemosphere 2015, 141, 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.07.027.
Y. Yang, S. Zhang, S. Wang, K. Zhang, H. Wang, J. Huang, S. Deng, B. Wang, Y. Wang and G. Yu, Ball Milling Synthesized MnOx as Highly Active Catalyst for Gaseous POPs Removal: Significance of Mechanochemically Induced Oxygen Vacancies. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015, 49 (7), 4473–4480. https://doi.org/10.1021/es505232f.
Y. Yang, J. Huang, S. Zhang, S. Wang, S. Deng, B. Wang and G. Yu, Regenerable Magnetic Octahedral Layer Catalyst for Gaseous UPOPs Removal. J. Hazard. Mater. 2014, 280, 627–635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.08.045.
Y. Yang, J. Huang, S. Zhang, S. Wang, S. Deng, B. Wang and G. Yu, Catalytic Removal of Gaseous HCBz on Cu Doped OMS: Effect of Cu Location on Catalytic Performance. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 2014, 150–151, 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2013.11.041.
Y. Yang, J. Huang, S. Wang, S. Deng, B. Wang and G. Yu, Catalytic Removal of Gaseous Unintentional POPs on Manganese Oxide Octahedral Molecular Sieves. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 2013, 142–143, 568–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2013.05.048.
S. Wang, J. Huang, Y. Yang, Y. Hui, Y. Ge, T. Larssen, G. Yu, S. Deng, B. Wang and C. Harman, First Report of a Chinese PFOS Alternative Overlooked for 30 Years: Its Toxicity, Persistence, and Presence in the Environment. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47 (18), 10163–10170. https://doi.org/10.1021/es401525n.
S. Wang, J. Huang, Y. Yang, G. Yu, S. Deng and B. Wang, Photodegradation of Dechlorane Plus in N-Nonane under the Irradiation of Xenon Lamp. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2013, 260, 16–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.04.034.
Z. Cao, Y. Yang, G. Yu, T. Zhang, L. Deng, K. Zhang, B. Wang, S. Deng, and J. Huang, Pay Attention to the Fate of an Emerging Hazardous Waste: PBDE-Contaminated Indoor Dust. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2013, 20 (3), 1895–1897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1369-z.
Y. Yang, G. Yu, S. Deng, S. Wang, Z. Xu, J. Huang and B. Wang, Catalytic Oxidation of Hexachlorobenzene in Simulated Gas on V2O5–WO3/TiO2 Catalyst. Chemical Engineering Journal 2012, 192, 284–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2012.03.069.
Z. Xu, S. Deng, Y. Yang, T. Zhang, Q. Cao, J. Huang and G. Yu, Catalytic Destruction of Pentachlorobenzene in Simulated Flue Gas by a V2O5–WO3/TiO2 Catalyst. Chemosphere 2012, 87 (9), 1032–1038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.01.004.