About

Wei Fan is a professor at UMass Amherst whose research group focuses on the development and study of zeolite catalysts and nanoporous materials, particularly for applications in biomass conversion and sustainable chemistry. His work involves understanding the crystallization mechanisms of zeolites, including the rapid crystallization with controllable defects, and the synthesis of extra-large-pore zeolites. Fan's research also explores catalytic processes such as selective C–C bond cleavage of oxidized lignin under mild aqueous conditions and high-efficiency methane oxidation using bimetallic Pd–Ce catalysts confined in zeolites. His group employs data science and Monte Carlo simulations to investigate zeolite structures and crystallization kinetics, contributing to the fundamental understanding of these materials. Wei Fan has been recognized for his teaching excellence and research achievements, receiving awards such as the College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award and the Barbara H. and Joseph I. Goldstein Outstanding Junior Faculty Award. His collaborative work with other research groups has led to significant publications in high-impact journals, advancing the field of catalysis and materials chemistry.

Research topics

• Chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Materials science
• Chemical engineering
• Computer Security
• Crystallography
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental science
• Nanotechnology
• Pulp and paper industry
• Process engineering
• Inorganic chemistry
• Physics
• Waste management
• Physical chemistry
• Computational chemistry
• Optics
• Agronomy
• Composite material
• Biochemical engineering

Selected publications

• Hydrothermal Annealing of Hierarchical ZSM‐5 Zeolites Improves Catalytic Performance

  Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 2026-01-15

  articleOpen access

  Engineering next-generation zeolite catalysts requires state-of-the-art synthesis techniques to tailor the properties of materials along with robust methods to evaluate their catalytic performance. Here, we introduce hydrothermal annealing as a facile and highly effective method to improve the activity and lifetime of zeolite catalysts. This post-synthesis treatment uses a siliceous growth solution at approximate solubility of zeolite crystals with high temperature to alter the physicochemical properties of as-synthesized materials. We employ the methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH) process as a benchmark reaction, along with a wide range of characterization techniques, to assess the impact of annealing on four nanosized and hierarchical ZSM-5 materials compared to a commercial sample. Our findings reveal that annealing significantly increased cumulative MTH turnover without appreciably altering product selectivity, despite non-obvious changes to zeolite structure as a result of the annealing process. Comparisons of catalyst performance are made under identical reaction conditions using a descriptor that correlates cumulative turnovers to compositional, mass transport, and textural properties of each material - in line with growing efforts to increase rigor and reproducibility in the field of catalysis. The collective approach used in this study serves as a guideline for establishing structure-composition-performance relationships for zeolite-based catalysts across wide-ranging applications.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Reply to Comment on: Long-term Clinical Outcomes of a Modified Yamane Technique for Intrascleral Sutureless Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Fixation

  American Journal of Ophthalmology · 2026-03-28

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Enhanced methane combustion performance and stability of the supported Pd nanoparticles by constructing the ordered mesoporous Co3O4−CeO2 interfaces

  Journal of Environmental Sciences · 2026-01-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Advances in dry eye disease: from immunopathological mechanisms to emerging ophthalmic drug delivery systems

  Frontiers in Medicine · 2026-04-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder of the lacrimal functional unit and ocular surface that leads to ocular discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability. It affects a substantial proportion of the global population and is driven by a complex interplay of immune dysregulation, environmental stressors, and systemic factors. Accumulating evidence indicates that immune-mediated inflammation is central to DED pathogenesis and is closely intertwined with oxidative stress, autophagy imbalance, pyroptosis, apoptosis, ferroptosis, viral infection, and alterations in the ocular surface microbiota, ultimately disrupting ocular surface homeostasis. Despite the availability of multiple therapeutic options, current treatments often fail to achieve sustained symptom relief, largely due to short ocular residence time, limited bioavailability, and insufficient targeting of underlying inflammatory mechanisms. In recent years, innovative ophthalmic drug delivery systems-including nanoparticles, hydrogels, liposomes, microspheres, and emerging gene-based platforms-have been developed to enhance drug retention, improve ocular bioavailability, and enable controlled and targeted therapy. This review provides an updated and integrative overview of the immunopathological mechanisms underlying DED and critically summarizes recent advances in ophthalmic drug delivery technologies. By linking disease mechanisms with translational delivery strategies, we highlight how emerging delivery systems may overcome the limitations of conventional therapies and facilitate precision, long-acting, and patient-centered treatment for DED. These insights may inform future therapeutic development and guide the clinical translation of innovative treatment strategies for this increasingly prevalent ocular surface disease.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Hydrothermal Annealing of Hierarchical ZSM‐5 Zeolites Improves Catalytic Performance

  Angewandte Chemie · 2026-01-15

  article

  Abstract Engineering next‐generation zeolite catalysts requires state‐of‐the‐art synthesis techniques to tailor the properties of materials along with robust methods to evaluate their catalytic performance. Here, we introduce hydrothermal annealing as a facile and highly effective method to improve the activity and lifetime of zeolite catalysts. This post‐synthesis treatment uses a siliceous growth solution at approximate solubility of zeolite crystals with high temperature to alter the physicochemical properties of as‐synthesized materials. We employ the methanol‐to‐hydrocarbons (MTH) process as a benchmark reaction, along with a wide range of characterization techniques, to assess the impact of annealing on four nanosized and hierarchical ZSM‐5 materials compared to a commercial sample. Our findings reveal that annealing significantly increased cumulative MTH turnover without appreciably altering product selectivity, despite non‐obvious changes to zeolite structure as a result of the annealing process. Comparisons of catalyst performance are made under identical reaction conditions using a descriptor that correlates cumulative turnovers to compositional, mass transport, and textural properties of each material – in line with growing efforts to increase rigor and reproducibility in the field of catalysis. The collective approach used in this study serves as a guideline for establishing structure‐composition‐performance relationships for zeolite‐based catalysts across wide‐ranging applications.

  PublisherDOI

• Structural design and numerical simulation of a combined gas-liquid separator for renewable energy-driven water electrolysis systems

  International Journal of Hydrogen Energy · 2026-01-21 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Low‐Defect Carbon Host Enabling Robust Zero‐Excess Sodium Metal Batteries Without Presodiation

  Advanced Functional Materials · 2026-01-19 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  ABSTRACT Zero‐excess Na metal batteries offer transformative potential for future energy‐dense, low‐cost energy storage, yet face aggravated cycling/rate deterioration due to irrecoverable Na + depletion. While state‐of‐the‐art sodiophilic carbon hosts enable highly reversible plating/stripping with impressive stability, they rely heavily on artificial presodiation to offset irreversible Na + consumption by sodiophilic defective sites, a fundamental barrier to practical zero‐excess configurations. Here, we propose a low‐defect carbon host (LDCH) that eliminates the need for presodiation while maintaining exceptional sodiophilicity even at high charging rates. Mechanistic studies show that LDCH operates primarily through a low‐potential plateau storage mechanism, which enhances Na affinity, reduces the nucleation barrier, and suppresses irreversible Na + loss by 4.67 times compared to defective counterparts. Crucially, LDCH circumvents the sodiophobic transition observed in defect‐rich carbon counterparts under fast‐charging operation, attributed to hidden sodiophilic seed sites near 0 V with rapid kinetics. The resulting zero‐excess Na metal battery achieves an unprecedented 84.6% initial Coulombic efficiency without pre‐cycling (vs. 66.1% for defective hosts), delivers an energy density of 281.1 Wh kg −1 , 75% capacity retention after 110 cycles and 5 C fast charging, representing a breaking combination of energy/durability/rate. This low‐defect engineering strategy redefines carbon host design principle, resolving the long‐standing presodiation dilemma in zero‐excess sodium metal batteries.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Decentration And Tilt Of Intraocular Lens After Cataract Surgery: A Clinical Study Based On Preoperative Lens Position

  2026-03-31

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Study on Configuration and Scheduling Optimization of the Green Methanol Production System for the Fluctuation of Renewable Energy

  Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research · 2026-02-26

  article1st author

  Utilizing renewable energy to produce green hydrogen has shown great potential in improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact for global decarbonization. This makes the pathway a sustainable alternative to conventional methanol synthesis based on fossil fuels. However, the fluctuation and intermittency of renewable energy resources pose significant challenges to design a stable and economic large-scale production system for green methanol. This study proposes a coupled equipment configuration and scheduling optimization framework to develop a stable green methanol production system with fewer start–stop losses and excess renewable electricity demands. A case study of a 10,000 t/y green methanol plant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, is investigated to illustrate the advantages of the framework. A dynamic load regulation strategy is also implemented based on the traditional optimized renewable generation equipment configuration of Homer Pro. The results show that with the proposed methodology, the levelized cost of methanol decreases from 2.44 to 2.16 RMB/kg, the payback period shortens from 25 to 13 years, and annual methanol production increases by 13.3%. Furthermore, renewable energy utilization is improved by 44%, and excess electricity reduces from 22.5% to 12.6%. The proposed framework offers practical insights for large-scale deployment of a green methanol production system powered by renewable energy, with the potential to achieve both economic competitiveness and deep decarbonization.

  PublisherDOI

• Clinical Application of an Asian Screening Array-Based Preimplantation Genetic Testing Workflow for Various Genetic Disorders

  Research Square · 2026-03-19

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Paul J. Dauenhauer

  University of Minnesota System

  109 shared

• Dionisios G. Vlachos

  60 shared

• Chun‐Chih Chang

  57 shared

• Michael Tsapatsis

  56 shared

• Tatsuya Okubo

  The University of Tokyo

  47 shared

• Hong Je Cho

  45 shared

• Vivek Vattipalli

  BASF (United States)

  31 shared

• Paul Dornath

  Amherst College

  31 shared

Labs

• Fan's group at UMassAmherstPI

Education

• Ph.D., Chemical System Engineering

  The University of Tokyo

  2007

• B.S., Materials Science and Engineering

  University of Science and Technology of China

  2000

Awards & honors

• 2020 Ed Price Endowed Professor
• 2019 Invitational Fellowships (Short Term), Japan Society fo…
• 2018-2022 Chutian Scholar Fellowships (Visiting Professor),…
• 2016 Barbara H. and Joseph I. Goldstein Outstanding Junior F…
• 2016 Outstanding College of Engineering Teaching Award, UMas…