Resolving and controlling excited-state dynamics by ultrafast spectroscopy
We use ultrafast spectroscopy to investigate photoactive materials in condensed phases across increasing levels of structural complexity, from molecules to atomically precise metal clusters and extended frameworks.
KEY SciENTIFIC QUESTION
How do electronic and vibrational motions determine photofunction—and how can we intervene?
Research Systems
Molecular Systems
Active control through vibrational strong coupling in optical cavities and perturbative laser control.
Condensed-Phase Metal Clusters
Main-group all-metal clusters and rare-earth clusters as atomically precise models.
Framework Materials
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), resolving the dynamical mechanisms behind enhanced photofunction.
Spectroscopy Platform
Our platform leverages multi-dimensional ultrafast spectroscopy to resolve excited-state dynamics in condensed-phase photoactive materials. The methods platform explicitly includes: 2D IR, femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption, and higher-sensitivity, higher-time-resolution, better pathway-resolution multi-dimensional ultrafast spectroscopy for electronic and vibrational states for the future.
Laboratory Facilities
Our research group at HKUST utilizes advanced spectroscopy instrumentation to resolve and control excited-state dynamics in condensed-phase systems.
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Publications
After joining HKUST
50. Zhang, Y.;+ Deng, Z.;+ Tian, W.-J.;+ Sun, H.-Q.; Sun, K.; Muñoz-Castro, A.;* Sun, Z.-M.;* Chen, T.-T.,* Single-Atom Control of Aromaticity and Excited-State Dynamics in Endohedral Zirconium–Antimony Zintl Clusters. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, n/a (n/a), e6088506. (+ indicates the co-first authorship, * indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
49. Lu, C.; Jia, Q.; Wu, B.; Li, C.; Kwok, R. T. K.; Chen, T.-G.;* Sun, J.; Zhao, Z.; Chen, T.-T.;* Wang, Z.;* Lam, J. W. Y.;* Tang, B. Z.,* Engineering Synergistic Intra-/Intermolecular Conformational Locking via Side-Chain Branching: A β-Sheet-Inspired Strategy for Planar NIR-II Phototheranostic Aggregates. Adv. Sci. 2026, n/a (n/a), e76688. (* indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
48. Liu, X.; Wang, K.; Huang, H.; Yu, M.; Li, C.; Jiang, C.; Gu, H.; Qi, J.; Shi, G.; Hu, L.; Chu, F.; Cheng, S.; Xie, K.; Li, X.; Chen, T.-T.; Wu, Y.; Song, Z.; Zhu, W.-H.; Zhang, W., Tailored Surface Microenvironment of Molecular Nanophotocatalysts for Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. Adv. Mater. 2026, 38 (46), e73981.
47. Liu, X.;+ Qu, H.;+ Li, C.;+ Liu, T.; Xiao, Z.; Feng, S.; Zhu, Q.; Lu, Y.-L.; Zhang, J.; Yu, Z.; Chen, T.-T.; Zhang, W.; Boott Charlotte, E.; Hua, J.; Tian, H.; Cooper Andrew, I., Conjugated Shape Persistent Heterocycle Macrocycles for Sacrificial Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. CCS Chem. 2026, 0 (0), 1-12. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
46. Ouyang, J.; Lam, S. L.; Li, C.; Zhang, P.; Yang, L.; Yang, Z.; Chen, T.-T.; Xiao, X.; Quan, Y., Spatial Orientation-Dependent Double Hydrogen Bond/Photoredox Cooperative Catalysis in Metal–Organic Frameworks. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, 65 (32), e5181076.
45. Luo, Z.;+ Li, C.;+ Yang, W.;+ Chang, Y.;+ Wu, K.-L.; Xia, L.; Gao, J.; Zhang, F.; Duan, Q.; Wang, S.; Xie, Z.; Wu, X.; Wang, G.-E.; Lin, W.;* Chen, T.-T.;* Zhou, M.; Zhu, Y.;* Xu, G.; Chen, X.,* Attenuating Imine Bond Polarization in Covalent Organic Frameworks Accelerates Charge and Proton Transport for High-Efficiency Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026. (+indicates the co-first authorship, *indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
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44. Wen, H.;+ Meng, Z.;+ Chen, X.;+ Deng, Z.;+ Deng, Z.; Peng, J.; Wu, Q.; Alfani, G. A.; Cui, Z.; Qiu, Z.; Chen, T.-T.; Du, J.; Zhao, Z.; Alam, P.; Tang, B. Z., Octupolar AIEgens Photosensitizers With Enhanced Molar Absorptivity for Near-Infrared Phototheranostics. Aggregate 2026, 7 (5), e70327. (+indicates the co-first authorship)
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43. Zeng, S.; Xie, Y.; Huang, W.; Wei, C.; Deng, Y.; Zou, P.; Li, C.; Chen, T.-T.; Zhao, Z.; He, Z., Spiro-fluoreno-imidazole (SFI) Emitters Efficiently Harvesting Hot Excitons for Deep-Blue Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with CIEy Below 0.046. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, 65 (6), e24293.
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42. Lu, J.;+ Lin, C.;+ Li, C.;+ Shi, H.; Liu, N.; Xing, W.;* Wang, S.;* Zhang, G.; Chen, T.-T.;* Chen, X.,* Bipyridine-integrated bisoxazole-based donor-acceptor covalent organic framework for enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis. Chin. J. Catal. 2026, 81, 185-194. (+indicates the co-first authorship, *indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
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41. Qiu, S.; Chen, K.; Deng, Z.; Jin, X.; Li, Z.; Liu, G.; Zhang, L.; Jiang, W.; Chen, T.-T.; Liu, J.; Wang, Z., N-Doped Nonalternant Molecular Bowl/Saddle Hybrids. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64 (48), e202516881.
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40. Huang, Y.-S.;+ Deng, Z.;+ Tian, W.-J.; Sun, H.-Q.; Muñoz-Castro, A.; Chen, T.-T.;* Sun, Z.-M.,* σ-Aromatic Ge–Sn Bridges in a Triply-Bonded Bare Cluster Dimer with a Long-Lived Triplet State. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147 (49), 45723-45730.(+indicates the co-first authorship, *indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
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39. Sun, J.; Deng, Z.; Qiu, S.; Chen, T.-T.; Phillips, D. L.; Liu, J., Synthesis of Azuleno[1,2,3-cd]phenalene and Its π-Extended Buckybowl Derivative. Org. Lett. 2025, 27 (31), 8718-8723.
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38. Ma, C. C. H.; Liu, Q.; Sui, Y.; Du, W.; Lam, K. W. K.; Lam, J. W. Y.; Li, C.; Chen, T.-T.; Sun, J.; Li, N.; Kwok, R. T. K.; Chen, J.; Sun, F.; Tang, B. Z., Strategic Design of Aptamer-Guided Aggregation-Induced Emission Nanoparticles for Targeted Photodynamic Therapy in Breast Cancer. Adv. Sci. 2025, 12 (43), e03358.
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37. Zhang, S.; Ma, F.; Jiang, J.; Wu, B.; Gong, J.; Xu, G.; Li, C.; Chen, T.-T.; Kwok, R. T. K.; Lam, J. W. Y.; Zhao, Z.; Tang, B. Z., Isotope Engineering of Tetraphenylethylene: Aggregate-Dependent Enhancement of Luminescence Efficiency. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64 (36), e202511678.
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36. Yang, Z.; Li, C.; Zhang, P.; Lin, J.; Tang, J.; Su, C.-Y.;* Chen, T.-T.;* Quan, Y.,* Twist-Promoted Photoredox Catalysis in Metal-Organic Frame-work for Defluorination. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64 (32), e202511396. (*indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
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35. Ma, Y.-N.; Li, W.-L.; Chen, T.-T.; Chen, X.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Recent progress on the investigations of boron clusters and boron-based materials (II): The analogy between boron and carbon chemistry. Sci. Sin. Chim. 2024, 54 (12), 2438-2451.
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34. Ma, J.; Chen, T.-T.;* Li, H.; Bumüller, D.; Weigend, F.; Jian, T.; Kappes, M. M.; Schooss, D.;* Li, W.-L.;* Xing, X.-P.;* Wang, L.-S.,* On the Remarkable Resistance to Oxidation by the Bi18− Cluster. Sci. Adv. 2024, 10 (44), eads4724.(*indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
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33. Burkhardt, J.; Chen, T.-T.;* Chen, W.-J.; Yuan, D.-F.; Li, W.-L.;* Wang, L.-S.,* Probing the Structures and Lanthanum–Lanthanum Bonding in La2Bn– (n = 4 – 6) Clusters. Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63 (37), 17215-17224. (*indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
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32. Dong, X.-R.; Zhang, J.-X.; Chen, T.-T.;* Xu, C.-Q.;* Li, J.,* Metal-Centered Boron-Wheel Cluster of Y©B112– with Rare D11h Symmetry. Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63 (14), 6276-6284. (* indicates the co-corresponding authorship)
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31. Chen, Q.; Chen, W.-J.; Wu, X.-Y.; Chen, T.-T.; Yuan, R.-N.; Lu, H.-G.; Yuan, D.-F.; Li, S.-D.; Wang, L.-S., Investigation of Pb–B Bonding in PbB2(BO)n− (n = 0–2): Transformation from Aromatic PbB2− to Pb[B2(BO)2]−/0 Complexes with B≡B Triple Bonds. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2024, 26 (6), 5356-5367.
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Before joining HKUST
30. Chen, T.-T.; Du, M.; Yang, Z.; Yuen-Zhou, J.; Xiong, W., Cavity-enabled enhancement of ultrafast intramolecular vibrational redistribution over pseudorotation. Science 2022, 378 (6621), 790-794.
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29. Wang, Z.-L.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Chen, W.-J.; Li, W.-L.; Zhao, J.; Jiang, X.-L.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S.; Hu, H.-S., The smallest 4f-metalla-aromatic molecule of cyclo-PrB2− with Pr–B multiple bonds. Chem. Sci. 2022, 13 (34), 10082-10094. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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28. Chen, W.-J.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Chen, Q.;+ Lu, H.-G.; Zhao, X.-Y.; Ma, Y.-Y.; Yan, Q.-Q.; Yuan, R.-N.; Li, S.-D.; Wang, L.-S., Boron-lead multiple bonds in the PbB2O– and PbB3O2– clusters. Commun. Chem. 2022, 5 (1), 25. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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27. Chen, T.-T.; Cheung, L. F.; Wang, L.-S., Probing the Nature of the Transition-Metal-Boron Bonds and Novel Aromaticity in Small Metal-Doped Boron Clusters Using Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. 2022, 73 (1), 233-253.
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26. Li, W.-L.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Chen, W.-J.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Monovalent lanthanide(I) in borozene complexes. Nat. Commun. 2021, 12 (1), 6467. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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25. Tian, W.-J.; Chen, W.-J.; Yan, M.; Li, R.; Wei, Z.-H.; Chen, T.-T.; Chen, Q.; Zhai, H.-J.; Li, S.-D.; Wang, L.-S., Transition-metal-like bonding behaviors of a boron atom in a boron-cluster boronyl complex [(η7-B7)-B-BO]−. Chem. Sci. 2021, 12 (23), 8157-8164.
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24. Jiang, Z.-Y.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Chen, W.-J.; Li, W.-L.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Expanded Inverse-Sandwich Complexes of Lanthanum Borides: La2B10– and La2B11–. J. Phys. Chem. A 2021, 125 (12), 2622-2630. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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23. Chen, W.-J.; Ma, Y.-Y.; Chen, T.-T.; Ao, M.-Z.; Yuan, D.-F.; Chen, Q.; Tian, X.-X.; Mu, Y. W.; Li, S.-D.; Wang, L.-S., B48−: a bilayer boron cluster. Nanoscale 2021, 13 (6), 3868-3876.
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22. Li, W.-L.; Chen, T.-T.; Jiang, Z.-Y.; Wang, L.-S.; Li, J., Recent Progresses in the Investigation of Rare-earth Boron Inverse Sandwich Clusters. Chin. J. Struct. Chem. 2020, 39 (6), 1009-1018.
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21. Chen, T.-T.; Cheung, L. F.; Chen, W.-J.; Cavanagh, J.; Wang, L.-S., Observation of Transition-Metal Boron Triple Bonds in IrB2O− and ReB2O−. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59 (35), 15260-15265.
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20. Chen, T.-T.; Li, W.-L.; Chen, W.-J.; Yu, X.-H.; Dong, X.-R.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Spherical Trihedral Metallo-Borospherenes. Nat. Commun. 2020, 11 (1), 2766.
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19. Cheung, L. F.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Kocheril, G. S.; Chen, W.-J.; Czekner, J.; Wang, L.-S., Observation of Fourfold Boron-Metal Bonds in RhB(BO−) and RhB. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2020, 11 (3), 659-663. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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18. Bai, H.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Chen, Q.;+ Zhao, X.-Y.; Zhang, Y.-Y.; Chen, W.-J.; Li, W.-L.; Cheung, L. F.; Bai, B.; Cavanagh, J.; Huang, W.; Li, S.-D.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Planar B41− and B42− Clusters with Double-Hexagonal Vacancies. Nanoscale 2019, 11 (48), 23286-23295. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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17. Chen, T.-T.; Li, W.-L.; Chen, W.-J.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., La3B14−: An Inverse Triple-Decker Lanthanide Boron Cluster. Chem. Commun. 2019, 55 (54), 7864-7867.
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16. Chen, T.-T.; Li, W.-L.; Bai, H.; Chen, W.-J.; Dong, X.-R.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Re©B8−and Re©B9−: New Members of the Transition-Metal-Centered Borometallic Molecular Wheel Family. J. Phys. Chem. A 2019, 123 (25), 5317-5324.
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15. Chen, Q.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Li, H.-R.; Zhao, X.-Y.; Chen, W.-J.; Zhai, H.-J.; Li, S.-D.; Wang, L.-S., B31− and B32− : Chiral Quasi-Planar Boron Clusters. Nanoscale 2019, 11, 9698-9704.(+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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14. Li, W.-L.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Jiang, Z.-Y.; Chen, W.-J.; Hu, H.-S.; Wang, L.-S.; Li, J., Probing the Electronic Structure of the CoB16− Drum Complex: Unusual Oxidation State of Co(-I). Chin. J. Chem. Phys. 2019, 31 (2), 241-247. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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13. Chen, T.-T.; Li, W.-L.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., [La(ηx -Bx)La] − (x = 7-9): A New Class of Inverse Sandwich Complexes. Chem. Sci. 2019, 10, 2534-2542.
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12. Chen, X.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Li, W.-L.; Lu, J.-B.; Zhao, L.-J.; Jian, T.; Hu, H.-S.; Wang, L.-S.; Li, J., Lanthanides with Unusually Low Oxidation States in the PrB3− and PrB4− Boride Clusters. Inorg. Chem. 2019, 58 (1), 411-418. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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11. Jian, T.; Cheung, L. F.; Chen, T.-T.; Lopez, G. V.; Li, W.-L.; Wang, L.-S., Di-Niobium Gold Clusters: Multiply-Bonded Nb2Dimer Coordinated Equatorially by Au Atoms, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 2018, 434, 7-16.
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10. Li, W.-L.;+ Chen, T.-T.;+ Xing, D.-H.; Chen,X.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Observation of Highly Stable and Symmetric Lanthanide Octa-Boron Inverse Sandwich Complexes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2018, 115 (30), E6972-E6977. (+ indicates the co-first authorship)
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9. Li, W.-L.; Hu, H.-S.; Zhao, Y.-F.; Chen, X.; Chen, T.-T.; Jian, T.; Wang, L.-S.; Li, J., Recent Progress on the Investigations of Boron Clusters and Boron-Based Materials (I): Borophene. SCI. SINICA Chimica 2018, 48 (2), 98-107.
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8. Li, W.-L.; Chen, X.; Jian, T.; Chen, T.-T.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., From Planar Boron Clusters to Borophenes and Metalloborophenes. Nat. Rev. Chem. 2017, 1 (10), 0071.
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7. Chen, T.-T.; Li, W.-L.; Jian, T.; Chen, X.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., PrB7−: A Praseodymium-Doped Boron Cluster with a PrII Center Coordinated by a Doubly Aromatic Planar η7-B73− Ligand. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56 (24), 6916-6920.
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6. Jian, T.; Cheung, L. F.; Czekner, J.; Chen, T.-T.; Lopez, G. V.; Li, W.-L.; Wang, L.-S., Nb2©Au6: A Molecular Wheel with a Short Nb≡Nb Triple Bond Coordinated by an Au6Ring and Reinforced by σ Aromaticity. Chem. Sci. 2017, 8 (11), 7528-753
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5. Jian, T.; Cheung, L. F.; Chen, T.-T.; Wang, L.-S., Bismuth–Boron Multiple Bonding in BiB2O− and Bi2B−. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56 (32), 9551-9555.
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4. Li, W.-L.; Jian, T.; Chen, X.; Li, H.-R.; Chen, T.-T.; Luo, X.-M.; Li, S.-D.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Observation of a Metal-Centered B2-Ta@B18− Tubular Molecular Rotor and a Perfect Ta@B20− Boron Drum with the Record Coordination Number of Twenty. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53 (10), 1587-1590.
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3. Jian, T.; Li, W.-L.; Chen, X.; Chen, T.-T.; Lopez, G. V.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., Competition between Drum and Quasi-Planar Structures in RhB18−: Motifs for Metallo-Boronanotubes and Metallo-Borophenes. Chem. Sci. 2016, 7 (12), 7020-7027.
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2. Li, W.-L.; Jian, T.; Chen, X.; Chen, T.-T.; Lopez, G. V.; Li, J.; Wang, L.-S., The Planar CoB18− Cluster as a Motif for Metallo-Borophenes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 26 (55), 7358-7363.
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1. Li, W.-L.; Liu, H.-T.; Jian, T.; Lopez, G. V.; Piazza, Z. A.; Huang, D.-L.; Chen, T.-T.; Su, J.; Yang, P.; Chen, X.; Wang, L.-S.; Li, J., Bond-Bending Isomerism of Au2I3−: Competition between Covalent Bonding and Aurophilicity. Chem. Sci. 2016, 7 (1), 475-481.
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Research Team
Principal Investigator
Prof. Tengteng Chen
Principal Investigator
Email: tengtengchen@ust.hk
Tel: +852-23587387
Postdoc, UC San Diego, USA, 2023
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Brown University, USA, 2020
B.S. in Applied Physics, Special Class for Gifted Young, USTC, China, 2013
Office RM 4536 via lift 25/26
Lab RM 7134 via lift 22
Postdoctoral Scholars
Dr. Chao Li
Email: chaoli@ust.hk
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Liverpool, 2024 M.S. Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 2020
B.S. Chemical Engineering and Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, 2017
Dr. Ziqi Deng
Email: kevin003@connect.hku.hk
Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, University of Hong Kong, 2024
B.S. in Applied Chemistry, Shantou University, 2019
Dr. Kang Sun
Email: sk1709@ustc.edu.cn
Postdoctoral Fellow, USTC, 2025
Ph.D. in Chemistry, USTC, 2023
B.S. Chemistry, Yunnan University, 2017
Dr. Guanzhi Wu
Email: Guanzhi_WU@163.com
Postdoctoral Fellow, Beijing Normal University, 2026
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Sheffield, 2023 B.S. Chemistry, University of Sheffield, 2017
PhD Students
Xiaoqun Li
Email: lixiaoqun@ust.hk
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, 2025
M.S. in Optics, Fudan University, 2021
B.S. in Applied Physics, South China University of Technology, 2018 (GPA 3.88/4.0)
hobbies: badminton and movies
Junxian Guo
Email: 1522824551@qq.com
B.S. in Physics, Cardiff University, 2022
M.S. in Soft Electronic Materials, Imperial College London, 2024
hobbies: music and guitar
Kailing Wu
Email: kwubb@connect.ust.hk
B.S. in Chemistry, Fudan University, 2023
hobbies: Mahjong and science fiction
Xingyu Chen
Email: xycxy@whut.edu.cn
M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 2025
B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 2022
Haoyang Li
Email: hliit@connect.ust.hk
M.Sc. in Chemistry, Nanjing University, 2026
B.S. in Chemistry, Central South University, 2023
MPHil Students
Maiqi Wang (Maggie)
B.Sc. in Chemistry, HKUST, 2026
Collaborators
Join Our Research
We are consistently seeking dedicated researchers to explore excited-state dynamics in condensed-phase photoactive materials. Contact us to discuss doctoral positions, postdoctoral fellowships, or collaborative opportunities within our HKUST-based laboratory.