Yiming Liu Research GroupInterfacial Science · Circular Water Systems
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Yiming Liu Research Group

Interfacial science for
circular water systems

Water · Materials · Energy · Circularity
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Welcome

About our research

We work at the intersection of environmental engineering, interfacial science, and materials design to advance selective separations and circular water systems.

Our research seeks to understand and control the moments where matter meets water. By connecting molecular-scale mechanisms with membrane, electrochemical, and thermal processes, we develop technologies for critical-mineral recovery, high-recovery desalination, and sustainable chemical production.

Explore our research →
Research directions

Science designed
for circularity.

01

Selective resource recovery

Recovering lithium and rare earth elements from complex water streams using selective membranes and functional materials.

02

Water–material interfaces

Controlling nucleation, scaling, and molecular transport at membranes, electrodes, and heat-transfer surfaces.

03

Circular brine systems

Transforming hypersaline water into a source of water, energy, and materials through efficient process design.

Latest

News & highlights

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Founding President Best Paper Award

Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science

Outstanding Oral Presentation Award

19th Chinese Environmental Conference

New work in Nature Communications

Electrical control of CaCO3 nucleation and crystal growth

Collaboration

Interested in working together?

I welcome conversations with researchers, students, and partners working on water–material interfaces, selective separations, and circular resource systems.

Join the group →