Dr Ruikun Zhao is currently a Senior Lecturer at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from University of East Anglia (UK) . Dr Zhao graduated from Loughborough University (UK) where he obtained BSc Applied Chemistry and MSc Material Science/Polymer Technology. He is also a fellow of UK Advanced Higher Education (FHEA).
For his doctorate study, Dr Zhao has successfully completed the research project about ‘Spectroscopy of Redox States of Flavin relevant to Photoactive Flavoprotein’ funded by the pretigious . He has a strong track record of publishing in high impact journals such as Water Research, Desalination, CEJ, ,et al. Dr Zhao's collaborators include world-class researchers from UK, US, UAE and China. Recently, Dr Zhao has particular reserch into 2D Nano-layer materials. He is also keen to pursuing pedagogical research to advance Chemistry related educatiion using innovative teaching methods. His research output has been published in journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and presented at international conferences.
Selected recent publications:
Chemistry Research:
(1) Y. Ye, X. Huang, H. Li, Ruikun Zhao*, M. Xu (2026), Polyamidoxime functional self-supporting porous carbon monoliths as capacitive deionization electrode for efficient uranyl ions recovery, Desalination, Elsevier, Volume 619, 119534
(2) Y. Tong, X. Huang, H. Li, Ruikun Zhao*, A. A. Mohamad, G. Hu (2026), Selective silver recovery through single-pyrrolic nitrogen engineered carbon electrodes: A capacitive deionization breakthrough, Water Research, Elsevier, Volume 288, Part B, 124757.
(3) N. Liu, X. Huang, Y. Ye, H. Li, Ruikun Zhao*, G. Hu (2025), Enhancing capacitive deionization with element-doped carbon nanotube electrodes for selective uranium ion removal, Desalination, Elsevier, Volume 613, 119069.
(4) Y. Tong, X. Huang, N. Liu, Ruikun Zhao*, G. Hu (2025), Lithiophilic sites in phosphorus and nitrogen-doped carbon electrodes for enhanced lithium ions recovery through capacitive deionization, Desalination, Elsevier, Volume 600, 118535.
(5) J. Wu, Y. Tong, X. Huang, D. Qin, Ruikun Zhao*, Ru Li, G. Hu (2025), Spatially confined Co nanoparticles in N doped carbon material for high efficiency capacitive deionization, Desalination, Elsevier, Volume 600, 118479.
Pedagogy Research:
(1) Ruikun Zhao*, X. Huang, H. A. Saraierh (2026), ‘An Examination of Effectiveness of Different Approaches to Teaching Foundation Mathematics in UAE’, Presented at '7th World Conference on Future of Education' at University of Cambridge, 15th-17th, Dec 2023, preparing a manuscript targeting ‘Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education (UK)’.
(2) M. Zeidan, J. Allred, Ruikun Zhao* (2023), Effects of Visualizing Physics Problems in Students’ Success,
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 28.
(3) M. Zeidan, X. Huang, L. Xiao and Ruikun. Zhao* (2022), Improving student engagement using a video-enabled activity-based learning: an exploratory study to STEM preparatory education in UAE, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 24.
