Dr Yong Ni is now an Associate Professor (independent PI) in Southern University of Science and Technology (SUStech), Department of Chemistry. In 2010, he received the BSc degree from Zhejiang University under supervision of Prof Xian Huang and Prof Yanguang Wang. Then he joined National University of Singapore (NUS) and got his Phd degree in 2015 under the supervision of Prof Jishan Wu. After obtaining the Phd degree, Dr. Yong Ni joined the Singapore Bio-imaging Consortium (SBIC), A*STAR, as a Research Fellow (RSE Grade 2), a PhD students mentor and a project leader (Dec 2014 to May 2017). In June 2017, Dr. Yong Ni moved back to NUS and switched to more fundamental studies on open-shell π-conjugated diradicaloids/polyradicaloids, with emphasis on improving the stability and magnetic features, 2D/3D global aromaticity, and exploiting the fundamental relationships between electronic structures-spin states-properties. To date, Dr. Yong Ni has published more than 40 papers in top-journals (including J. Am. Chem. Soc., Nature Chem., Chem, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Nat. Rev. Mat., Acc. Chem. Res.), and wrote two book chapters. The achievements in the field of π-conjugated organic materials have earned Dr Yong Ni the ‘Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad and Gold (B type)’ and ‘Singapore National Institute of Chemistry (SNIC)-Prof Lee Soo Ying Early Career Research Awards, Gold Award’. In 2021, Dr Yong Ni received Science Fund Program for Distinguished Young Scholars (Overseas), and joined SUStech in Nov. 2022.

Research：

1. Design, synthesis and explore the potential applications of organic π-conjugated radicals;

2. Fully π-conjugated molecules with unique topologies and exploit new types of aromaticity rules;

3. Molecular Carbon-magnets and organic functional materials.

PUBLICATIONS：

[10] S. Xin, Y. Han, W. Fan, X. Wang, Y. Ni* and J. Wu*, “Enhanced Aromaticity and Open-Shell Diradical Character in the Dianions of 9-Fluorenylidene-Substituted Expanded Radialenes”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e2022094.

[9] Y. Ni and J. Wu, ‘Global π-Aromaticity in Open-shell Diradicaloids and Polyradicaloids’, Nat. Rev. Mat. 2022, invited review in press.

[8] Y. Ni, T. Y. Gopalakrishna, H. Phan, T. Kim, T. S. Herng, Y. Han, T. Tao, J. Ding, D. Kim and J. Wu, “3D global aromaticity in a fully conjugated diradicaloid cage at different oxidation states”, Nat. Chem. 2020, 12, 242.

[7] Y. Ni, T. Y. Gopalakrishna, S. Wu and J. Wu, “A Stable All-Thiophene-based Core-modified [38]Octaphyrin Diradicaloid: Conformation and Aromaticity Switch at Different Oxidation States”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 7414.

[6] Y. Ni, F. Gordillo-Gámez, M. P. Alvarez, Z. Nan, Z. Li, S. Wu, Y. Han, J. Casado and J. Wu, “A Chichibabin’s Hydrocarbon Based Molecular Cage: The Impact of Structural Rigidity on Dynamics, Stability, and Electronic Properties”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 12730.

[5] Y. Ni, M. E. Sandoval-Salinas, T. Tanaka, H. Phan, T. S. Herng, T. Y. Gopalakrishna, J. Ding, A. Osuka, D. Casanova and J. Wu, “[n]Cyclo-para-biphenylmethine Polyradicaloids: [n]Annulene Analogs and Unusual Valence Tautomerization”, Chem 2019, 5, 108. (Also see preview by H. L. Anderson et al in Chem 2019, 5, 9).

[4] C. Liu, Y. Ni, X. Lu, G. Li and J. Wu, “Global Aromaticity in Macrocyclic Polyradicaloids: Hückel’s Rule or Baird’s Rule?”, Acc. Chem. Res. 2019, 52, 2309.

[3] Y. Ni, T. Y. Gopalakrishna, H. Phan, T. S. Herng, S. Wu, Y. Han, J. Ding and J. Wu, “A Peri-tetracene Diradicaloid: Synthesis and Properties”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 9697. (This paper was highlighted in Synfacts 2018, 14, 0922).

[2] Y. Ni, S. Lee, M. Son, N. Aratani, M. Ishida, A. Samanta, H. Yamada, Y. –T. Chang, H. Furuta, D. Kim, J. Wu, “A Diradical Approach towards BODIPY-Based Dyes with Intense Near-Infrared Absorption around λ=1100 nm”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 2815.

[1] Y. Ni, R. K. Kannadorai, J. Peng, S. W. –K. Yu, Y. –T. Chang, J. Wu, “Naphthalene-fused BODIPY Near-Infrared Dye as A Stable Contrast Agent for In Vivo Photoacoustic Imaging”, Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 11504.