Title：Classical Density Functional Theory and Its Applications

 Speaker：Prof. Honglai Liu (Department of Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology)

 Invited by：Prof. Jing Xiao

 Time：November 6, 2026 (Friday), 4:00 PM

 Venue：Room 214, Building 16

 Organizer：School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

 Biography

 Honglai Liu is a professor and doctoral supervisor in the Department of Chemistry at East China University of Science and Technology. He was awarded the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2000 and appointed to the HighLevel Talent Program of the Ministry of Education in 2005. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Zhejiang University in 1982, and his doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering from East China Institute of Chemical Technology in 1992. He has long been devoted to the teaching of physical chemistry and chemical engineering thermodynamics, and to research in interfacial science and thermodynamics. He has attained significant academic achievements in molecular thermodynamics of fluid phase equilibria in chemical engineering, porous polymeric materials for adsorptive separation, and density functional theory of solid–liquid interfacial phenomena. He is the author of Density Functional Theory, Chemical Engineering Handbook: Thermodynamics (3rd Edition), and the textbooks Principles and Methods of Experimental Chemistry and Comprehensive Chemistry Experiments. His research has been recognized with one FirstClass Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress from the Ministry of Education and one FirstClass Prize for Natural Science from Shanghai Municipality, one SecondClass Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress from the State Education Commission and one from Shanghai Municipality, and one SecondClass Prize for Basic Research Achievements from the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China. He has also received the Baosteel Outstanding Teacher Award and the National Model Teacher honor.

 Abstract

 In contrast to density functional theory, which delineates the distribution of electron clouds surrounding atomic nuclei, classical density functional theory characterizes the distribution of molecular fluids at interfaces and within pores, and constitutes a pivotal tool for investigating the thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria of inhomogeneous fluids. This presentation addresses the applications of classical density functional theory to gas adsorption in porous materials and to the study of electric doublelayer capacitance at electrode surfaces.

 Announced by School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.