长期致力于能源催化与表界面动力学领域的研究工作，紧密围绕燃料电池和工业电解槽等先进能源器件能量转换过程中的重要科学问题，发展了先进能源催化原位表征技术, 利用发展的同步辐射联合原位实验方法实时观测工况下能源材料表界面结构的自优化过程和反应中间产物的动态演化，从原子、分子水平精准识别氧催化过程的关键中间产物，深刻揭示能源材料氧关联催化机理。目前，已发表高质量SCI论文50余篇 (包括Nature Energy, Nat. Chem., Sci. Adv., JACS, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.等)，其中第一/共一作者、通讯/共通讯作者论文30余篇；授权发明/实用新型专利4项；获批主持的国家/地方基金项目4项；荣获中科院院长奖、安徽省自然科学一等奖以及日本JSPS项目资助。
[1] W. R. Cheng, X. Zhao, H. Su, F. Tang, W. Che, H. Zhang,. Q. H. Liu*, Lattice-Strained Metal-Organic-Framework Arrays for Bifunctional Oxygen Electroctalysis, Nat. Energy 4, 115-122 (2019).
[2] W. R Cheng, S. B. Xi, Z. P. Wu, D. Y. Luan, X. W. Lou*, In situ activation of Br-confined Ni-based metal-organic framework hollow prisms toward efficient electrochemical oxygen evolution. Sci. Adv., 2021, 7(46), eabk0919.
[3] W. R. Cheng, H. Zhang, D. Luan, X. W. Lou*, Exposing unsaturated Cu1-O2 sites in nanoscale Cu-MOF for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution, Sci. Adv. 2021, 7(18), eabg2580.
[4] W. R. Cheng, Z. P.Wu, D. Luan, S. Q. Zang, X. W. Lou*, Synergetic cobalt‐copper‐based bimetal–organic framework nanoboxes toward efficient electrochemical oxygen evolution. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60(50), 26397-26402.
[5] W. R. Cheng, X. F. Lu, D. Luan*, X. W. Lou*, NiMn-Based Bimetal-Organic Framework Nanosheets Supported on Multi-Channel Carbon Fibers for Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysis, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020(41), 59, 18234-18239.