Yi Yao
Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion
Assistant Research Professional, Chemical Engineering
Yi Yao is an Assistant Research Professional in the Center for Carbon Capture and Convesion at the School of Energy Resources.
A native of Xian, China, Yao attended Northwest University in China earning both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in chemical engineering. He came to the University of Wyoming in 2016 to earn his Ph.D. in chemical engineering, graduating in spring 2023.
Throughout his studies, Yao was actively involved in multiple projects affiliated with the CCCC to convert Wyoming Powder River Basin (PRB) coal into high-value products, including the development of carbon quantum dots — a type of nanocarbon material with conductive properties – which were used in a project to create supercapacitors.
Most notably, Yao conducted research on the upstream solvent extraction process developed to convert PRB coal into a liquid feedstock for use in product development, writing his thesis on the topic.
In his role at SER, he continues to work on the solvent extraction pilot plant in the hopes of scaling it up and optimizing the process technology.
