RESEARCH INTERESTS:
1. Single Cell Mass Spectrometry
2. Development of Novel Mass Spectrometry Ionization Technologies
3. Microdroplet Chemistry
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC CAREER:
2023.07—Present: Associate Researcher at the College of Chemistry, Sichuan University
2022.10—2023.06: Postdoctoral Researcher at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Collaborative Advisor: Renato Zenobi
2019.08—2022.10: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Supervisor: Renato Zenobi
2017.11—2019.05: Joint Master’s Training, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Supervisor: Prof. Yongguang Yin
2016.09—2019.06: Sichuan University, M.S. in Analytical Chemistry, Supervisor: Chengbin Zheng
2012.09—2016.06: Sichuan Normal University, B.S. in Chemistry
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1.Yu Zou, Li-Hai Wei, Yu-Jia Qi, Zhen-Feng Cai*, Qinlei Liu*, Electric-Field-Driven Dual-Pathway Click Coupling of Phenothiazines and Amines in Aqueous Microdroplets. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, doi: 10.1021/jacs.5c17939.
2.Yu-Jia Qi, Yue-Wen Zhou, Juan Tan, Qinlei Liu*, Zhen-Feng Cai*, Proton-Transfer Isomerization Driven by Strong Electric Fields in Aqueous Microdroplets. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, 148, 1638-1645.
3.Ming-Yang Jia+, Yue-Wen Zhou+, Jun-Lei Yang, Qinlei Liu*, Zhen-Feng Cai*, Catalyst-Free Ullmann Coupling in Aqueous Microdroplets. Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 7453.
4.Qinlei Liu+, Wenjie Ge+, Sandra Martínez-Jarquín, Yuliang He, Ri Wu, Markus Stoffel*, Renato Zenobi*, Mass Spectrometry Reveals High Levels of Hydrogen Peroxide in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202213703. (Hot Paper)
5.Qinlei Liu+, Wenjie Ge+, Tongtong Wang, Jiayi Lan, Sandra Martínez-Jarquín, Christian Wolfrum, Markus Stoffel, Renato Zenobi*, High-throughput Single-cell Mass Spectrometry Reveals Abnormal Lipid Metabolism in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 24534-24542. (Hot Paper)
6.Yue-Wen Zhou+, Ming-Yang Jia+, Jun-Lei Yang, Qinlei Liu*, Zhen-Feng Cai*, Electric-Field-Induced Covalent Condensation of Boronic Acids in Water Microdroplets. Chem. Sci. 2025, 16, 8470-8477.
7.Jun-Lei Yang, Li-Hai Wei, Peng Wu, Qinlei Liu*, Zhen-Feng Cai*, Interfacial-Environment-Regulated Radical Pathways in Plasma-Induced C–X Bond Transformation. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2026, 18, 3305-3312.
8.Qinlei Liu, Alina Begley, Daniel F. Abbott, Jun-Lei Yang, Victor Mougel, Renato Zenobi*, Zhen-Feng Cai*, Radical-induced Selective C-C Bond Activation at the Air-solid Interface. Small. 2025, 2500706.
9.Qinlei Liu, Jiayi Lan, Sandra Martínez-Jarquín, Wenjie Ge*, Renato Zenobi*, Screening Metabolic Biomarkers in KRAS Mutated Mouse Acinar and Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells via Single-Cell Mass Spectrometry. Anal. Chem. 2024, 96, 4918-4924.
10.Qinlei Liu+, Sandra Martínez-Jarquín+, Wenjie Ge, Renato Zenobi*. Development of a 3D-Printed Ionization Source for Single-Cell Analysis. Anal. Chem. 2023, 95, 1823–1828;
11.Qinlei Liu, Sandra Martínez-Jarquín, Renato Zenobi*. Recent Advances in Single Cell Metabolomics Based on Mass Spectrometry. CCS Chem. 2023, 5, 310–324;
12.Qinlei Liu, Jiayi Lan, Ri Wu, Alina Begley, Wenjie Ge, Renato Zenobi*, Hybrid Ionization Source Combining Nano-electrospray and Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization for Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Non-polar Compounds in Single Cells. Anal. Chem. 2022, 94, 2873-2881.
13.Qinlei Liu, Yao Lin, Jing Xiong, Li Wu, Xiandeng Hou, Kailai Xu*, Chengbin Zheng*. Disposable Paper-based Analytical Device for Visual Speciation Analysis of Ag (I) and AgNPs in Commercial Products. Anal. Chem. 2019, 91, 5, 3359-3366.
