Cai Qirui, Chinese chemist, educator and academician, Died at 102

Cai Qirui was born on January 7, 1914, and died on October 3, 2016.

He was a Chinese chemist, educator and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Qirui was known as the founder of Chinese catalytic chemistry.

He graduated from Xiamen University in 1937, majoring in chemistry.

Cai became a teaching assistant at Xiamen University.

Qirui relocated to Ohio State University by government study abroad scholarship in 1947 and earned his doctor’s degree in 1950.

Qirui was not permitted to leave the United States after the Korean War broke.

That travel ban on Cai was lifted in 1955 as the result of a swap for 11 U.S. airmen held captive by China since the end of the Korean War.

Then, in April 1956, Cai returned to Xiamen University

Qirui studied catalytic chemistry instead of structural chemistry for Chinese national needs.

He played an important role in coordination complex catalysis theory, nitrogen fixation into ammonia and C-1 chemistry which made hime the founder of Chinese catalytic chemistry.

Qirui won China’s State Natural Science Award three times and was elected an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980.

Cai Qirui passed away at 102 years old.