1996年保送至兰州大学化学系有机化学专业学习，2000年毕业于化学基地班并保送为硕博联读研究生，2005年获兰州大学理学博士学位

同年留校被聘为副教授、硕士生导师。2011年12月遴选为博士生导师，2012年5月晋升为教授，2018年通过西南交通大学人才引进计划进入生命科学与工程学院工作。

主持国家自然科学基金面上项目，国家自然科学青年基金项目以及中央高校基本科研项目。

独立工作以来发表SCI科研论文40余篇，他人引用达1600余次，单篇最高他引超过130次。1. Long Luo, Xiao-Yong Zhai, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*, Hegui Gong*. Short Total Syntheses of C3a-C7′ Linked Diketopiperazine Alkaloids (+)-Asperazine and (+)-Pestalazine A Enabled by a Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Tertiary Alkyl Chloride. Chem.-Eur. J. 2019, 25, 989–992. 2. Muhammad Shar Jhahan Khan, Ya-Wen Wang,* Mathias O. Senge, Yu Peng*. Sensitive Fluorescence On-off Probes for the Fast Detection of a Chemical Warfare Agent Mimic, J. Hazard. Mater. 2018, 342, 10–19. 3. Jian Xiao, Xiao-Wei Cong, Gui-Zhen Yang, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*. Divergent Asymmetric Syntheses of Podophyllotoxin and Related Family Members via Stereoselective Reductive Ni-Catalysis, Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 1651–1654. (Highlighted by CBG) 4. Jian Xiao, Xiao-Wei Cong, Gui-Zhen Yang, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*. Stereoselective Synthesis of a Podophyllum Lignan Core by Intramolecular Reductive Ni-Catalysis, Chem. Commun. 2018, 54, 2040–2043. (Highlighted by X-MOL) 5. Zhen-Hai Fu, Ya-Wen Wang,* Yu Peng*. Two Fluorescein-based Chemosensors for the Fast Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (TNP) in Water, Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 10524–10527. 6. Ying-Xi Hua, Yongliang Shao, Ya-Wen Wang,* Yu Peng*. A Series of Fluorescent and Colorimetric Chemodosimeters for Selective Recognition of Cyanide Based on the FRET Mechanism, J. Org. Chem. 2017, 82, 6259–6267. 7. Zhen-Hai Fu, Xiao Han, Yongliang Shao, Jianguo Fang, Zhi-Hong Zhang, Ya-Wen Wang,* Yu Peng*. Fluorescein-based Chromogenic and Ratiometric Fluorescence Probe for Highly Selective Detection of Cysteine and Its Application in Bioimaging, Anal. Chem. 2017, 89, 1937–1944. (Highlighted by X-MOL) 8. Zhen-Hai Fu, Lu-Bin Yan, Xiaolong Zhang, Fan-Fan Zhu, Xin-Long Han, Jianguo Fang, Ya-Wen Wang*, Yu Peng*. A Fluorescein-Based Chemosensor for Relay Fluorescence Recognition of Cu(II) Ions and Biothiols in Water and Its Applications to Molecular Logic Gate and Living Cell Imaging, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2017, 15, 4115–4121. (Inside Cover) 9. Ya-Wen Wang,* Ying-Xi Hua, Hui-Hui Wu, Xin Sun, Yu Peng*. A Solvent-tuning Fluorescence Sensor for In(III) and Al(III) Ions and Its Bioimaging, Chin. Chem. Lett. 2017, 28, 1994–1996. (中国化学快报: 荧光探针专刊) 10. Ai-Min Luo, Yongliang Shao, Ke-Jia Zhang, Ya-Wen Wang,* Yu Peng*. Syntheses of three terbium complexes as fluorescent probes and their application on the pH detection of routine urine test, Chin. Chem. Lett. 2017, 28, 2009–2013. (中国化学快报: 荧光探针专刊) 11. Jian Xiao, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*. Nickel-Promoted Reductive Cyclization Cascade: A Short Synthesis of a New Aromatic Strigolactone Analogue, Synthesis 2017, 49, 3576–3581. (Special Topic: Advanced Strategies in Synthesis with Nickel) 12. Ya-Wen Wang, Shun-Bang Liu, Wei-Jian Ling, Yu Peng*. A Fluorescent Probe for Relay Recognition of Homocysteine and Group IIIA Ions Including Ga(III), Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 827–830. (Highlighted by X-MOL) 13. Yu Peng*, Jian Xiao, Xiao-Bo Xu, Shu-Ming Duan, Li Ren, Yong-Liang Shao, Ya-Wen Wang. Stereospecific Synthesis of Tetrahydronaphtho[2,3-b]furans Enabled by a Nickel-Promoted Tandem Reductive Cyclization, Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 5170–5173. (Highlighted by Prof. Paul Knochel in Synfacts 2016, 12, 1296) 14. Yong-Liang Shao, Yan-Hui Cui, Jin-Zhong Gu*, Jiang Wu, Ya-Wen Wang*, Alexander M. Kirillov Exploring Biphenyl-2,4,4′-tricarboxylic Acid as a Flexible Building Block for the Hydrothermal Self-Assembly of Diverse Metal–Organic and Supramolecular Networks, CrystEngComm. 2016, 18, 765–778. 15. Ya-Wen Wang, Shun-Bang Liu, Yan-Ling Yang, Peng-Zhi Wang, Ai-Jiang Zhang, Yu Peng*. A Terbium(III)-Complex-Based On-Off Fluorescent Chemosensor for Phosphate Anions in Aqueous Solution and Its Application in Molecular Logic Gates, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2015, 7, 4415–4422. 16. Yan-Ling Yang, Fu-Ming Zhang, Ya-Wen Wang,* Bao-Xin Zhang, Ran Fang, Jian-Guo Fang, Yu Peng*. An Iminocoumarin Sulfonamide Based Turn-On Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Biothiols in Aqueous Solution, Chem.-Asian J. 2015, 10, 422–426. 17. Yu Peng*, Shu-Ming Duan, Ya-Wen Wang. Concise Synthesis of the DEFG Ring System in Rubriflordilactone B, Tetrahedron Lett. 2015, 56, 4509–4511. (Highlighted by X-MOL) 18. Yong-Liang Shao, Yan-Hui Cui, Jin-Zhong Gu,* Alexander M. Kirillov, Jiang Wu, Ya-Wen Wang*. A Variety of Metal–Organic and Supramolecular Networks Constructed from a New Flexible Multifunctional Building Block Bearing Picolinate and Terephthalate Functionalities: Hydrothermal Self-Assembly, Structural Features, Magnetic and Luminescent Properties, RSC Adv. 2015, 5, 87484–87495. 19. Chunpo Ge, Hao Wang, Baoxin Zhang, Juan Yao, Xinming Li, Weimin Feng, Panpan Zhou, Ya-Wen Wang, Jianguo Fang*, A Thiol-Thiosulfonate Reaction Providing a Novel Strategy for Turn-On Thiol Sensing, Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 14913–14916. 20. Yan-Ling Yang, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*. A Bifunctional, Colorimetric and Fluorescent Probe for Recognition of Cu2+ and Hg2+ and Its Application in Molecular Logic Gate, Sci. China Chem. 2014, 57, 289–295. (《中国科学•化学》特辑: The Frontiers of Chemical Biology and Synthesis for the 9th SINO–US Chemistry Professors Conference) 21. Yu Peng*, Xiao-Bo Xu, Jian Xiao, Ya-Wen Wang. Nickel-Mediated Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Spiroketals via Tandem Cyclization-Coupling of β-Bromo Ketals and Aryl Iodides, Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 472–474. 22. Long Luo, Jian-Jian Zhang, Wei-Jian Ling, Yong-Liang Shao, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*. Unified Synthesis of (–)-Folicanthine and (–)-Ditryptophenaline Enabled by a Nickel-Mediated Reductive Dimerization at Room Temperature, Synthesis 2014, 46, 1908–1916. (Special Topic: Copper and Nickel Catalysis). 23. Xiao-Bo Xu, Jian Liu, Jian-Jian Zhang, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*. Nickel-Mediated Inter- and Intramolecular C–S Coupling of Thiols and Thioacetates with Aryl Iodides at Room Temperature, Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 550–553. 24. Yu Peng*, Long Luo, Chang-Song Yan, Jian-Jian Zhang, Ya-Wen Wang. Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Homocoupling of Unactivated Alkyl Bromides at Room Temperature and Its Synthetic Application, J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 10960–10967. 25. Ming Dong, Ya-Wen Wang, Ai-Jiang Zhang, Yu Peng*. Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensors for the Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (TNP) and Investigation of Their Co-Crystal Structures, Chem.-Asian J. 2013, 8, 1321–1330. 26. Yan-Ling Yang, Ya-Wen Wang, Dong-Zhu Duan, Ai-Jiang Zhang, Jian-Guo Fang, Yu Peng*. Off–On–Off Fluorescent Chemosensor for pH Measurement with a Terbium(III) Complex Based on a Tripodal Salicylic-Acid Derivative, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2013, 11, 6960–6966. 27. Jian-Jian Zhang, Chang-Song Yan, Yu Peng*, Zhen-Biao Luo, Xiao-Bo Xu, Ya-Wen Wang. Total Synthesis of (±)-Sacidumlignans D and A through Ueno-Stork Radical Cyclization Reaction, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2013, 11, 2498–2513. (Hot Paper) 28. Yu Peng*, Zhen-Biao Luo, Jian-Jian Zhang, Long Luo, Ya-Wen Wang. Collective Synthesis of Several 2,7′-Cyclolignans and Their Correlation by Chemical Transformations, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2013, 11, 7574–7586. 29. Ming Dong, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*. A Colorimetric Proton Receptor for Low pH Values Based on a Pyrene–Spiropyran Conjugate, Supramol. Chem. 2013, 25, 116–120. (Special Issue for the 3rd International Conference on Molecular Sensors and Molecular Logic Gates) 30. Xin Sun, Ya-Wen Wang, Yu Peng*. A Selective and Ratiometric Bifunctional Fluorescent Probe for Al3+ Ion and Proton, Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 3420–3423. 31. Ming Dong, Yu Peng, Yu-Man Dong, Ning Tang, Ya-Wen Wang*. A Selective, Colorimetric, and Fluorescent Chemodosimeter for Relay Recognition of Fluoride and Cyanide Anions Based on 1,1'-Binaphthyl Scaffold, Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 130–133. 32. Yu Peng*, Yu-Man Dong, Ming Dong, Ya-Wen Wang*. A Selective, Sensitive Colorimetric, and Fluorescence Probe for Relay Recognition of Fluoride and Cu(II) Ions with “Off-On-Off” Switching in Ethanol-Water Solution, J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 9072–9080. 33. Ming Dong, Yu-Man Dong, Tian-Hua Ma, Ya-Wen Wang*, Yu Peng*. A Highly Selective Fluorescence-Enhanced Chemosensor for Al3+ in Aqueous Solution Based on a Hybrid Ligand from BINOL Scaffold and b-Amino Alcohol, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2012, 381, 137–142. (Special Volume: Fluorescence Spectroscopy: from Single Chemosensors to Nanoparticles Science) 34. Chang-Song Yan, Yu Peng*, Xiao-Bo Xu, Ya-Wen Wang. Nickel-Mediated Inter- and Intramolecular Reductive Cross-Coupling of Unactivated Alkyl Bromides and Aryl Iodides at Room Temperature, Chem.-Eur. J. 2012, 18, 6039–6048. (Corrigendum in 2013, 19, 15438) 35. Yu-Man Dong, Yu Peng*, Ming Dong, Ya-Wen Wang*. A Selective, Sensitive, and Chromogenic Chemodosimeter for Cyanide Based on the 1,1'-Binaphthyl Scaffold, J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 6962–6966. 36. Yu Peng*, Ai-Jiang Zhang, Ming Dong, Ya-Wen Wang*. A Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Detection of an Explosive—2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (TNP), Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 4505–4507. (Top ten most accessed articles in March, 2011) 37. Ai-Jiang Zhang, Ya-Wen Wang,* Wei Dou, Ming Dong, Yan-Ling Zhang, Yu Tang, Wei-Sheng Liu, Yu Peng*. Synthesis, Crystal Structures, Luminescent and Magnetic Properties of Homodinuclear Lanthanide Complexes with a Flexible Tripodal Carboxylate Ligand, Dalton Trans. 2011, 40, 2844–2851. 38. Ming Dong, Ya-Wen Wang*, Yu Peng*. Highly Selective Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensing for Hg2+ and Au3+, Respectively, in Aqueous Media, Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 5310–5313. 39. Tian-Hua Ma, Ming Dong, Yu-Man Dong, Ya-Wen Wang*, Yu Peng*. A Unique Water-Tuning Dual-Channel Fluorescence-Enhanced Sensor for Aluminum Ions Based on a Hybrid Ligand from a 1,1'-Binaphthyl Scaffold and an Amino Acid, Chem.-Eur. J. 2010, 16, 10313–10318. 40. Ming Dong, Tian-Hua Ma, Ai-Jiang Zhang, Yu-Man Dong, Ya-Wen Wang*, Yu Peng*. Novel Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescent and Colormetric “Off–On” Chemosensors for Cu(II) Based on Rhodamine Derivatives, Dyes Pigm. 2010, 87, 164–172. 41. Tian-Hua Ma, Ai-Jiang Zhang, Ming Dong, Yu-Man Dong, Yu Peng*, Ya-Wen Wang*. A Simply and Highly Selective "Turn-on" Type Fluorescent Chemosensor for Hg2+ Based on Chiral BINOL-Schiff's Base Ligand, J. Lumin. 2010, 130, 888–892. 42. Ya-Wen Wang*, Yong-Tao Shi, Yu Peng*, Ai-Jiang Zhang, Tian-Hua Ma, Wei Dou, Jiang-Rong Zheng, Fluorescent Sensors for Ca2+ and Pb2+ Based on Binaphthyl Derivatives, Spectrochim. Acta A. 2009, 72, 322–326.