Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Macromolecular Science and Engineering Center University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136

The Laine group has, over the past 10 years, focused on the development of synthetic routes to metalloorganic compounds that can be used to produce mixed-metal oxide na-nopowders. These nanopowders in turn have served as the starting point for processing a wide variety of ceramic thin films with emphasis on solid state lithium, sodium and magne-sium ion electrolytes. More recent emphasis has been on developing cathode materials as well.  
A current emphasis in the group is the development of metalloorganic precursors that can be used as adhesives to bond thin film electrolytes to anode and cathode materials.  These precursors, on heating, transform to glassy ion (Li+, Na+ and Mg2+) conducting inter-faces that both serve to mate individual components as efforts now focus on assembling all solid state batteries.

Recent publications:
E. Yi, J. Furgal, J. Azurdia, R. M. Laine,” Roll Your Own – Nano-Nanocomposite Capacitors,” J. Chem. Mater. A. 2014, 2 3766-3775.
E. Yi, W. Wang, S. Mohanty, J. Kieffer, R. Tamaki, R. M. Laine, “Materials that can replace liquid electrolytes in Li batteries: Superionic conductivities in Li1.7Al0.3Ti1.7Si0.4P2.6O12. Processing combustion synthesized nanopowders to free standing thin films,“ J. Power Sources 2014, 269 577-588.
E. Yi, W. Wang, J. Kieffer, R. M. Laine, “Dense Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) lithium conducting garnet thin films,” J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 12947-12954.
W. Wang, E. Yi, A. Fici, R. M. Laine, J. Kieffer, “Li+ Conducting PEO-Based Solid Electrolytes Containing Active Or Passive Ceramic Nanoparticles,” J. Phys. Chem. C, 2017, 121, 2563–2573.
E. Yi, W. Wang, J. Kieffer, R. M. Laine, “Key parameters governing the densification of cu-bic-Li7¬La3Zr2O12 Li+ conductors,” J. Power Sources 2017, 352 156-164.
B. Liang, S. Liu, E. Yi, R. M. Laine, “Processing LF-FSP Mg0.5Ce0.2Zr1.8(PO4)3 nanopowders to free standing pellets and thin films as electrolytes in all-solid-state Mg batteries,” Electrochemica Acta 2018, 272 144-153.
E. Yi, E. Temeche, R. M. Laine, “Superionically Conducting β’’-Al2O3 Thin Films Processed Using Flame Synthesized Nanopowders,” J. Mater. Chem. A. 2018, 6, 12411-12419. 
Eleni Temeche, Eongyu Yi, Vazrik Keshishian, John Kieffer, Richard M. Laine, “Liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis derived nanopowders (NPs) as a route to electrically conducting calcium aluminate (12CaO.7Al2O3) films,” J. Europ. Ceram. Soc. 2019, 39, 1263–1270

Video:
https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i45/Making-batteries-fire-resistant-solid.html

Dr. Shou-Hang Bo received his B. S. degree in Chemistry from Fudan University; and Ph. D. degree in Chemistry from Stony Brook University, under the supervision of Prof. Clare Grey and Prof. Peter Khalifah. Since 2014, Dr. Bo had been a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Gerbrand Ceder's group, at Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Dr. Bo joined University of Michigan ─ Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute in 2017 as a tenure-track assistant professor. His recent research interests include (1) material- and system-level studies of solid-state materials for energy storage devices; and (2) real-time spectroscopic and scattering studies of materials synthesis.

Our lab focus on the development and application of cutting-edge computational and data-driven tools to better understand, design and discover advanced materials. Our research interests include:

Combining computational materials science, solid state physics, thermodynamics and chemistry to understand fundamental and critical materials problems in high-impact applications.

Applying high-throughput materials simulations, data-mining and experiment to speed up new materials development.

Developing new algorithm or tools for materials simulations.

Our research fields involve energy materials (all-solid-state lithium ion batteries, layered thermoelectric materials and perovskite solar cells) and structural materials (Mg alloy).

Dr. Qianli Chen’s research focuses on the charge carrier transport, including ion transport and electron transport, which are essential process that governs the performance of energy devices. We are interested in understanding the fundamental correlations between materials structure, and the electronic and ionic transport properties. The research topics includes the ion transport in the solid electrolyte for fuel cells, Li-ion batteries, and the electrical potential distribution in emerging solar cells. We have discovered that the activation energy for ion transport can be tuned by mechanical strain. To understand the charge carrier transport mechanisms, we develop and use complementary in-situ experimental techniques, including the combination of conventional electrical and electrochemical characterization of materials with scanning probe microscopies, X-ray, neutron scattering and vibrational spectroscopies. The new knowledge obtained from these unique methods paves the way for rational design and engineering of novel materials for low cost-high efficiency devices, which leads to better utilization of renewable energy sources for a sustainable energy economy and a safe, clean environment.

Postdoc Fellow, Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, USA 
M.S., Ph.D. Materials Engineering, New Mexico Tech, USA
B.S. Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, China

Research Interests

Physical and Mechanical Metallurgy of Light Alloy Materials：Our research focuses on light alloys with particular emphasis on preparation and processing by experiments and modeling.1) Al-Si alloys such as A380 is widely used high pressure die casting alloy; however, it suffers from corrosion problem in the auto industrial applications.The research is to develop high strength and corrosion resistant HPDC Al-Si alloys.2) For Ti alloys we study the transformation-mismatch superplasticity at low external stress through thermal cycling around α/β phase transformation.3) With regard to Mg-RE alloys, we study the deformation mechanism at elevated temperature and their possible applications for engine piston.

Selected Publications

[1] B. Liang, V. Keshishian, S. Liu, E. Yi, D. Jia, Y. Zhou, J. Kieffer, B. Ye, R.M. Laine, Processing liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis synthesized Mg0.5Ce0.2Zr1.8(PO4)3 nanopowders to free standing thin films and pellets as potential electrolytes in all-solid-state Mg batteries, Electrochimica Acta 272 (2018) 144-153.
[2] L. Zuo, B. Ye, J. Feng, X. Kong, H. Jiang, W. Ding, Effect of Q-Al5Cu2Mg8Si6 phase on mechanical properties of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy at elevated temperature, Materials Science and Engineering: A 693 (2017) 26-32.
[3] K. Wang, H.Y. Jiang, Y.W. Jia, H. Zhou, Q.D. Wang, B. Ye, W.J. Ding, Nanoparticle-inhibited growth of primary aluminum in Al–10Si alloys, Acta Materialia 103 (2016) 252-263.
[4] W. Liao, B. Ye, L. Zhang, H. Zhou, W. Guo, Q. Wang, W. Li, Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of SiC nanoparticles reinforced magnesium matrix composite processed by cyclic closed-die forging, Materials Science and Engineering: A 642(0) (2015) 49-56.
[5] H. Wang, Q. Wang, D. Yin, J. Yuan, B. Ye, Tensile creep behavior and microstructure evolution of extruded Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy, Materials Science and Engineering: A 578(0) (2013) 150-159.
[6] H. Zhou, Q.D. Wang, B. Ye, W. Guo, Hot deformation and processing maps of as-extruded Mg-9.8Gd-2.7Y-0.4Zr Mg alloy, Materials Science and Engineering: A 576(0) (2013) 101-107.
[7] W. Guo, Q.D. Wang, B. Ye, M.P. Liu, T. Peng, X.T. Liu, H. Zhou, Enhanced microstructure homogeneity and mechanical properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy by repetitive upsetting, Materials Science and Engineering: A 540(0) (2012) 115-122.
[8] B. Ye, M.R. Matsen, D.C. Dunand, Enhanced densification of Ti-6Al-4V powders by transformation-mismatch plasticity, Acta Materialia 58(11) (2010) 3851-3859.
[9] B. Ye, D.C. Dunand, Titanium foams produced by solid-state replication of NaCl powders, Materials Science and Engineering: A 528(2) (2010) 691-697.
[10] B. Ye, B.S. Majumdar, I. Dutta, Texture development and strain hysteresis in a NiTi shape-memory alloy during thermal cycling under load, Acta Materialia 57(8) (2009) 2403-2417.

Research Projects

·Study of processing fundamentals and properties of Ti-6Al-4V Ti alloy by compressive transformation-mismatch superplasticity funded by SJTU
·National Key Research and  Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFB0301001): Fundamental Research on High Performance Mg/Al Alloy Materials
·National Key Research and  Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFB0700502): Technology development on experimental big data high-throughput collection and analysis 
·Development of high corrosion resistant aluminum alloys for high pressure die casting components (Phase II) funded by GM 

Honors & Awards

Editorial board member of Chinese Core Journal Hot Working Technology.

Patents

钛锌合金以及钛锌合金板材的制备方法	ZL2015104020403	发明人
用于非真空铸造的锌-铜-钛三元中间合金及其制备方法	ZL2015102933690	发明人
高强、高耐腐蚀铸造铝合金及其压力铸造制	ZL 201510868663 X	发明人
Method of Making sound interface in overcast bimetal components,	Patent US 9,770,757 B2	发明人
一种腿脚不便康复医疗器械	ZL201410307701X	发明人
转盘式多样品同步摩擦磨损试验装置及其试验方法	ZL2013101859200	发明人
旋转式排气流量调节系统	ZL2013101998824	发明人
旋转式气阀控制机构	ZL2013101992531	发明人
机械式气门升程连续可变装置	ZL2012103889780	发明人
两气门升程同步可变装置	ZL2012103889808	发明人

Kaixue Wang, born in 1974, is currently a professor in Department of Chemistry at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. He received his PhD degree at Jilin University in 2002, supervised by Prof. Ruren Xu, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His first postdoctoral position was at the University College Cork, Ireland, under the supervision of Dr. J. D. Holmes, where he developed a dual template way for the preparation of mesoporous nanotubes and nanofibres and also demonstrated that supercritical fluid treatment is efficient in improving the thermal stability and hydrothermal stability of mesoporous materials. 

In 2007, Dr Wang took up a JSPS research position in Energy Technology Research Institute at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan, under the supervision of Professor H. S. Zhou, where he researched the application of nanoscale and porous materials in energy storage devices. Since joining the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at SJTU in November 2008, he has established an active research group in the synthesis and assembly of nanoscale and porous materials for energy storage, photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications. He has been published more than 130 papers in world recognized journals such as Angew. Chem., Adv. Mater., Nano Lett., Adv. Funct. Mater., Adv. Energy Mater., and ACS Nano. 

He received many awards, including 1st Prize for Natural Science of Shanghai (the 3rd awardee) in 2015, Shanghai Shuguang Scholarship in 2014, Shanghai Pujiang Scholarship in 2009, and JSPS Scholarship in 2007. He was the Principal Investigator in the New Century Talents Project from the Ministry of Education in 2012.

Jianxin Zou, born in 1978, is currently a professor in Materials Science at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. He is a national “Chang jiang” scholar and the lead scientist of the national key research and development program. He obtained his PhD degrees from the University of Metz in France and Dalian University of Technology in 2007. He then served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia. Prof. Zou has published over 120 academic journal papers and received more than 2000 times of citations (h factor=27). He is now mainly engaged in the design, preparation and characterization of advanced magnesium-based energy materials. He holds 10 national patents and research funds from Shanghai Municipal Government, the Ministry of Education, National Science and Technology committee and NSFC.

Dr. Linsen Li is an associate professor at the Chemical Engineering department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He obtained his PhD at University of Wisconsin-Madison under Prof. Song Jin in 2015. After working with Prof. Yet-Ming Chiang at MIT as a post-doc for two years, he joined SJTU on September, 2017. Linsen has been working on mate-rials and devices for energy storage and in situ characterization techniques based on syn-chrotron X-rays and electron microscopy. He has published 20 research papers and ap-plied for 5 patents (2 US, 1 PCT, 2 Chinese). He is the recipient of the China 1000plan award, Materials Research Society Gold Award for graduate student, and the Newton In-ternational Fellowship (declined). 

The Li group primarily works on scalable synthesis of single-crystal Ni-rich layered ox-ide cathode materials, high energy-density lithium metal batteries, thin-film solid-state bat-teries, and new recycling techniques for electric vehicle battery cathode materials. 

Recent publications:

L. Li, R.M. Erb, J.J. Wang, J. Wang, Y.-M. Chiang, “Fabrication of Ultrahigh-Areal-Capacity Bat-tery Electrodes through Magnetic Alignment of Emulsion-Based Slurries”, Adv. Energy Mater. 2019, 9, 1802472
H. Liang*, L. Li*, Y.K. Chen-Wiegart, J.J. Wang, K. Xiang, L. Gan, W.J. Li, F. Meng, J. Wang, Y.-M. Chiang, S. Jin, M. Tang, “Two-Dimensional Li Diffusivity and Hybrid Phase Transformation Kinetics in Olivine Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)”, Nature Commun. 2017, 8, 1194 (corre-sponding author)
L. Li, R. Jacobs, P. Gao, F. Wang, D. Morgan, S. Jin. “Origins of Large Voltage Hysteresis in High Energy-Density Metal Fluoride Lithium-Ion Battery Conversion Electrodes”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 2838–2848. 
L. Li, Y. K. Chen-Wiegart, J. Wang, P. Gao, Q. Ding, Y.-S. Yu, F. Wang, J. Cabana, J. Wang, S. Jin,  “Visualization of Electrochemically Driven Solid State Phase Transformations Using Operando Hard X-ray Spectro-Imaging”, Nature Commun. 2015, 6, 6883.