• About Us

    Our research laboratory is dedicated to advancing safe energy storage, sustainable materials, and next-generation manufacturing technologies to address critical societal needs while fostering a harmonious relationship between nature and technology. Our mission is to develop high-performance energy storage, environmentally responsible materials, and scalable processes that promote long-term sustainability. In close collaboration with national laboratories, we perform operando and in situ studies of all-solid-state batteries leveraging forefront photon, neutron, and electron characterization techniques at leading synchrotron and neutron facilities. Our interdisciplinary approach enables us to address complex challenges across multiple length scales, from nanoscopic and microscopic to macroscopic and system-level investigations. By integrating expertise across materials science, electrochemistry, advanced characterization, and manufacturing, we strive to deliver innovative solutions and contribute to a more sustainable, technologically advanced future.

    News and Events

  • Check More Research Highlights →
  • Our study, accepted by ACS Nano, reveals how sulfur accelerates sodium-ion transport in amorphous sulfide-halide electrolytes. Neutron pair distribution function analysis reveals sulfur-induced reconstruction of local tantalum-centered polyhedra, with the emergence of corner- and edge-sharing motifs. Machine-learning molecular dynamics simulations, comparing sulfur- and oxygen-containing models of matched composition, show weaker sodium-anion binding and shorter residence times in the sulfur-containing framework, enabling more frequent ion exchange and faster diffusion in the solid electrolyte. Congratulations to Jiwei and all our collaborators!
  • We are delighted to announce Dr. Natan, a proud alumnus of our research group and Northeastern University, will join our Solid Ionics as Chief Executive Officer. Welcome back, Dr. Natan! We're excited to build something great together!!
  • Our research on evolving protective interfaces for longer-lasting anode-free sulfide solid-state batteries has been provisionally accepted by Science Advances. The study advances our understanding of interfacial chemistry and offers a dynamic strategy for improving battery life. Congratulations and special thanks to Jiwei Wang, Man Chen, Mengting Ye, and all collaborators for their excellent work!
  • Professor Zhu has been selected to receive the 2027 Research Excellence Award in Electrochemical Energy Storage from the American Chemical Society's Energy and Fuels Division (ACS ENFL). This honor recognizes her excellence in electrochemical energy-storage research and contributions to the division, particularly her research on sulfide all-solid-state batteries, flow batteries, fast-charge and high-energy-density battery systems. We thank our students, postdoctoral researchers, alumni, and collaborators whose dedication and excellent work make these achievements possible!
  • We are delighted to share our paper, "Power-Free Cholesteric Photonic Gel for Machine-Learned Quantitative Thermal Monitoring", has been accepted in Matter! The study combines cellulose-based photonic gels with machine learning to enable quantitative, smartphone-readable temperature sensing through structural color. Congratulations to the team and thanks to all our collaborators!
  • Our research on grayscale photomasks for manufacturing structural-color patterns in cellulose-based gels has been accepted by Advanced Functional Materials. Combining photonic materials, predictive modeling, and optical manufacturing, this work enables programmable, temperature-responsive color patterns. Congratulations and special thanks to Mengting Ye and all collaborators for their creativity and dedication!
  • Congratulations to Subramanya Sai on receiving an offer from LG Energy Solution! We are very happy for you, Sai, and wish you great success in this exciting next chapter of your career!
  • Mengting and Subramanya Sai are developing an interesting soft photonic gel that changes color with temperature. Watch the material respond instantly and visualize body temperature in real time through vibrant structural color! Check intelligent photonic gel health monitor →
  • We congratulate our alumnus Avi Natan on successfully defending his PhD in Dr. Kumar's group at Georgia Tech! Avi spent two years conducting research in our lab during his undergraduate studies at Northeastern, and we have stayed in touch ever since. We are so proud of you, Dr. Natan, and wish you continued success in the next chapter of your career!
  • Clarivate released its 2025 Highly Cited Researchers list, which recognizes influential researchers whose work has made a significant and broad impact in their fields. This year's list includes 6,868 researchers from over 1,200 institutions across 60 countries and regions, representing roughly 1 in 1,000 of the global research community. Researchers earn this distinction by authoring multiple papers ranking in the top 1% of citations in their field over an 11-year period. Prof. Zhu is identified as one of the Highly Cited Researchers for 2025. Check more
  • Dr. Zhu is featured in ACS Energy Letters as part of the "Women Scientists at the Forefront of Energy Research" series, recognizing our lab's sustained and systematic contributions to sulfide-based all-solid-state battery research, including work on electrolyte synthesis and modification, interface stabilization, operando characterization, mechano-electrochemical coupling, and reliability-relevant mechanisms, within the broader context of advances across the field. Read more
  • Our study in Energy & Environmental Science reveals how thermodynamics and kinetics govern sulfur reactions in all-solid-state sodium-sulfur batteries. Combining synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy, in situ Raman spectroscopy, and first-principles calculations, we identify a thermodynamically favored three-step pathway and show how kinetic limitations bypass the Na2S2 intermediate, producing a two-step reaction. These findings provide a mechanistic foundation for improving sulfur utilization and battery performance.
  • Our group's new work, Operando neutron imaging of lithium flux and gradient cathode design for enhanced kinetics in high-loading all-solid-state Li-S batteries, has been published in Advanced Materials, demonstrating operando visualization of lithium distribution and a gradient-engineered sulfur cathode that improve kinetics and sulfur utilization.
  • With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, our lab, in collaboration with researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, investigated all-solid-state batteries using operando neutron imaging. This technique enables real-time visualization of lithium transport and interfacial dynamics inside working batteries. Our study, which used operando neutron imaging to map lithium distribution and reveal dynamic processes within solid-state cells, was published in Nature Communications and subsequently highlighted in Nature Energy.
  • Our study entitled "Understanding Electrochemical Reaction Mechanisms of Sulfur in All Solid State Batteries through Operando and Theoretical Studies" has ranked within the top 10% of most-read papers published by the journal Angewandte Chemie.
  • Our work on "Nondestructively Visualizing and Understanding the Mechano Electro chemical Origins of Soft Short and Creeping in All Solid State Batteries" has ranked within the top 10% of most-read papers published by the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
  • Congratulations to Luyao on publishing "Chiral Sensing of Amino Acids under Visible Light via Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Gels" in Advanced Optical Materials! This work demonstrates an innovative approach to sustainable chiral sensing using bio-based materials. We're proud of Luyao's contribution to advancing green chemistry and chiral detection methods.
  • Congratulations on the issuance of our U.S. Patent (No. 11,926,965), titled "Natural Fiber Composites as a Low-cost Plastic Alternative".
  • Congratulations to Tim's work "Unveiling the Mechanical and Electrochemical Evolution of Nano Silicon Composite Anodes in Sulfide based All-solid-state Batteries". It has been accepted in Advanced Energy Materials.
  • We are delighted to announce that Ying's review regarding Sustainable Bioplastics Derived from Renewable Natural Resources for Food Package has been accepted in Matter.
  • Congratulations on Avi's acceptance to the Georgia Institute of Technology. Happy for you, Avi!
  • Our US Patent "Fire-retardant Nanocellulose Aerogel, and Methods of Preparation and Uses Thereof" is issued (U.S. Patent No. 10,919,262).
  • Our work 3D Printed High-Performance Lithium Metal Microbatteries Enabled by Nanocellulose is highlighted in Women in Materials Science Issue published on Advanced Materials. Check more: Advanced Materials: Women in Materials Science .
  • Our work entitled Biodegradable, Hygienic, and Compostable Tableware from Hybrid Sugarcane and Bamboo Fibers as Plastic Alternative is featured in multimedia. The goal of this work is to tackle the plastic pollution problem. Check more: Science Daily, The Economist, The Eurekalert AAAS.
  • Dr. Zhu is featured on ACS Energy Letters: Women Scientists at the Forefront of Energy Research.
  • Our US Patent "Lignin-based electrolytes and flow battery cells and systems" was awarded (U.S. Patent No. 10,818,952.). We are looking to Nature for green storage! Power with Nature!
  • Our research article on biodegradable, hygienic, and compostable tableware from hybrid sugarcane and bamboo fibers as plastic alternative was accepted in Cell Press journal Matter. Congrats to Chao!
  • Congratulations on Tim (Daxian) and Yuyue's work entitled 'Processing Strategies to Improve Cell Level Energy Density of Metal Sulfide Electrolyte Based All-solid-state Li Metal Batteries and Beyond' is accepted in ACS Energy Letters. Good job, Tim and Yuyue.
  • Congratulations to Alolika on securing a Research Scientist position at the Nissan Research Center for the research on batteries. We are very proud of her accomplishments and excited to see her take this next step in her career.
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