Research
Overview
Our group widely pursues transformative advances in energy storage, energy conversion, and robotics by designing organic and polymer materials, as well as exploring mechanisms underpinning functions. Our research is highly interdisciplinary and associated with knowledge and skills from polymer science, electrochemistry, materials science, and engineering. Current projects include polymer materials for batteries, organic electrochemical interface in energy storage, polymer-based robots and intelligent machines, polymer manufacturing for energy and robot applications.
Organic Interface for Electrochemical Energy Devices
In rechargeable batteries, the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) is pivotal in stabilizing the anodes and electrolyte, as well as regulating the electrochemical process. However, the SEI is constantly reforming with cycling. Rational SEI design is plagued by the failure to control its structure and stability. Our group is designing organic/polymeric SEI at the molecular level for the next-generation batteries, and probing the battery interface using advanced characterization techniques.
Autonomous Robots and Intelligent Machines Based on Polymers
Intelligent robots are still inadequately functionalized compared with animals and plants. The creation of autonomous robotics capable of making adaptions to dynamic environments and performing complex behaviors is highly important. We are using polymer materials to mimic the intelligent behavior of living organisms for robot applications.
Polymer Manufacturing for Energy and Robot Applications
Polymer-based materials are used as separators, binders, electrolyte, active materials in batteries, and actuators and sensors in robots. We are exploring the design, synthesis, and manufacturing of functional polymer materials for energy and robot applications.