Education

• Ph.D., Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 2016
• M.S., Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing / Yanshan University, Hebei, 2013
• B.S., Yanshan University, Hebei, 2010 

Research

Our research focus is to understand, predict, and ultimately control matter and energy at the electronic, atomic, and molecular levels to provide the foundations of new material design for new energy technologies. We aim to solve sustainability and energy-related problems by addressing the challenges of low-cost, safe, durable and high energy-density traction batteries in electrical vehicles (EVs), and demonstrate improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, cost, and environmental performance of photocatalysis and carbon capture technologies. Primary interests of our research include designing and developing high-throughput experimentation platforms for Li-ion and “Li-beyond” batteries, electrochemically driven carbon dioxide capture and separation, and photocatalysis.

Next generation all solid-state batteries provide vastly improved performance due to their higher safety, longer cycling life and enhanced energy density. Typically, Interface issues and low ionic conductivity of solid-state electrolytes are the two most critical issues which have hindered its commercialization. Our research aims to understand the fundamental charge transfer mechanisms and kinetics within electrolyte and at electrolyte/electrode interface, and their impact to electrochemical performance of batteries. This will further guide rational design of innovative materials and architectures to engineer both the interface and microstructure of Li host, building high performance energy storage devices. We work on all solid-state Li-ion and “Li-beyond” batteries, including Li/Na-ion batteries, Li metal batteries, high volumetric microbatteries, flexible thin film batteries, and anode-free batteries. In addition, our group also develops photocatalysts and photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) for sustainable energy production, builds molecular platform for CO₂ capture and utilization, all towards a path for a clean, decarbonized, and resilient energy future.

Selected Publications

• “Ionic Conductivity and Ion Transport Mechanisms of Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes: A Review”. H. Yang, N. Wu, Energy Science & Engineering, 10 (2022), 1643-1671 (Invited review article). (Journal Front Cover) (Wiley Top Downloaded Paper)
• “Polymer-ceramic composite electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium batteries: Ionic conductivity and chemical interaction enhanced by oxygen vacancy in ceramic nanofibers”. H. Yang, M. Abdullah, J. Bright, W. Hu, K. Kittilstved, Y. Xu, C. Wang, X. Zhang, and N. Wu, Journal of Power Sources, 495(2021), p.229796.
• “Single-Ion Conducting UiO-66 Metal–Organic Framework Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries”. H. Yang, B. Liu, J. Bright, S. Kasani, J. Yang, X. Zhang and N. Wu, ACS Applied Energy Materials, 3(2020), 4007-4013.
• “Chemical interaction and enhanced interfacial ion transport in a ceramic nanofiber–polymer composite electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries”.  H. Yang, J. Bright, B. Chen, P. Zheng, X. Gao, B. Liu, S. Kasani, X. Zhang and N. Wu, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 8(2020), 7261-7272.
• “Metal–organic framework coated titanium dioxide nanorod array p–n heterojunction photoanode for solar water-splitting”.  H. Yang, J. Bright, S. Kasani, P. Zheng, T. Musho, B. Chen, L. Huang, and N. Wu, Nano Research, 12(2019), 643-650.