About
Dr. Zhongyang Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of Alabama, College of Engineering, and is affiliated with the Polymers and Soft Materials Research Center. His research bridges polymer science and electrochemical engineering to advance sustainable technologies in energy and water systems.
Education:
- B.S. in Polymer Science and Engineering, Yantai University, 2012
- M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2014
- Ph.D. in Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2019
Dr. Wang's research focuses on developing advanced polymer electrolytes and nanostructured materials for electrochemical systems. His group investigates ion/electron transport in block copolymers and liquid crystals, designs microscale bipolar interfaces enabled by pH gradients for water and CO2 electrolysis, and engineers sub-2 nm liquid crystalline structures for energy storage and water treatment. The work targets fundamental challenges in material conductivity, mechanical robustness, ion selectivity, and chemical stability.
His recent publications in Nature Energy, Nature Communications, and ACS Nano highlight a strong trend in understanding and manipulating ion transport at the nanoscale, particularly in anion exchange membranes and conjugated liquid crystals, with applications in fuel cells, desalination, and sustainable chemical processes.
Scientific Awards:
- IGNIITE Award, U.S. Department of Energy (2024)
- ECS Toyota Young Investigator Award (2024–2025)
- Hewson Faculty Fellow, University of Alabama
Dr. Wang mentors undergraduate researchers, two of whom—Zachary Griffith and Jesse Park—were awarded the prestigious NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. His research is supported by competitive grants, including recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy and The Electrochemical Society, indicating strong funding and national impact. He leads an active research group focused on next-generation electrochemical materials.
He leads the Wang Research Group, which operates within the Polymers and Soft Materials Research Center at The University of Alabama. The group emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in sustainable materials design.
