معرفی
Dr. Hongli (Julie) Zhu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University's College of Engineering. Her research focuses on sustainable energy storage, multifunctional materials, and advanced manufacturing, with emphasis on developing environmentally friendly biomass-derived materials, all solid-state batteries, and flow batteries. She leads the ZHU Lab at Northeastern University, which is dedicated to creating safer, cheaper, and higher performance energy storage solutions while exploring multifunctional materials derived from nature.
Dr. Zhu received her PhD from South China University of Technology and Western Michigan University (2004-2009). She conducted postdoctoral research at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden (2009-2011), focusing on biodegradable and renewable biomaterials from natural wood, followed by additional postdoctoral work at the University of Maryland (2012-2015), where she researched nanocellulose and energy storage.
Dr. Zhu's research spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of materials science, energy storage, and sustainable manufacturing. Her work addresses critical challenges in energy storage technology, including developing all solid-state batteries, flow batteries, and high energy density battery systems. She has pioneered research in sustainable biomass-derived materials, particularly investigating cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin for applications in bendable, implantable, and biocompatible electronics. Her lab also focuses on advanced manufacturing techniques, including high-speed roll-to-roll processing for emerging advanced materials and devices.
Analysis of Dr. Zhu's publication record reveals a strong focus on next-generation battery technologies, particularly solid-state systems. Her research demonstrates significant contributions to understanding and improving lithium dendrite suppression, electrode architecture optimization, and interface stabilization in solid-state batteries. She has also made substantial advances in sustainable materials derived from natural resources, developing applications for cellulose nanostructured fibers, paper, and aerogel/hydrogel systems.
- MRS Communications Early Career Distinguished Presenters and JMR Distinguished Invited Speakers (2024)
- Selected in Stanford University List of Top 2% Scientists Worldwide (2021-2024)
- College of Engineering Faculty Fellow (2023)
- Soren Buus Outstanding Research Award (2022)
- Women in Materials Science, Advanced Materials (2021 and 2022)
- Women Scientists at the Forefront of Energy Research, ACS Energy Letters (2020)
- Innovator of the Year 2013, Maryland
- Jakob Wallenberg Scholarship, Sweden
Dr. Zhu has secured significant research funding from various sources, including the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy. Her current projects include "Uncovering the mechano-electro-chemo mechanism of fresh Li in sulfide based all solid-state batteries through operando studies" (NSF), "Enabling Advanced Electrode Architecture through Printing Technique" (DOE), and "Engineering the Metal Sulfide Interface in All Solid State Batteries through Operando Study" (NSF). She collaborates with industry partners including Rogers Corporation and has developed patented technologies related to sustainable materials and energy storage. Dr. Zhu serves as Codirector of Advanced & Intelligent Manufacturing, Editor of Progress in Materials Science, and on the Editorial Advisory Board of Chemical Society Reviews.
The ZHU Lab at Northeastern University is a highly interdisciplinary research group that bridges scales from the nanoscopic to macroscopic and system level. The lab's work has led to numerous patents, including "Natural fiber composites as a low-cost plastic alternative" and "Fire-retardant Nanocellulose Aerogel, and Methods of Preparation and Uses Thereof." The group focuses on making energy storage safer, cheaper, and higher performing while exploring multifunctional materials derived from nature, with particular emphasis on applying high-speed roll-to-roll manufacturing to emerging advanced materials and devices.
