Faculty Directory

Hu, Liangbing

Hu, Liangbing

Distinguished University Professor
Director, Center for Materials Innovation
R&D 100 Award (2022, 2021, 2020, 2018)
Fellow of MRS (Class of 2022)
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Maryland Energy Innovation Institute
2330C Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building

BRIEF BIO

Liangbing Hu received his B.S. in physics from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2002, where he worked on colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials for three years. He did his Ph.D. (2002-2007) at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), focusing on carbon-nanotube-based nanoelectronics. In 2006, he co-founded Unidym Inc. and led the development of roll-to-roll printed carbon nanotube films and device integration in touch screens, LCDs, flexible OLDEs, and solar cells. He did his postdoc at Stanford University from 2009 to 2011, where he worked on various energy storage technologies using nanomaterials. Currently, he is a Distinguished University Professor at University of Maryland, College Park. His research group focuses on materials innovations, device integration, and manufacturing, with ongoing research activities on electrified ultrahigh-temperature synthesis, energy storage beyond Li-ion batteries, and novel wood nanotechnologies. Dr. Hu has published >450 research papers (including >10 Science and Nature) and is an inventor with 25 issued patents and 45 patent applications. He co-founded multiple startups based on technologies out of his research group.

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. (2007) in Physics, University of California, Los Angeles
  • B.S. (2002) in Physics, University of Science and Technology of China 

HONORS AND AWARDS

PATENTS (25 issued and 45 applications)

  • L. Hu, C. Wang, "Inverted Battery Devices, and Systems and Methods for Use Thereof", U.S. Patent No. 11,724,024.
  • L. Hu, E. D. Wachsman, B. Liu, L. Zhang, S. Xu, D. McOwen, C. Yang, "Lithium Battery", U.S. Patent No. 11,569,527.
  • L. Hu, M. Zhu, Y. Li, C. Chen, T. Li, H. Liu, A. Gong, Y. Kuang, "Wood-based Solar Thermal Devices, and Methods for Fabrication and Use Thereof", U.S. Patent No. 11,578,894.
  • L. Hu, T. Li, C. Yang, X. Zhang, R. M. Briber, M. Wu, "Ion-conducting Structures, Devices including Ion-conducting Structures, and Methods for Use and Fabrication Thereof", U.S. Patent No. 11,374,255.
  • L. Hu, Y. Chen, Y. Yao, "Nanoparticles and Systems and Methods for Synthesizing Nanoparticles Through Thermal Shock", U.S. Patent No. 11,369,929.
  • Y. Yao, L. Hu, "Thermal Shock Synthesis of Multielement Nanoparticles", U.S. Patent No. 11,193,191.
  • L. Hu, M. Zhu, J. Song, "Stong and Tough Structural Wood Materials, and Methods for Fabricating and Use Thereof", U.S. Patent No. 11,130,256.
  • L. Hu, E. D. Wachsman, Y. Gong, K. Fu, W. Luo, C. Wang, "Metal Alloy Layers on Substrates, Methods of Making Same, and Uses Thereof", U.S. Patent No. 11,043,696.
  • L. Hu, Z. Fang, H. Zhu, "Scalable, Highly Transparent Paper with Microsized Fiber", U.S. Patent No. 10,982,390.
  • L. Hu, X. Han, E. D. Wachsman, Y. Mo, "Interfacial Layers for Solid-state Batteries and Methods of Making Same", U.S. Patent No. 10,971,761.
  • L. Hu, F. Chen, A. Gong, "Membranes and Methods of Use Thereof", U.S. Patent No. 10,940,444.
  • A. C. Kozen, M. A. Schroeder, G. W. Rubloff, L. Hu, M. Noked, S. Lee, "Protection Layers for Metal Anodes", U.S. Patent No. 10,826,065.
  • E. D. Wachsman, L. Hu, V. Thangadurai, "Ion Conducting Batteries with Solid State Electrolyte Materials", U.S. Patent No. 10,622,666.
  • L. Hu, Z. Fang, H. Zhu, "Super Clear Cellulose Paper", U.S. Patent No. 10,480,126.
  • L. Hu, Y. Yao, T. Li, "Transparent Hybrid Substrates, Devices Employing such Substrates, and Methods for Fabrication and Use Thereof", U.S. Patent No. 10,411,222.
  • L. Hu, J. Choi, Y. Yangy, Y. Cui, "Conductive Fibrous Materials", U.S. Patent No. 9,138,965.
  • S. Jeong, L. Hu, Y. Cui, "Method for Forming a Nano-textured Substrate", U.S. Patent No. 8,999,857.
  • L. Cui, Y. Cui, L. Hu, "Nanotube-based Nanomaterial Membrane", U.S. Patent No. 8,974,967.
  • Y. Yang, L. Hu, Y. Cui, S. Jeong, "Transparent Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices", U.S. Patent No. 8,956,757.
  • Y. Cui, H. Wu, L. Hu, "Electrodes with Electrospun Fibers", U.S. Patent No. 8,940,194.
  • L. Hu, D. Hecht, J. Jue, G. Gruner, "Compliant and Nonplanar Nanostructure Films", U.S. Patent No. 8,815,346.
  • Y. Park, G. Gruner, L. Hu, "Transparent and Conductive Nanostructure-film Pixel Electrode and Method of Making the Same", U.S. Patent No. 8,785,939.
  • L. Hu, G. Gruner, "Touch Screen Devices Employing Nanostructure Networks", U.S. Patent No. 8,390,589.
  • G. Gruner, D. Hecht, L. Hu, "Method of Producing a Graphene Film as Transparent and Electrically Conducting Material", U.S. Patent No. 7,785,557.
  • G. Gruner, L. Hu, D. Hecht, "Graphene Film as Transparent and Electrically Conducting Material", U.S. Patent No. 7,449,133.

  • Wood nanoscience and nanotechnologies, various engineered wood such as super wood, transparent wood, moldable wood, and insulating wood
  • Ultrahigh temperature processes and their use for non-equilibrium synthesis (shock synthesis)
  • High entropy catalysts
  • Ionic materials and technologies
  • Solid state batteries
  • Roll-to-roll printed electronics and flexible electronics

Dr. Hu is currently leading various projects funded by DOE-ARPA_E, DOE-EERE, NSF, DARPA, and industry partners.

Professor Hu teaches "Nanotechnology for Energy: Principles, Materials and Devices" at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Professor Hu is also active in mentoring and outreach activities, including serving as an advisor to a Gemstone honors program team, hosting visits from high school students in Women In Engineering's LEAD Academy summer program, a partnership with Wheaton High School to create summer internships and new science lessons, and talking to visitors of all ages about materials science at Maryland Day.

​​​​​​Google Scholar

  • Xie, H.; Liu, N.; Zhang, Q.; Zhong, H.; Guo, L.; Zhao, X.; Li, D.; Liu, S.; Huang, Z.; Lele, A.; Brozena, A.; Wang, X.; Song, K.; Chen, S.; Yao, Y.; Chi, M.; Xiong, W.; Rao, J.; Zhao, M.; Shneider, M.; Luo, J.; Zhao, J.; Ju, Y.; Hu, L.* A Stable Atmospheric Pressure Plasma for Extreme-Temperature Synthesis, Nature, 2023.

  • Zhao, X.; Li, T.; Xie, H.; Liu, H.; Wang, L.; Qu, Y.; Li, S.; Liu, S.; Brozena, A.; Yu, Z.; Srebric, J.; Hu, L.* A Solution-Processed Radiative Cooling Glass, Science, 2023, 382, 684.

  • Dong, Q.; Dilip Lele, A.; Zhao, X.; Li, S.; Cheng, S.; Wang, Y.; Cui, M.; Guo, M.; Brozena, A.H.; Lin, Y.; Li, T.; Xu, L.; Qi, A.; Kevrekidis, I.; Mei, J.; Pan, X.; Liu, D.; Ju, Y.;  Hu, L.* Depolymerization of Plastics via Electrified Spatiotemporal Heating, Nature, 2023, 616, 488.

  • Dong, Q.; Yao, Y.; Cheng, S.; Alexopoulos, K.; Gao, J.; Srinivas, S.; Yang, Y.; Pei, Y.; Zheng, C.;  Brozena, A.H.; Zhao, H.; Wang, X.; Toraman, H.; Yang, B.;  Kevrekidis, I.; Ju, Y.; Vlachos, D.; Liu, D.; Hu, L.* Programmable Heating and Quenching for Efficient Thermochemical Synthesis. Nature, 2022, 605, 470.  (COVER)

  • Yao, Y.; Dong, Q.; Brozena, A.; Luo, J.; Miao, J.; Chi, M.; Wang, C.; Kevrekidis, I.; Ren, J.; Greeley, J.; Wang, G.; Anapolsky, A.; Hu, L.* High Entropy Nanoparticles: Synthesis-Structure-Property Relationships and Data-Driven Accelerated Discovery, Science, 2022, 376, eabn3102.

  • Yang, C.; Wu, Q.; Xie, W.; Zhang, X.;  Brozena, A.; Zheng, J.; Garage, M.N.; Ko, B.; Mao, Y.; He, S.; Gao, Y.; Wang, P.; Tyagi, M.; Jiao, F.; Briber, R.; Albertus, P.; Wang, C.; Greenbaum, S.; Hu, Y.; Isogai, A.; Winter, M.; Xu, K.; Qi, Y.; Hu, L.* Copper-Coordinated Cellulose Ion Conductors for Solid-State Batteries, Nature, 2021, 598, 590.

  • Xiao, S; Chen, C.; Xia, Q.; Liu, Y.; Yao, Y.; Chen, Q.; Hartsfield, M.; Brozena, A.; Tu, K.; Eichhorn, S.J.; Yao, Y.; Li. J.; Gan, W.; Shi, S.; Yang, V.; Ricco, M.; Zhu, Y.; Burgert, I.; Luo, A.; Li, T.;  Hu, L.* Lightwight, Strong, Modldable Wood via Cell Wall Engineering as a Sustainable Structural Material, Science, 2021, 374, 465. (COVER

  • Li, T.; Chen, C.; Brozena, A.; Zhu, J.; Xu, L.; Driemeier, C.; Dai, J.; Rojas, O.; Isogai, A.; Wagberg, L.; Hu, L.* Developing Fibrillated Cellulose as a Sustainable Technological Material, Nature, 2021, 590, 47.

  • Wang, C.; Ping, W.; Bai, Q.; Cui, H.; Hensleigh, R.; Wang, R.; Brozena, A., Xu, Z.; Dai, J.; Pei, Y.; Zheng, C.; Pastel, G.; Gao, J.; Wang, X.; Wang, H.; Zhao, J.; Yang, B.; Luo, J.; Zheng, X.; Mo, Y.; Dunn, B.; Hu, L.* A General Method to Synthesize and Sinter Bulk Ceramics in Seconds, Science, 2020, 268 (6490), 521-526. (COVER)

  • Li, T.; Zhai, Y.; He, S.; Gan, W.; Wei, Z.; Heidarinejad, M.; Dalgo, D.; Mi, R.; Zhao, X.; Song, J.; Dai, J.; Chen, C.; Aili, A.; Vellore, A.; Martini, A.; Yang, R.; Srebric, J.; Yin, X.; Hu, L.* A Radiative Cooling Structural Material. Science, 2019, 364 (6442), 760.

  • Yao, Y.; Huang, Z.; Xie, P.; Lacey, S.; Jacob, R.; Xie, H.; Chen, F.; Nie, A.; Pu, T.; Rehwoldt, M.; Yu, D.; Zachariah, M.; Wang, C.; Shahbazian-Yassar R.; Li, J.; Hu, L.* Carbothermal Shock Synthesis of High-Entropy-Alloy Nanoparticles. Science, 2018, 359 (6383), 1489 (COVER).

  • Song, J.; Chen, C.; Zhu, S.; Zhu, M.; Dai, J.; Ray, U.; Li, Y.; Kuang, Y.; Li, Y.; Quyispe, N.; Yao, Y.; Gong, A.; Leiste, U.H.; Bruck, H.A.; Zhu, J.Y.; Vellore, A.; Martini, A.; Li, T.; Hu, L.* Processing Bulk Natural Wood into a High-Performance Structural Materials. Nature, 2018, 554 (7691), 224.

 

Reflecting on 20 Years of Excellence and Innovation

Materials Science and Engineering celebrated its anniversary on November 7, 2023.

A Facile and Accessible Plasma Hotter Than the Surface of The Sun

Maryland and Princeton professors invented a new ultra-hot plasma capable of melting everything on the planet to synthesize new materials. 

UMD Researchers’ ‘Cooling Glass’ Blasts Building Heat Into Space

New Coating Can Be Applied to Various Exterior Surfaces to Reduce AC Use, Fight Climate Change

At the White House: Professor Liangbing Hu Showcases More Sustainable, Steel-Strength “Super Wood”

Hu’s Super Wood Among 40 Great Innovations Offering Scalable Solutions to Societal Challenges

Liangbing Hu Is Key PI of New Energy Earthshot Research Center

The new Oak Ridge National Laboratory Energy Earthshot Research Center aims to develop sustainable chemical processes.

Hu Develops New Lithium Extraction Technique with Princeton Researchers

This new technology co-developed by Princeton University and University of Maryland could reduce necessary land and time for operations.

Hu, Ulukus, DeVoe Recognized with UMD Distinguished Honors

Three Maryland Engineering professors—Liangbing Hu, Sennur Ulukus, and Don DeVoe—are among the 16 University of Maryland faculty members recognized this year as Distinguished University Professors and Distinguished Scholar-Teachers.

Powering a Greener Future

Engineering Sustainability Day showcases entrepreneurial talent

Device That Harvests Water From Air Named Top UMD Invention of the Year

Innovate Maryland event also celebrates work on plastic substitutes, cancer detection, quantum science

Electrified Plastic Recycling Toward A Sustainable Future

Multi-institutional study published in Nature

Energy Secretary and Maryland Governor visit with MEI2 startups

ARPA-E Summit showcases multiple UMD clean energy technologies

Insulwood for better sound and thermal insulation

Insulwood for better sound and thermal insulation

Ten Maryland MSE Faculty Members Ranked in Top 2% of World Scientists

Elsevier releases updated science-wide database

UMD Scientists Develop Wood-MOF for Greater Sustainability

Metal-organic Framework will support many environmental applications

InventWood and UMD Receive $20M ARPA-E SCALEUP Award

UMD exceeds $100M in ARPA-E funding

UMD Scientists Achieve Ultrahigh-Temperature Melt Printing

Direct metal melt printing towards additive manufacturing of multi-principal element alloys

UMD, Princeton, PPPL, and ANL receive $4.5M for Low Carbon Manufacturing

The research team will explore electrified ammonia synthesis

Maryland Engineers Get Cracking on Sustainability with Crab Shell-based Battery

Biodegradable electrolyte could lessen pollution burden of electric vehicles

Dr. Liangbing Hu Winner of R&D 100 Award

Expanded Cellulose Super Ion Conductor Honored

MSE Prof. Liangbing Hu Granted $5.6M in DOE ARPA-E Funding

Funds offered by the ARPA-E project will go towards the development of clean energy technology.

Engineering a Multi-Element Atomic Arrangement

A novel disorder-to-order transition strategy for ordered nanoparticles published in Science Advances.

Nine Maryland Engineers Recognized as Being "One in 1,000"

Clark School researchers among the "who's who" of influential researchers, according to Clarivate.

UMD-Led Team Wins NSF Award for Rapid Materials Design

The collaborative team receives $1.8 million in funding to develop an integrated framework to drive the rapid design of novel materials for batteries and fuel cells.

Moldable Wood from Water ‘Shock’ Process

A UMD research team has developed a strong yet incredibly flexible wood material that could be used in construction, automotives, and beyond.

Expanded Wood Fiber for High-Performance Solid-State Paper Batteries

UMD research group invented the first high-performance solid-state paper batteries by a new molecular scale engineering method.

Liangbing Hu’s HighT-Tech Wins 2021 Spinoff Prize

Prize conferred to UMD start-up for innovative catalysis development.

Three Engineers Among 2021-2022 Distinguished Scholar-Teachers

Abshire, Fisher and Hu honored for outstanding success in scholarly accomplishment and excellence in teaching.

Convocation to Shine Spotlight on Faculty, Staff Accomplishments

Six Clark School faculty and staff will be honored at UMD's 38th annual Convocation on Sept. 15, 2021.

Maryland Engineering ranked #12 public undergraduate program in the country

For the third consecutive year, the Clark School's rises in U.S. News & World Report ranking.

Liangbing Hu Named Finalist for 2021 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists

The winners of the $250K prize will be announced on July 20.

Liangbing Hu Named 2021/2022 Distinguished Scholar-Teacher

Hu has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to both research and teaching.

Liangbing Hu Elected to the Class of 2021 MRS Fellows

Hu is the first UMD scholar to receive this honor.

Plastic Alternative Made 100% of Wood

Study on strong, biodegradable and recyclable bioplastic published in Nature Sustainability.

Could Nanocellulose Save Us?

The building blocks of plants may taper our dependency on fossil fuels.

CREB Kicks Off 2021 with Meeting to Discuss Future of Battery Research

The virtual meeting aimed to bolster battery technology under extreme conditions.

10 Maryland MSE Faculty Members Ranked in Top 2% of World Scientists

Report prepared by Stanford University experts.

Scientists Design and Synthesize Denary Oxide Nanoparticles as Highly Stable Catalysts

Multi-Institutional research study made the January 2021 cover of Nature Catalysis.

UMD-Harvard team wins ARPA-E award for Transformational Energy Technology

Team to develop ultrahigh temperature coatings for jet engines and electricity-generation gas turbines

Seven UMD Engineers Recognized as Highly Cited Researchers

Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers have published multiple papers frequently cited by their peers over the last decade.

Two Maryland Energy Innovation Institute Start-Ups Named to Governor’s Future 20 List

Ion Storage Systems and InventWood hailed as talented innovators

Printed Solid-State Batteries

Printable, high-performance solid-state electrolyte films for next generation Li batteries.

Better than sponge: Elastic Wood

Liangbing Hu research group continues to make headlines with their out of the (timber) box thinking.

MSE Researcher Chengwei Wang Receives MRS Postdoctoral Award

Wang will be honored during an event coordinated with the 2020 Virtual MRS Spring/Fall Meeting later this year.

UMD receives 24th ARPA-E Award

Research Project to Develop Smart Alloy Coating

Wood Cathode Architecture Continues to Make Headlines

Lingbing Hu's study on high-capacity, long-life Li-CO2 battery reported in BBC.

Hafezi, Hu Named Blavatnik Finalists for Second Straight Year

For the second year in a row, two Clark School faculty members have been named Finalists of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists.

MSE Ph.D. Candidate Receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Dylan Kirsch, on track to complete his Ph.D. in 2022, is focused on high-performing thermoelectrics.

New solar panels suck water from air to cool themselves down

Dr. Liangbing Hu quoted in Science magazine

New, superfast method for ceramic manufacturing could open door to AI-driven materials discovery

UMD engineers have reinvented a 26,000-year-old manufacturing process into an innovative approach to fabricating ceramic materials.

Maryland Engineers Open Door to Big New Library of Tiny Nanoparticles

A new study published in Science Advances expands the landscape of nanomaterials, and what we can do with them.

Micro-reactor Produces Quality Nanoparticles

Research team led by Liangbing Hu publishes study in Materials Today.

UMD Launches Center for Materials Innovation

Research center, led by Liangbing Hu, will use innovative materials development to solve the world’s most pressing problems. 

Computer-designed nanoparticles could speed us toward hydrogen economy

Mixing the unmixable, scientists create efficient catalyst for hydrogen energy extraction

MSE Ranked #23 by U.S. News and World Report

UMD’s Materials Science and Engineering Department hits #23 in U.S. graduate school rankings – its highest ranking yet.

Accelerating Materials Discovery for a Clean Energy Future

UMD leads team that developed process for discovering new materials for clean energy use
 

Tian Li to Receive Materials Research Society Postdoctoral Award

Li will be honored at the 2020 MRS Spring Meeting  in April.

Thin Wood Film Amplifies Speaker Technology

UMD study published in Nature Communications.

Emily Hitz Named by Nature as One of Five Early Career Researchers in Materials Science

Hitz is an MSE Ph.D. student, advised by Liangbing Hu, conducting research on solid-state batteries.

MEI² Scientists Named Highly Cited Researchers in 2019

Hu and Wang identified by Web of Science

High Temperature Thermal Shocks Increase Stability of Single Atom Catalysts

Multi-institutional study published in Nature Nanotechnology August 12.

'Wood' You Like Some Fresh Water?

New treatment for wood could make a membrane to extract fresh water.

Two Clark School Faculty Named Finalists of Prestigious Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists

Hafezi and Hu are among 31 of the nation's rising stars who will compete for three Blavatnik National Awards.

Cooling Wood: An Eco-Friendly Building Material

UMD and Boulder engineers create strong, sustainable solution for passive cooling

Hu, Leite and Mo Promoted

MSE professors honored at the 2019 Engineering Assembly.

Yonggang Yao Awarded Charles A. Caramello Distinguished Dissertation Award

Yao will be honored at the May 14th UMD graduate school awards ceremony.

Solar evaporator offers a fresh route to fresh water

A self-cleaning device made of wood aims to make small-scale desalination more practical.

Wood-based Technology Creates Electricity from Heat

Briber, Das and Hu make novel heat-conversion membrane

Liangbing Hu Nominated for Invention of the Year Award

Winner will be announced at the 2019 Innovate Maryland event on April 11.

Wachsman and Wang “Battery 500” Awards selected for Phase II

DOE greenlights 2 UMD awards in second round

Clark School Faculty Members Named Highly Cited Researchers

Hu, Wang demonstrated significant influence through publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade.

"Super Wood" wins multiple awards

Professors Hu and Li receive over $3.6M in funding

MSE PhD Candidate Yonggang Yao Takes 1st Place in 2018 Dean's Doctoral Research Competition

Yao, advised by Liangbing Hu, will complete his PhD this Spring.

Scientists Mix the Unmixable to Create 'Shocking' Nanoparticles

Researchers are the first to create nanoscale particles composed of up to eight distinct elements generally known to be immiscible.

UMD ARPA-E Innovations transitioning to commercial reality

Transforming energy research into useable technology

Sturdy Insulator Made of Wood

Bio-friendly insulating material created by UMD engineers

2018 ARPA-E Summit to Showcase UMD Innovations

UMD Energy Innovation Technologies dominate

UMD Researchers Create New Architecture for Solid-State Li-ion Batteries

Novel garnet-fiber textiles maintain desired electrolyte flexibility while enabling high-capacity Li-metal anodes. 

Super Wood Could Replace Steel

A new process could make wood as strong as titanium alloy but lighter and cheaper

UMD Researchers Focus Energy on Current Collector Improvements

Research paper published in Advanced Energy Materials.

Clark School Researchers Recognized Among "World's Most Influential Scientific Minds"

Three Clark School faculty members have been named to Clarivate Analytics' 2017 Highly Cited Researchers list.

Li Named to Forbes' "30 Under 30" List

Clark School postdoc receives international recognition for her contributions to transparent wood.

MSE PhD Student Receives 3-Year NASA Fellowship

Emily Hitz is one of only five recipients of Aeronautics Scholarships and Advanced STEM Training and Research Fellowship.

Liangbing Hu Wins 2017 KINGFA Young Investigator Award

Hu was selected for this award based on several fronts of wood nanocellulose-based technologies.

UMD’s bio-compatible battery garners international coverage

One-of-a-kind device showcased for medical, scientific advances

3D-Printed Evaporator is Sustainable Approach to Water Shortage

The evaporator uses solar energy to efficiently purify water.

UMD Engineering Gives Solar Decathlon Team a Competitive Edge

What if we told you that wood can be used to make a smart window that is more energy efficient than glass?

Liangbing Hu Wins NANOLetters Young Investigator Award

Dr. Hu was selected for this award for his contributions to the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

MSE Researchers Interviewed by Voice of America

Scientists in Liangbing Hu's research group explain novel uses of wood.

Safer Batteries Made With Wood

Nature's 'bio-structure' helps UMD/MSE engineers solve Li metal battery failure problems.

UMERC exhibits large presence at 2017 DOE ARPA-E Energy Summit

UMERC  confirms its role as a leader in energy research, development, and innovation.

UMERC’s Liangbing Hu pitches transparent wood technology at 2017 ARPA-E Innovation Summit

UMERC is a multidisciplinary initiative dedicated to advancing the frontiers of energy science and technology.

A peek under a hybrid’s hood reveals wood?

Engineers at UMD make all-wood supercapacitor

UMD Researchers Find Ultra-thin Solution to Primary Obstacle in Solid-State Battery Development

Clark School researchers are developing game-changing solid-state battery technology

Transparent Wood: Clark School Research in the News

‘Cooler than glass’ windows receive international coverage

DOE Awards $1.25M to UMERC Researchers to Develop Safer, Better Batteries

The Department of Energy awards UMD research on safer, better Lithium-ion battery technology as part of a $137 million investment in vehicle efficiency.

Wood Windows are Cooler than Glass

A study by engineers at the University of Maryland shows that natural microstructures in transparent wood are the key to lighting & insulation advantages.

A View Through Wood Shows Futuristic Applications

Transparent wood made at UMD could create new windows, cars and solar panels

Hu and Munday Win Young Investigator Award

Liangbing Hu and Jeremy Munday win the 2016 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award.

UMD has Largest University Showing at 2016 ARPA-E Summit

UMD researchers showcase transformative energy research at ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit

CREB Kicks Off its Research and Innovation Seed Grant Program

Collaboration between UMD, NIST, and ARL facilitated by seed grant from the Center for Research in Extreme Batteries.

You’ll Never Be-Leaf What Makes up This Battery

UMD materials scientists bake oak leaf, add sodium to cook up new large-scale battery possibility

Hu wins 2015 Junior Faculty Outstanding Research Award

Shows "promise [for] significant and lasting impact" in nanoscience

University of Maryland Researchers Accept NASA Mission: Build a Better Battery for Space Exploration

UMD researchers awarded NASA funding for advanced energy storage technology

New Battery Demonstrates “Sweet Spot” of Electrolyte Thickness and Composition

Atom-scale synthesis makes highly conductive LiPON for solid-state battery

Transparent, Interactive Nanopaper Uses Touch to Generate Electricity

New material described in ACS Nano, featured in Nanowerk and C&EN.

Small Can Be Strong and Tough

The smaller the cellulose fibers, the stronger and tougher the paper they make, to UMD researchers’ surprise

Thin coatings controlled at atomic scale protect high performance lithium anodes

Anodes with layer of alumina resist corrosion and cycle well

Creating Transparent Electronic Networks with Graphene-Based Ink

Printed transparent conductors are the first to use sodium ions embedded in reduced graphene oxide to boost performance.

Lacey Wins Nat'l Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

Award supports graduate student’s study of printed and flexible electronics and batteries.

UMERC Researchers Came Out in Force at the ARPA-E Summit

UMERC Faculty promoted their transformative energy research last week at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit

Saving Energy with ‘Personal HVAC Systems’

UMD awarded more than $5 million by ARPA-E to fund potentially transformational research.

Faster Charging Technique Boosts Battery's Capacity

Unique in situ measurement of optical and electrical transport led to discovery.

Hu, Leite Named Outstanding Engineer and Scientist of the Year (VIDEO)

Materials Science professors receive awards from the Md. Academy of Sciences and Md. Science Center.

DOE Invests in UMERC Battery Research

The Energy Department selects UMERC’s solid-state Li-ion battery research to advance efficient vehicle technologies

UMERC's Advanced Energy Storage Technology Selected by NASA

Energy storage research at UMERC has been selected by NASA to potentially power future space missions.

Adding Lithium Boosts Transparency and Conductivity of Graphite

New material designed to boost performance of solar cells, displays, and electronics published in Nature Communications.

Munday, Hu and Collaborators’ Research on Inside Cover of Advanced Energy Materials

Interdisciplinary collaboration leads to use of cellulose fiber paper as antireflection coating for solar cells.

Hu, Wachsman Win Invention of the Year Award

MSE/UMERC professors team with U. Calgary to create advanced Li-ion batteries.

Nanopaper Featured in Nature Photonics News & Views

Article highlights Hu Group’s recent paper in Nano Letters.

Transparent Nanopaper Could Make Paper Electronics a “Thriving Technology”

Zhu presents work on new material at MRS and in Energy & Environmental Science.

Hu: Invited Talk at Printed Electronics U.S.A.

Professor presents group's development of transparent and conductive paper.

Student’s Presentation of Conductive Nanopaper Featured in MRS Meeting Scene

New version composed of cellulose “nanoribbons” and silver wires can be produced using less energy.

NSF Grants for Graphene Research Awarded to Hu, Rubloff

Research at the nano-scale nets university over half-million dollars in funding

UMD Researchers Awarded Two ARPA-E Grants for Electric Vehicle Energy Storage Systems

Eric Wachsman and Chunsheng Wang receive funding to create innovative batteries for electric vehicle energy storage systems.

UMD Energy Innovations Featured Prominently in the News

Clark School energy research, including solid oxide fuel cells and wood battery, featured in variety of mainstream media outlets.

"Battery Made of Wood" Featured on National Public Radio (Audio)

Professor and alumnus interviewed for Morning Edition.

A Battery Made of Wood?

Wood fibers help nano-scale batteries keep their structure

Flexible Nanopaper Featured in Chemical & Engineering News

ACS Newsmagazine reports innovation in nanoscale technology

Air Force Supports Study on Nanopaper for Electronics, Aircraft

Hu wins prestigious Air Force Young Investigator Award.

Hu Joins MSE Faculty

Professor offers expertise in nanotech, energy devices and flexible electronics.