EDUCATION

• Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (1992), University of Science and Technology Beijing
• M.S. in Physical Chemistry (1989), Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
• B. S. in Physical Chemistry (1986), Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China

EXPERIENCE:

1/2015-present: Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina

1/2010-12/2014: Associate professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina Research Focus: Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs); storage batteries; gas separation membranes; solid- state electrochemistry; defect chemistry

1/2009-12/2009: Fellow engineer, Cells and Bundles Technology, Siemens Energy

1/2005-12/2008: Principal Engineer, Cells and Bundles Technology, Siemens Power Generation

9/2000-12/2004: Senior engineer, Cells and Bundles Technology, Siemens Westinghouse Power Generation Research Focus: Product development of cathode-supported tubular SOFCs; advanced SOFC materials; SOFC component cost-effective fabrication; cell power enhancement through advanced materials and geometries; zero emission SOFC power plants

4/1995-8/2000: Postdoctoral fellow in Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin Research Focus: Intermediate-temperature oxide-ion conductors and mixed oxide-ion/electron conductors; oxygen transport membranes; metallic interconnect;

9/1993-4/1995: Assistant/Associate Professor, Laboratory for Solid State Ionics University of Science and Technology Beijing Research Focus: Oxygen sensors for steelmaking process; environmental sensors for SOx, NOx and COx

1/1989-6/1992: Ph.D. student, University of Science and Technology Beijing Research Focus: Fundamental study and applications of direct electrochemical oxygen determination in gases and melts

RESEARCH

1. High Temperature Ceramic-Carbonate Dual-Phase Membrane Reactor for Pre-Combustion Carbon Dioxide Capture, DOE/NETL, ASU lead
2. Next Generation Durable, Cost Effective, Energy Efficient Tubular SOFC, DOE/NETL, Atrex Energy lead
3. Cost-effective, Thin-Film SOFCs for Reliable Power Generation, DOE/NETL, co-PI
4. A Transformational Natural Gas Fueled Dynamic SOFC for Data Center In-Rack Power, DOE/NETL
5. Development of Next-Generation Heat Exchangers for Hybrid Power Generation, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy/DOE
6. Fundamentals of a New All Solid-state Metal-air Redox Battery Operated on Oxide-ion Chemistry, Single PI
7. System Analysis and Optimization of a New Syngas-powered SOFC/Turbine Hybrid System with OTM Afterburner and CO2 Capture, Single PI, NICE America, NICE America
8. Identification of Active Surface Species on Molten Carbonate, Single PI, ExxonMobil
9. Degradation & Performance Studies of ALD-Stabilized Nano-Composite SOFC Cathodes, Single PI, DOE-NETL
10. Development of Lost Cost, Robust and Durable Cathode Materials to Support SOFC Commercialization, co-PI, DOE-NETL
11. An Innovative Intermediate-temperature Bifunctional Ceramic Fuel Cell Energy System, PI, ARPA-E
12. Performance and Reliability Advancements in a Durable Low Temperature Tubular SOFC, DOE-NETL,PI at USC
13. Cost-effective and morphological stabilization of nanostructured cathodes for commercial SOFCs, PI, DOE-NETL
14. On the Origin of Atomic Layer Deposition Enhanced Stability and Activity in Nanostructured Cathode for Intermediate-temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, PI, collaborative research, NSF
15. System Analysis and Optimization of a New Syngas-powered SOFC/Turbine Hybrid System with OTM Afterburner and CO2 Capture, Single PI, NICE America Research
16. Direct Coal Syngas Conversion into Value Added Products with Electrochemical Hydrogen Pumps, Single PI, NICE
17. Direct conversion of coal gas to methanol and ethylene using electrochemical hydrogen pump, National Institute of Clean and Low-carbon Energy (NICE), PI
18. Electrochemical Capture of CO2 and Instant Conversion to Syngas: a Mechanistic And Engineering Approach, PI, National Science Foundation
19. Unraveling the Mechanisms of Superior Oxygen Reduction Reaction Kinetics Promoted by Molten Carbonates: Implications for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, PI, National Science Foundation
20. Novel MC/BZY Proton Conductor: Materials Development, Device Evaluation, and Theoretical Exploration using CI and DFT Methods, PI, DOD-ARO
21. Novel Surface-Functionalized Powders for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, $15K, subcontractor to Phase I SBIR project led by Sonata Materials
22. Novel Surface-Functionalized Powders for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, $60K, subcontractor to Phase II SBIR project led by Sonata Materials
23. Investigating the Ionic Transport Mechanisms in Electrochemical CO2-Selective Separation Membranes with Highly Interconnected Ionic Channels, PI, NSF-EAGER
24. Theoretical Design and Experimental Evaluation of Molten Carbonate Modified LSM Cathode for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, PI, DOD-ARO
25. Characterization of SROB system, PI, Siemens Energy
26. Fuel Flexible Advanced Power for Portable Applications, Co-PI, DARPA

PROJECTS INVOLVED AS A PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• An Innovative Intermediate-temperature Bifunctional Ceramic Fuel Cell Energy System, PI, ARPA-E, $3.2 million, 10/1/2014-9/30/2017. DE-AR-0000492. Co-PIs: John B. Goodenough (UT Austin); Eric Wachsman (UMD); Doug Schmidt (Acumentrics), PI share: 55%.
• Performance and Reliability Advancements in a Durable Low Temperature Tubular SOFC, Single PI, DOE-NETL, $250K, 10/1/2016-9/30/2018.
• Cost-effective and morphological stabilization of nanostructured cathodes for commercial SOFCs, Single PI, DOE-NETL, $350K, 10/1/2014-9/30/2017, DE-FE-0023317.
• On the Origin of Atomic Layer Deposition Enhanced Stability and Activity in Nanostructured Cathode for Intermediate-temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Single PI, collaborative research, NSF, $396K, 8/1/2015-7/30/2019, DMR-1464112.
• System Analysis and Optimization of a New Syngas-powered SOFC/Turbine Hybrid System with OTM Afterburner and CO2 Capture, Single PI, NICE America Research, $100K, 5/1/2017-4/30/2018.
• Direct Coal Syngas Conversion into Value Added Products with Electrochemical Hydrogen Pumps, Single PI, NICE, $60K, 6/1/2016-5/30/2017.
• Electrochemical Capture of CO2 and Instant Conversion to Syngas: a Mechanistic and Engineering Approach, Single PI, NSF, $240K, 7/1/2014-6/30/2017, CBET-1401280.
• Unraveling the Mechanisms of Superior Oxygen Reduction Reaction Kinetics Promoted by Molten Carbonates: Implications for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Single PI, NSF, $260K, 8/15/2013-8/14/2017, CBET-1264706.
• Novel MC/BZY Proton Conductor: Materials Development, Device Evaluation, and Theoretical Exploration using CI and DFT Methods, Single PI, DOD-ARO, $180K, 5/1/2013-4/30/2016, W911NF1310158
• Novel Surface-Functionalized Powders for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, $15K, subcontractor to Phase I SBIR project led by Sonata Materials, DE-SC0013116, 4/15/2015-11/15/2015.
• Novel Surface-Functionalized Powders for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, $60K, subcontractor to Phase II SBIR project led by Sonata Materials, 5/10/2016-5/9/2018.
• Direct conversion of coal gas to methanol and ethylene using electrochemical hydrogen pump, National Institute of Clean and Low-carbon Energy (NICE), Single PI, $60K, 6/1/2016-5/30/2017.
• Investigating the Ionic Transport Mechanisms in Electrochemical CO2-Selective Separation Membranes with Highly Interconnected Ionic Channels, Single PI, NSF-EAGER, $100K, 8/1/2013-7/30/2014, CBET-1340269.
• Theoretical Design and Experimental Evaluation of Molten Carbonate Modified LSM Cathode for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Single PI, DOD-ARO, $172,455, 5/1/2011-4/30/2014, W911NF10R006.
• Characterization of SROB system, Single PI, Siemens Energy, $100K, 9/1/2010-8/30/2011
• Fuel Flexible Advanced Power for Portable Applications, Co-PI, DARPA, $400K, 9/1/2010-8/30/2011, W91CRB1010007. PI share: 30%. PI: Ken Reifsnider.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Recipient of 2018 Breakthrough Leadership in Research Award
• Recipient of 2017 Educational Foundation Award for Research in Science, Mathematics and Engineering
• 2015 College of Engineering and Computing Research Achievement Award
• 2014 University of South Carolina Breakthrough Stars
• Siemens Special Employee Recognition Award 2007
• Siemens SFC, Employee of the Year Award 2006
• Siemens Spot Awards 2005-2007
• Science and Technology Achievement Award, 2nd prize, State Education Committee of China, 1994
• Excellent Ph. D. Thesis Award, University of Science & Technology Beijing, 1992
• Best Scientific Paper Award, Chinese Ceramic Society, 1991

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

• Associate editor of Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage, 2015-present
• Associate editor of RSC Advances, 2015-2017
• Chair of Seminar Committee, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 9/2014 – present
• Member of College of Engineering Scholarship Committee, 1/2014 – present
• Engineering college library liaison, 1/2013 – present
• Member of Advisor Board of Electron Microscopy, 9/2012 – present
• Member of Lab Safety Committee, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2013-present
• Session chair of Symposium on Advances in Materials Science, Processing and Engineering for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers, 2014 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, Boston, December 1-5, 2014
• Panel moderator and co-organizer of Alternative Applications of Natural Gas workshop, sponsored by AIChE and DOE, Washington DC, October 8-9, 2014
• Session chair of Symposium of Multifunctional Oxides, MS&T, Pittsburgh, October 12-16, 2014
• Organizer and session chair of Symposium on Materials and Processes for CO2 Capture and Conversion, MS&T, Pittsburgh, October 26-28, 2016
• Organizer and session chair of Symposium on Materials and Processes for CO2 Capture and Conversion, MS&T, Montreal, October 5-7, 2015
• Organizer and session chair of Symposium on Materials and Processes for CO2 Capture and Conversion, MS&T, Pittsburgh, October 12-16, 2014
• Organizer and session chair of Symposium on Materials and Processes for CO2 Capture and Conversion, MS&T, Montreal, October 27-31, 2013
• Session chair, 222th Electrochemical Society Meeting, Hawaii, October 7-12, 2012
• Session chair, 220th Electrochemical society meeting, Boston, October 10-14, 2011
• NSF proposal panelist, 2010-present
• Visiting professor, China University of Mining Technology Beijing, 2011-2015
• Visiting professor, Harbin Institute of Technology, 2013-now
• Visiting professor, Huazhong University of Science and technology, 2012-now
• Active member of American Electrochemical Society
• Active member of American Ceramic Society
• Active member of American Chemical Society
• Active member of American Society of Mechanical Engineering

GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL ADVISORS:

Thesis advisor for graduate students (11):

Graduated: Lingling Zhang (PhD) – engineer at General Electric Xuan Zhao (PhD) – postdoctoral fellow at University of Texas at Austin Ray Xiong (PhD) – Engineer at Maike Technologies, Shenzhen, China Kevin Romito (MS) – engineer at Sonoco Farzana Yasmeen (MS) – PhD student at University of South Carolina Ashan Uddin (MS) – PhD student at University of South Carolina Nansheng Xu (exchange PhD) – postdoctoral fellow at Chinese Academia of Science Jingjing Tong (exchange PhD) – postdoc at University of South Carolina,

Sponsor for postdoctoral fellows (11):

Past: Xue Li- project manager at Kuang-chi Institute of Technology Zhengping Mao- project manager at Sulzer-Metco Qunwei Tang- professor at China Ocean University Tao Wei- postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech Yunhui Gong- postdoctoral fellow at University of Maryland Yaoyu Ren – Postdoctoral fellow at University of Maryland Fengzhan Si- postdoctoral fellow at Benedict College Youngseok Jee – Senior scientist at National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA Xueling Lei – Professor at Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China Jie Wang – Scientist at Beijing Institute of Nanomaterials, Beijing, China Cuijuan Zhang – Professor at Tianjin University, Tianjin, China Xingyan Xu – Professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China

COURSES TAUGHT

• Undergraduate course:
• Mechanical Engineering Laboratory II, EMCH362, core course of ME major
• Graduate courses:
• Dense ceramic gas separation membranes, EMCH791B
• Defect chemistry, EMCH791C
• Energy storage, EMCH791H
• Advanced engineering thermodynamics, EMCH794