Virtual Location:
https://bluejeans.com/891381233
Abstract: In this seminar, I will share two research directions in my group: (1) Extreme high temperature (2000–3000 K) as a disruptive platform to design/synthesize novel materials, from single atom, high entropy nanoparticles (Science 2018, 359, 1489, Cover) to bulk ceramics/metals for energy technologies and other applications in extreme conditions (Science 2020, Cover). (2) Wood nanocellulose as a material platform for designing new structures to manipulate ion, phonon, photon, and mechanical properties, with end applications in lightweight, energy-efficient transportation (super wood, Nature 2018, 554, 224), energy-efficient green buildings (cooling wood, Science 2019, 364, 760), and high-performance membranes for the water-energy nexus (ionic wood, Nature Materials 2019, 18, 608).
Bio: Liangbing Hu received his B.S. in physics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2002, where he worked on colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials for three years. He did his Ph.D. (2002–2007) at UCLA, focusing on carbon-nanotube-based nanoelectronics. In 2006, he joined Unidym, Inc. as a co-founding scientist, leading the development of roll-to-roll printed carbon nanotube films and device integration in touch screens, LCDs, flexible OLEDs, and solar cells. With a strong interest in research, he transitioned back to academia and did his postdoc at Stanford University from 2009–2011, where he worked on various energy storage technologies using nanomaterials/nanostructures. Currently, he is a Herbert Rabin Distinguished Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research group focuses on materials innovations, device integrations, and manufacturing in general, with ongoing research actives on wood nanotechnologies, 3000 K extreme materials, and beyond Li-ion batteries. Hu has published over 350 research papers (including Science and Nature). He has received many awards, including: RD 100 award (2018, 2020), Highly Cited Researchers list by Clarivate Analytics (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Young Innovator Award (2019, Wiley-Small Journal), Air Force Young Investigator Award (AFOSR YIP, 2013). For more information, please visit www.bingnano.umd.edu. Dr. Hu is the founding director of the Center for Materials Innovation at the University of Maryland, College Park (www.cmi.umd.edu). He is also the co-founder of Inventwood, LLC (www.inventwood.com) and HighT-Tech (www.hight-tech.com).