Faculty Directory

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., UCLA, 2007 

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Highly Cited Researcher (Top 0.1%), Clarivate Web of Science, 2021
• Finalist of Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists (2019, 2018)
• Invention of the Year, UMD (2019, 2013)
• R&D 100 Award (2018)

• The Bing Research Group works at the intersections of three fields: Nanomaterials, energy, and flexible electronics.
• Current projects in nanomaterials include synthesis and nanomanufacturing, and the structure, properties and applications of materials. Areas of interest include nanocellulose (1D) and 2D materials.
• The group's work in the design of energy-related devices include investigations of sodium-ion batteries, garnet-based solid state batteries, lithium-sulfer dioxide bateries, and nanobatteries.
• Professor Hu has also become well known for his creation of flexible electronic materials and devices, such as transparent "nanopaper," nanotube ink, energy textiles, and tiny, printed antennae.

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.

• 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)

• Yao, Y.; Liu, Z.; Xie, P.; Huang, Z.; Li, T.; Morris, D.; Fincrock, Z.; Zhou, J.; Jiao, M.; Gao, J.; Miao, J.; Zhang, P.; Shahbazian-Yassar, R.; Wang, C.; Wang, G.; Hu, L.*, Computationally-Aided, Entropy-Driven Synthesis of Highly Efficient and Durable Multi-elemental Alloy Catalysts, Science Advances, 2020, 6 (11), eaaz0510.

• Yang, C.; Ko, B., Hwang, S., Liu, Z., Yao, Y., Luc, W., Cui, M., Malkani, A., Li, T., Wang, X., Dai, J., Xu, B., Wang, G., Su, D., Jiao, F., Hu, L.*, Overcoming Immiscibility toward Bimetallic Catalyst Library, Science Advances, 2020, 6 (17), eaaz6844.  

• Hou, D.; Li, T.; Chen, X.; He, S.; Dai, J.; Mofid, S.A.; Hou, D.; Iddya, A.; Jassby, D.; Yang, R.; Hu, L.* Hydrophobic nanostructured wood membrane for thermally efficient distillation. Science Advances, 2019, 5 (8), 3203. 

• Li, T.; Li, S.; Kong, W.; Chen, C.; Hitz, E.; Jia, C.; Dai, J.; Zhang, X.; Briber, R.; Siwy, Z.; Reed, M.; Hu, L.*, A nanofluidic ion regulation membrane with aligned cellulose nanofibers. Science Advances, 2019, 5 (2), eaau4238.

• Gan, W.; Chen, C.; Kim, H.; Jia, Q.; Zhi, W.; Dong, Z.; Zhou, Z.; Ping, W.; He, S.; Xiao, S.; Yu, M. *; Hu, L.* Single-Digit-Micrometer Thickness Wood Speaker, Nature Communications, 2019, 10, 5084.

• Xie, P.; Yao, Y.; Huang, Z.; Liu, Z.; Zhang, J.; Li, T.; Wang, G.; Shahbazian-Yassar, R.; Hu, L.*; Wang, C. Highly Efficient Decomposition of Ammonia Using High-Entropy Alloy Catalysts, Nature Communications, 2019, 10, 4011.

• 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.; Wu, L.; Ma, L.; Li, T.; Pang, Z.; Jiang, M.; Liang, Z.; Gao, J.; He, Y.; Kline, D.; Zachariah, M.; Wang, C.; Lu, J.; Li, T.; Wang, C.; Shahbazian-Yassar, R.; Hu, L.* High Temperature Shockwave Stabilized Single Atoms, Nature Nanotechnology, 2019, 14 (9), 851.

• Li, T.; Zhang, X.; Lacey, S. D.; Mi, R.; Zhao, X.; Jiang, F.; Song, J.; Liu, Z.; Chen, G.; Dai, J.; Yao, Y.; Das, S.; Yang, R.; Briber, R. M.; Hu, L.* Cellulose Ionic Conductors with High Differential Thermal Voltage for Low-Grade Heat Harvesting. Nature Materials, 2019, 18 (6), 608.

• 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.* Carbo-Thermal 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 Wood into Super Strong and Tough Structural Materials. Nature, 2018, 554 (7691), 224.

• Li, T,; Pickel, A.; Yao, Y.; Chen, Y.; Zeng, Y.; Lacey, S.D.; Li, Y.; Wang, Y.; Dai, J.; Wang, Y.; Yang, B.; Fuhrer, M.S.; Marconnet, A.; Drew, D.H.; Hu, L.* High Performance Thermoelectric in 3300 K Reduced Graphene Oxide Networks with High Temperature Capability. Nature Energy, 2018, 3 (2), 148.  

• Li, T.; Song, J.; Zhao, X.; Yang, Z.; Pastel, G.; Xu, S.; Jia, C.; Dai, J.; Chen, C.; Gong, A.; Jiang, F.; Yao, Y.; Fan, T.; Yang, B.; Wågberg, L.; Yang, R.; Hu, L.* Anisotropic, Lightweight, Strong, and Super Thermally Insulating Nanowood with Naturally Aligned Nanocellulose, Science Advances, 2018, 4 (3), 3724.

• Han, X.; Gong, Y.; Fu, K.K.; He, X.; Hitz, G.T.; Dai, J.; Pearse, A.; Liu, B.; Wang, H.; Rubloff, G.; Mo, Y., Thangadurai, V.; Wachsman.; Hu, L.* Negating Interfacial Impedance in Garnet-Based Solid-State Li Metal Batteries, Nature Materials, 2017, 16 (5), 572.

• Wang, C.; Fu, K.; Dai, J.; Lacey, S.; Yao, Y.; Pastel, G.; Xu, L.; Zhang, J.; Hu L.* Inverted Battery Design as Ion Generator for Interfacing with Biosystems, Nature Communications, 2017, 8, 15609. 

• Chen, Y.; Egan, G.; Wan, J.; Zhu, S.; Zhou, W.; Dai, J.; Wang, Y.; Danner, V.; Yao, Y.; Fu, K.; Wang, Y.; Li, T.; Zachariah, M.; Hu, L.* Ultra-fast self-assembly and stabilization of reactive nanoparticles in reduced graphene oxide films, Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 12332.

• Fu, K.; Gong, Y.; Liu, B.; Zhu, Y.; Xu, S.; Yao, Y.; Luo, W.; Wang, C.; Lacey, S.; Dai, J.; Chen, Y.; Mo, Y.; Wachsman, E.; Hu, L.* Towards Garnet Electrolyte-based Li metal batteries: An Ultrathin, Highly Effective Artificial Solid-State Electrolyte/Metallic Li Interface, Science Advances, 2016, 3 (4), e1601659. 

• Bao, W.; Wan, J.; Han, X.; Cai, X.; Zhu, H.; Kim, D.; Ma, D.; Munday, J.; Drew, D.; Fuhrer, M.; Hu, L.* Approaching the Limits of Transparency and Conductivity in Graphitic Materials through Lithium Intercalation, Nature Communications, 2014, 5, 4224.

Selected Patents and Patent Applications

• G. Gruner, L. Hu, D. Hecht, Graphene Film as Transparent and Electrically Conducting Material, Issued, US 7449133, 2006.
• Y. Cui, L. Hu, H. Wu, Cu Nanofiber Transparent Electrode, Nonprovisional STFD259P1.
• L. Hu, J. Choi, Y. Yang, Y. Cui, Conductive Paper and Textile for Electronics, Stanford, Nonprovisional S09-252.