Xiangwu Zhang

Xiangwu Zhang is the Samuel S. Walker Distinguished Professor in Textile Innovation and the Associate Dean for Research in the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University. He is also an Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor and an Inaugural University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University.

Research

Zhang has published two books, ten book chapters, and more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles. Zhang has also delivered over 200 presentations in international and national conferences. Zhang’s research interests focus on nanostructured and multifunctional polymer, composite, fiber, and textile materials with an emphasis on practical applications: i) energy storage and conversion, ii) chemical and biological protection,  iii) composites, and iv) nanofinishing. His research encompasses both fundamental materials studies such as synthesis and physical characterization, as well as system design and fabrication. Zhang has received over seven million dollars of research funding from the US government, foundation, and industry. Following are examples of recent research projects:

• Lithium-Ion Batteries
• Lithium-Air Batteries
• Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
• Sodium-Ion Batteries
• Supercapacitors
• Fuel Cells
• Chemical and Biological Protection Fabrics
• Nano-Finishing of Textile Fabrics
• Functional Textile Materials
• Advanced Electrospinning Systems
• Advanced Centrifugal Spinning Systems

Academic Degrees

• Postdoctoral Associate Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, 2006
• Postdoctoral Associate Center for Electrochemical Systems and Hydrogen Research, Texas A&M University, 2002
• Ph.D Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 2001
• Dissertation Preparation and Properties of Polymeric Composites Filled with Low-Melting-Point Alloy, ,
• B.S. Polymer Materials and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, 1997
• Minor Computer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 1997

Publications

A Single-Ion Conducting UiO-66 Metal–Organic Framework Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Yang, H., Liu, B., Bright, J., Kasani, S., Yang, J., Zhang, X., & Wu, N. (2020), ACS Applied Energy Materials, 4. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.0c00410

A sustainable platform of lignin: From bioresources to materials and their applications in rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors

Zhu, J., Yan, C., Zhang, X., Yang, C., Jiang, M., & Zhang, X. (2020). [Review of , ]. PROGRESS IN ENERGY AND COMBUSTION SCIENCE, 76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2019.100788

Centrifugally spun porous carbon microfibers as interlayer for Li-S batteries

Yanilmaz, M., Asiri, A. M., & Zhang, X. (2020), JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE, 55(8), 3538–3548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-04215-y

Chemical interaction and enhanced interfacial ion transport in a ceramic nanofiber–polymer composite electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries

Yang, H., Bright, J., Chen, B., Zheng, P., Gao, X., Liu, B., … Wu, N. (2020), Journal of Materials Chemistry A. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TA12495K

Chemically interconnected ternary AgNP/polypyrrole/functionalized buckypaper composites as high-energy-density supercapacitor electrodes

Kim, H., Ramalingam, M., Balakumar, V., Zhang, X., Gao, W., Son, Y.-A., & Bradford, P. D. (2020), CHEMICAL PHYSICS LETTERS, 739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2019.136957

Garnet-rich composite solid electrolytes for dendrite-free, high-rate, solid-state lithium-metal batteries

Yan, C., Zhu, P., Jia, H., Du, Z., Zhu, J., Orenstein, R., … Zhang, X. (2020), Energy Storage Materials, 26, 448–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2019.11.018

Hexanedioic acid mediated in situ functionalization of interconnected graphitic 3D carbon nanofibers as Pt support for trifunctional electrocatalysts

Shanmugapriya, S., Kasturi, P. R., Zhu, P., Zhu, J., Yan, C., Zhang, X., & Selvan, R. K. (2020), Sustainable Energy & Fuels. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SE00136H

Highly Transparent, Thermally Stable, and Mechanically Robust Hybrid Cellulose-Nanofiber/Polymer Substrates for the Electrodes of Flexible Solar Cells

Wang, R., Yu, H., Dirican, M., Chen, L., Fang, D., Tian, Y., … Tao, J. (2020), ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS, 3(1), 785–793. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.9b01943

Interlayer design based on carbon materials for lithium-sulfur batteries: a review

Chen, L., Yu, H., Li, W., Dirican, M., Liu, Y., & Zhang, X. (2020), JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, Vol. 8, pp. 10709–10735. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ta03028g

Melt-spun modified poly (styrene-co-butyl acrylate) fiber as a carrier to support manganese oxide and its application in dye wastewater decolorization

Xu, N., Ning, L., Chen, S., Hao, Z., Xiao, C., Zhang, X., & Feng, Y. (2020), ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09105-4

View All Publications

Organizations

• Journal of Energy Storage and Conversion - Editor-in-Chief
• Journal of textile Science and Engineering - Editorial Board Member
• Intenational Journal of Nano Science, Nano Engineering and Nanotechnology - Editorial Board Member
• Journal of Membrane Science & Technology - Editorial Board Member
• Global Journal of Physical Chemistry - Editorial Board Member
• Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society - Full Member
• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) - Affiliate Member and Textile and Composites Engineering Technical Committee Member
• The Electrochemical Society (ECS) - Active Member
• The American Chemical Society (ACS) - Full Member
• Materials Research Society (MRS) - Full Member
• The Fiber Society - Full Member
• American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) - Member

Additional Information

Research Group Members

https://sites.textiles.ncsu.edu/zhang-research-group/