Tianyi Zhou 
Postdoctoral Scholar (February 20, 2025 – Current)

Ph.D. Student (May 13, 2020 – December 18, 2024)
Email: tzhou2@g.clemson.edu

Tianyi received his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in May 2017 and his B.S. in Inorganic-Nonmetal Materials Science and Engineering from Hefei University of Technology in May 2015. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science & Engineering Department of Clemson University. His main research interests focus on studying Reactive Laser Sintering (RLRS) and 3-D printing of PCFC and SOFC. He also has experience in metal heat treatment and finite element analysis during his M.S. period. Dr. Zhou studied from May 13, 2020, to December 2024 in Prof. Tong’s group and is currently working as a postdoc, leading multiple advanced manufacturing projects.

Aaron T. Santomauro

Ph.D. Student (August 2019 – Current)

Email: santoma@clemson.edu

Aaron received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida in August 2019.  He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Clemson University.  His primary research focus is on the integration of additive manufacturing (AM), laser sintering [RLRS (Rapid Laser Reactive Sintering) and SSRS (Solid-State Reactive Sintering)], and machine learning (ML) to generate solid-state batteries.  Undergraduate research experience consists of fused filament fabrication (FFF) methods for polymeric materials and mechanical characterization.  Extracurricular activities include biking, running, kayaking, playing frisbee, and assembling puzzles.

Yuchen Zhang

Ph.D. Student (August 19, 2020 – Current)

Email: yuchen5@g.clemson.edu

Yuchen Zhang received his B.S. in Material Forming and Control Engineering from Tianjin University in June 2018. His previous research involves rare earth materials for structural or functional applications and welding technology optimization. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at Clemson University, with research interests mainly focused on the 3D printing of ceramic materials and their application for energy storage.

Yanfei Cai

Ph.D. Student (Aug 16, 2021- Current)

Email: yanfeic@g.Clemson.edu

Yanfei received her B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from Zhengzhou University (China) and Materials Science & Technology from Nagaoka University of Technology (Japan) in 2017. After completing her master’s in Materials Physics at Nagoya University (Japan) in 2020, she joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Clemson University as a Ph.D. student inthe Sustainable Clean Energy Laboratory. Her previous research interests focused on combining photocatalysts and solar energy to make the splitting of water happen for energy conversion. Her current research is cost-effectively and repeatably fabricating high-performance protonic ceramic electrochemical cells.

Ph.D. Student

Patrick Kuzbary (August 18, 2021 – Current)

Email: pkuzbar@g.clemson.edu

Patrick Kuzbary received his B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Clemson University in May 2019. At Clemson, he worked in the Tong Group from the fall of 2018 to the spring of 2019, assisting with anode material for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell for reactive laser sintering and 3D printing. Over the couple of years, Patrick worked at Savannah River National Lab as an Associate Engineer, assisting with various projects, including spark plasma sintering, mechanical testing, and failure analysis of various stainless steels. He is now working towards his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering under Dr. Tong, and his research is focusing on Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells utilizing 3-D printing.

Ryo Kitamura
Ph.D. Student (August 22, 2022 – Current)
Email: rkitamu@g.clemson.edu
Ryo received his M.S. and B.S in Materials Science and Engineering from Osaka University in 2018 and 2016. After working in industry, he joined Tong’s group. His current interest is in the development of an oxygen electrode without alkaline earth metals for extended stability, and the demonstration of
high water electrolysis/fuel cell performance for protonic ceramic electrochemical cells with the electrode.

Jacob Conrad

Ph.D. Student (August 22, 2022 – Current)

Email: jconra2@clemson.edu

Jacob received his B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Purdue University in May 2021.  After graduation, he worked briefly in industry as a materials data consultant before joining the SCEL in August 2022.  He is researching manufacturing methods for fuel cell devices, focusing on additive manufacturing techniques and laser-based processing of ceramic materials.  His current work focuses primarily on developing metal-supported protonic ceramic fuel cells.

Dr. Dong JIANG

Postdoctoral Scholar (September 05, 2016 – July 9, 2018)

Work at Clemson focused on the catalysis over mayenite-based structures and a solid-state electrolytic cell for CO2 reduction into valuable chemicals. Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar at Washington State University, Email: dong.jiang@wsu.edu

Daniel Fox

M.S. Student (December 2018 – December 2019)

Daniel Fox is a master’s student in materials science and engineering at Clemson University. He focuses on developing and using bioceramics such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). As an undergraduate in Physics at Clemson, he worked on several research projects. Initially, he focused on ion trapping and charge exchange using high vacuum systems. After that, he learned to do spark plasma sintering (SPS) and used the software GSAS to determine crystal structures. Then he spent a summer at Savannah River National Labs (SRNL) studying graphene as a barrier to hydrogen permeation before joining Dr. Tong’s group in December 2018. I graduated with a B.S. in Physics from Clemson University in May 2019. Since then, I have enjoyed learning about technologies that influence the production of bioceramics, such as additive manufacturing and sintering.

Shenglong MU

Ph.D. Student (July 14, 2016 – Oct 30, 2020 )

Email: smu@g.clemson.edu

Shenglong received his M.S. in Polymer Engineering from the University of Akron in May 2016 and his B.S. from Beijing University of Chemical Technology in Materials Science & Engineering. He is a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at Clemson University. His main research interests focus on studying reactive laser sintering and 3-D printing of SOFC. He also has experience in polymer drying process and uniaxial stretching investigation of the polymer film during his M.S. period. He is good at exercise and traveling.

Vincent Phaneuf

M.S. Student (August 22, 2019 – January 10, 2021)

vphaneu@g.clemson.edu

Vincent Phaneuf received his B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from Clemson University in May 2019. Passionate about alternative fuel sources & clean energy, Vincent joined The Tong Group back in the spring of 2017 as a research assistant. He is working towards his M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering at Clemson University with Dr. Tong. During his bachelor’s, Vincent worked on processing an inorganic electride material. He focuses on creating energy conversion devices utilizing water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction methods.

Zeyu ZHAO

Ph.D. Student (July 26, 2016 – August 05, 2021)

Email: zzhao2@clemson.edu

Zeyu Zhao received his B.S. and M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Beijing University of Chemical Technology in 2013 and 2016. His research interests are fuel production utilizing solid state materials, electrolysis, and thermochemistry processes driven by solar energy. He focuses on synthesizing high-performance electrolyte material for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs). Undergraduate and graduate research focused on graphene’s application in energy storage and graphene quantum dots.

Dr. Hua Huang

Postdoctoral Scholar and Research Assistant Professor (January 24, 2019 – March 10, 2023)

Email: hhuang8@clemson.edu 

Dr. Hua Huang received his B.S. in Inorganic Non-metal Material Engineering from Hefei University of Technology in 2009 and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2014. He worked as a research assistant at the Technical University of Denmark, Risø National Laboratory in 2013. He worked as an Assistant Researcher at the Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology, China Academy of Sciences, from 2014 to 2018. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at Clemson University. His research interests are focused on 3D printing integrated with laser rapid sintering processing for protonic ceramic electrolyzers. He also has rich experience in dual-phase oxygen separation membrane reactor, phase-inversion tape-casting for ceramic devices fabrication, and Nuclear hydrogen production.

Xiaohan Ma

Ph.D. Student (August 8, 2018 – December 19, 2023)

Email: xiaoham@g.clemson.edu

Xiaohan Ma received his B.S. in Inorganic Nonmetallic Materials Engineering from Nanjing Tech University in 2018. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at Clemson University. His previous study targeted modifying Lithium Sulfide Batteries’ separator and electrode materials by applying low-dimensional materials. His current research mainly focuses on photocatalysis for ammonia synthesis and the synthesis of 2D nanomaterials.

Jiawei Zhang

Postdoctoral Scholar (February 01, 2021 – April 12, 2024)

Email: jiawei4@clemson.edu

Dr. Jiawei Zhang received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Xiamen University under the supervision of Prof. Zhaoxiong Xie in 2015. His research interests are the controlled synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications in catalysis and fuel cells. Currently, he focuses on developing novel catalysts for methane conversion by taking advantage of various synthetic approaches. And he is also interested in fabricating nanostructures for both anode and cathode materials in Protonic Ceramics Electrochemical Cells (PCECs).

Ximei Zhai

Ph.D. Student (Aug 1, 2019 – May 7, 2024)

Email: xzhai@g.clemson.edu

Ximei received her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the China University of Mining and Technology in 2016 and her M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Beijing Institute of Technology in 2019. Her previous research interests focused on synthesizing and applying transition metal oxides for lithium-ion batteries. Her research is mainly about machine learning for rapidly discovering energy materials for efficient energy conversion and storage. 

Minda ZOU

Ph.D. Student (August 1, 2018 – July 26, 2024)

Email: mzou@g.clemson.edu

Minda Zou received his B.S. in Energy Science and Engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in June 2018. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at Clemson University.  He had experience modeling the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells during his B.S. period. His current research interests mainly focus on the Protonic Ceramics Electrochemical Cells (PCECs) for carbon dioxide reduction to make liquid fuels and water splitting to produce hydrogen.

Ashley Gomez

PhD Student (August 1, 2021 – August 29, 2024)

Email: agomez3@clemson.edu

Ashley received her B.S in Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2018. Her previous research interests include synthesizing endohedral metallofullerenes for diverse applications, such as those utilized in single-molecule magnets, solar cells, and catalysis (HER, OER, ORR). She is currently a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at Clemson University. Her research focuses on synthesizing co-ionic, triple-conducting, anodic materials for fuel-flexible protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs).

Liang Han

Ph.D. Student (August 18, 2021 – May 15, 2025)

Email: lhan@clemson.edu

Liang Han received her M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in June 2013 and her B.S. from the University of Jinan in Chemistry in July 2009. She is currently a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at Clemson University. Her main research interests focus on machine learning for exploring perovskite materials. She also has experience in crystal growth under low-temperature solvothermal conditions during her M.S. period.