Research Faculty and Postdoctoral Scholars
Jiawei Zhang (February 01, 2021 – Current)
Post-Doc
Email: jiawei4@clemson.edu
Dr. Jiawei Zhang received his Ph.D. degree 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 the development of novel catalysts for methane conversion by taking advantage of various synthetic approaches. And he also interests in fabricating nanostructures for both anode and cathode materials in Protonic Ceramics Electrochemical Cells (PCECs).
Graduate Students
Minda ZOU (August 1, 2018 – Current)
Ph.D. Student
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 Materials Science & Engineering Department from Clemson University. During his B.S. period, he had experience in the modeling of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. 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.
Ximei Zhai (Aug 1, 2019 – Current)
Ph.D. Student
Email: xzhai@g.clemson.edu
Ximei received her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from China University of Mining and Technology in 2016, and her M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology in 2019. Her previous research interests focused on synthesis and application of transition metal oxides for lithium-ion batteries. And her current research is mainly about machine learning for the rapid discovery of energy materials for efficient energy conversion and storage.
Aaron SANTOMAURO (August 22, 2019 – Current)
Ph.D. Student
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 exists in 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 as well as mechanical characterization. Extracurricular activities include biking, running, kayaking, playing frisbee, and assembling puzzles.
Tianyi Zhou (May 13, 2020 – Current)
Ph.D. Student
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 Materials Science & Engineering Department of Clemson University. His main research interests focus on the study of Reactive Laser Sintering (RLRS) and 3-D printing of PCFC and SOFC. He also has experience in metal heat treatment and finite element analysis in his M.S. period.
Yuchen Zhang (August 19, 2020 – Current)
Ph.D. StudentEmail: 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 application and welding technology optimization. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in Materials Science & Engineering Department from Clemson University, with research interests mainly focused on 3D printing of ceramic materials and their application for energy storage.
Ashley Gomez (August 1, 2021 – Current)
PhD Student
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: utilized in single-molecule magnets, solar cells, and catalysis (HER, OER, ORR). She is currently a PhD student in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at Clemson University. Her current research focuses on synthesizing co-ionic, triple-conducting, anodic materials for fuel-flexible protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs).
Yanfei Cai (Aug 16, 2021-Current)
Ph.D. Student
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 studies in Materials Physics at Nagoya University (Japan) in 2020, she now is a Ph.D. student in Materials Science & Engineering Department in Clemson University. Her previous research interests focused on using the combination of photocatalysts and solar energy to make the split of water happen for energy conversion. And her current research is mainly about manufacturing cathode for all solid-state lithium battery.
Liang Han (August 18,2021 – Current)
M.S. Student
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. in the University of Jinan in Chemistry in July 2009. She is currently a M.S. student in Materials Science & Engineering Department in Clemson University. Her main research interests focus on the machine learning for the exploration of perovskite materials. She also has experience in crystal growth under low temperature solvothermal conditions in M.S. period.
Patrick Kuzbary (August 18,2021 – Current)
M.S. Student
Email: pkuzbar@g.clemson.edu
Patrick Kuzbary received his B.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Clemson University in May of 2019. During his time at Clemson, he worked in the Tong Group from the fall of 2018 – spring of 2019 assisting with anode material for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell for reactive laser sintering and 3D printing. Over the couple years, Patrick was working at Savannah River National Lab as an Associate Engineer assisting with various projects, some of which included spark plasma sintering and 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 (August 22, 2022 – Current)
Ph.D. Student
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 development of 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
August 22, 2022 – Current
Email: jconra2@clemson.eduJacob 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 of 2022. He is currently researching manufacturing methods for fuel cell devices, with a focus on additive manufacturing techniques and laser-based processing of ceramic materials. His current work focuses primarily on the development of metal supported protonic ceramic fuel cells.
Alumni
Dr. Dong JIANG, Postdoctoral Scholar,
September 05, 2016 – July 9, 2018)
Work at Clemson focused on the catalysis over mayenite-based structures, as well as 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 (December 2018 – December 2019)
M.S. Student
My name is Daniel Fox and I am a Materials Science and Engineering Masters student at Clemson University. I focus on the development and use of bioceramics such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). As an undergraduate in Physics at Clemson, I worked on several research projects. Initially I focused on ion trapping and charge exchange using high vacuum systems. After that I learned to do spark plasma sintering (SPS) and also used the software GSAS to determine crystal structures. Then I spent a summer at Savannah River National Labs (SRNL) studying the use of graphene as a barrier to hydrogen permeation before joining Dr. Tong’s group in December of 2018. I graduated with a B.S. in Physics from Clemson University in May of 2019 and since then have enjoyed learning about technologies that are influencing the production of bioceramics, such as additive manufacturing and sintering. I will graduate from Clemson with my Master degree in December of 2019.
Shenglong MU (July 14, 2016 – Oct 30, 2020 )
Ph.D. Student
Email: smu@g.clemson.edu
Shenglong received his M.S. in Polymer Engineering from University of Akron in May 2016 and his B.S. in Beijing University of Chemical Technology in Materials Science & Engineering. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Materials Science & Engineering Department from Clemson University. His main research interests focus on the study of 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 in M.S. period. He is good at exercise and traveling.
Vincent Phaneuf (August 22, 2019 – January 10, 2021)
M.S. Student
Vincent Phaneuf received his B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from Clemson University in May of 2019. Passionate about alternative fuel sources & clean energy, Vincent joined The Tong Group back in spring of 2017 as a research assistant. He is now 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. His current focus is on creating energy conversion devices utilizing water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction methods.
Zeyu ZHAO (July 26, 2016 – August 05, 2021)
Ph.D. Student
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 the fuel production utilizing solid state materials electrolysis and thermochemistry processes which driven by solar energy. He is currently focusing 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, respectively.
Dr. Hua Huang, Postdoc and Research Assistant Professor (January 24, 2019 – Current)
University of Science and Technology of China
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 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Science and Technology of China in 2014. He has work at Technical University of Denmark Risø national laboratory as research assistant in 2013, and work at Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology, China academy of sciences as Assistant Researcher from 2014 to 2018. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the department of Materials Science & Engineering at Clemson University. His research interests are focus on 3D Printing integrated with laser rapid sintering processing for protonic ceramic electrolyzer. 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 (Aug 8, 2018 – Current)
Ph.D. Student
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 Materials Science & Engineering Department from Clemson University. His previous study targeted at modification of separator and electrode materials of Lithium Sulfide Batteries by applying low-dimensional materials. His current research is mainly focused on photocatalysis for ammonia synthesis and synthesis of 2D nanomaterials.