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, and ii) chemical and biological protection. His research encompasses both fundamental materials studies such as synthesis and physical characterization, as well as system design and fabrication. Following are examples of current research topics:

• Lithium-Ion Batteries
• Lithium-Air Batteries
• Fuel Cells
• Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
• Chemical and Biological Protection Fabrics
• Nano-Finishing of Textile Fabrics
• Advanced Electrospinning Systems

List All Publications

Xiangwu Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science at North Carolina State University. He received his B.S. in Polymer Materials and Engineering in 1997 and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering in 2001, both from Zhejiang University, China. He joined the Center for Electrochemical Systems and Hydrogen Research at Texas A&M University as a Postdoctoral Associate in 2001. During 2002 - 2006, he was a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University. He joined the faculty in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science at North Carolina State University in 2006.

Current Group Members

Dr. Mataz Alcoutlabi

Research Assistant Professor
Winter 2009 - Spring 2012
Project: Nanofiber Battery Components

Dr. Quan Shi

Research Assistant Professor
Fall 2008 - Fall 2011
Project: Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Electrospinning Hybrid Processing

Ph.D. Students

Meltem Yanilmaz

Fiber and Polymer Science
Spring 2012 - Present
Project: Lithium-Ion Battery Materials

Kun Fu

Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2011 - Present
Project: Lithium-Ion Battery Materials

Hun Lee

Fiber and Polymer Science
Spring 2011 - Present
Project: Nanofiber Battery Separators

Yao Lu

Textile Egineering
Spring 2011- Present
Project: Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes

Ying Li

Fiber and Polymer Science
Full 2009 - Present
Project: Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Materials

Guanjie Xu

Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2009 - Present
Project: Preparation and Characterization of Advanced Lithium-Air Batteries

Shuli Li

Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2008 - Present
Project: Preparation and Integration of Advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries

Bohyung Kim

Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2007 - Present

Project: Dye Synthesis for Solar Cell Applications

Master Students

Liangqu Chen

Textile Engineering
Spring 2013 - Present
Project: Centrifugal Spinning and Its Applications

Ying Ji

Textile Engineering
Spring 2013 - Present
Project: Centrifugal Spinning and Its Applications

Han Jiang

Textile Chemistry
Spring 2013 - Present
Project: Centrifugal Spinning and Its Applications

Undergraduate Students

Mai-Hsuan Sabrina Huang

Summer 2011 - Present
Project: Advanced Lithium-Air Batteries

Visiting Scholars

Yi Hu

Summer 2011 - Present
Project: Advanced Electrode Materials

Former Group Members

Ozan Toprakci

Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2008 - 2012
Project: Advanced Nanofiber-Based Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes

Shu Zhang

Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2009 - 2012
Project: Preparation and Characterization of Lithium-Ion Battery Nanofiber Cathode Materials

Rupesh Nawalakhe

Fiber and Polymer Science
Full 2009 - 2012
Project: Nanofiber Wound Dressings

Dr. Leigang Xue

Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Summer 2011 - 2012
Project: New Anode and Cathode Materials

Dr. Zhan Lin

Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2007-2011
Project: Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

Dr. Yousef Mohammadi

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2010
Project: Lithium-Ion Battery Separartors

Dr. Bingkun Guo

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2010
Project: Preparation and Characterization of Advanced Nanomaterials for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Dr. Ajit Moghe

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2008
Project: Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Electrospinning Hybrid Processing

Narendiran Vitchuli

Ph.D., Fiber and Polymer Science, 2011
Project: Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Electrospinning Hybrid Processing

Yingfang Yao

Ph.D., Fiber and Polymer Science, 2011
Project: Nanofiber-Based Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Fuel Cell Membranes

Dr. Kyung-Hye Jung

Ph.D., Fiber and Polymer Science, 2010
Project: Nonwovens Containing Novel Polymer Fillers

Dr. Liwen Ji

Ph.D., Fiber and Polymer Science, 2009
Project: Lithium Alloy-Carbon Composite Nanofibers for Energy Storage by Electrospinning and Carbonization

Jinmei Du

Ph.D. student, Fiber and Polymer Science, 2007
Project: Nanofiber-Based Fuel Cell Electrodes

 

Richard Padbury

Master, Textile Engineering, 2011
Project: Advanced Lithium-Air Batteries

 

Michael D. Sieber

Master, Textile Engineering, 2011
Project: Water-Repellent Nanofibers and Improvement of Their Durability by Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment

Jonathan Halbur

Master, Textile Engineering, 2010
Project: Co-Presence of Durable Flame-Retardant and Repellant Nano-Finishes

Edward Arthur Dalton

Master, Textile Engineering, 2009
Project: Durable Antimicrobial and Flame-Retardant Nano-Finishing

Sudhir Sarma

Master, Textile Technology, 2009
Project: Durable Ionic-Modified Antistatic Fibers: A Combination of Nanotechnology and Atmospheric Plasma Treatment

Barry Roe

Master, Textile Technology, 2008
Project: Durable Non-Fluorine Water-Repellent Fabric Finishing: Surface Treatment Using Silica Nanoparticulates and Mixed Silanes

Chris Millns

B.S., Textile Engineering, 2009
Project: Preparation of Lithium-Ion Battery Nano-Anodes

Mariah Dolores Woodroof

Undergraduate Researcher, Textile Engineering, 2010
Project: Performance Characterization of Nanofiber-Based Fuel Cells and batteries

Andrew James Medford

Undergraduate Researcher, Textile Engineering, 2009
Project: Characterization of Electrospun Porous Carbon Nanofibers

Pierce Leviner

Undergraduate Researcher, Textile Engineering, 2010
Project: Formation of LiFePO₄ Cathode Nanofibers

Samantha Shintay

Undergraduate Researcher, Polymer and Color Chemistry, 2008
Project: Carbonization and Characterization of Polymer-Based Carbon Nanofibers for Use in Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Tyrone Brandom Sturgis
Undergraduate Researcher, Polymer and Color Chemistry, 2008
Project: Preparation of Metal Oxide-Filled Carbon Nanofibers

Yinzheng Liang

Visiting Scholar, Fiber and Polymer science, 2010
Project: Nanofiber-Based Separators and Electrolytes for Advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries

Dr. Xuedong Wei

Visiting Scholar, Textiles Engineering, 2009
Project: High-Performance LiFeO₄ Nanofiber Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, 2002 - 2006

Postdoctoral Associate, Center for Electrochemical Systems and Hydrogen Research, Texas A&M University, 2001 - 2002

Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China, 2001
Dissertation: Preparation and Properties of Polymeric Composites Filled with Low-Melting-Point Alloy

B.S., Polymer Materials and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China, 1997

Minor, Computer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China, 1997

• Guest Professor, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
• Co-Founder, Tec-Cel, Inc.
• Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Energy Storage and Conversion
• Editorial Board Member, 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
• Full Member and Departmental Liaison Officer, Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society
• Affiliate Member and Textile and Composites Engineering Technical Committee Member, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• Active Member, The Electrochemical Society (ECS)
• Full Member, The American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Full Member, Materials Research Society (MRS)
• Full Member, The Fiber Society
• Member, American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)