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Dr. Xiangwu
Zhang
Assistant Professor
TECS
Phone:919-515-6547
Email: xiangwu_zhang@ncsu.edu
Address: 2401 Research Drive
Room: 3118
Courses
Research Interests
Education
Current Students
Graduate Projects
Organizations
Biography
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Most Recent
Publications:
| 1. |
Du, J., & Zhang, X..
(2008, September).
Role of Polymer-Salt-Solvent Interactions in the Electrospinning of Polyacrylonitrile/Iron Acetylacetone
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
, 109
(5)
(pp. 2935-2941).
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| 2. |
Ji, L., & Zhang, X..
(2008, May).
Ultrafine Polyacrylonitrile/Silica Composite Nanofibers via Electrospinning
Materials Letters
, 62
(14)
(pp. 2165-2168).
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| 3. |
Zhang, H., Zhang, X., Shiue, E., & Fedkiw, P.S..
(2008, March).
Single-Ion Conductors for Lithium Batteries via Silica Surface Modification
Journal of Power Sources
, 177
(2)
(pp. 561-565).
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| 4. |
Ji, L., Saquing, C., Khan, S.A., & Zhang, X. .
(2008, February).
Synthesis and Characterization of Silica Nanoparticulate-Polyacrylonitrile Composite and Porous Nanofibers
Nanotechnology
, 19
(8)
(pp. 085605).
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| 5. |
Du, J., Shintay, S., & Zhang, X..
(2008, August).
Diameter Control of Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile/Iron Acetylacetonate Ultrafine Nanofibers
Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics
, 46
(15)
(pp. 1611-1618).
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List All Publications
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Courses:
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TE 589Z Polymer Physics
TE 565 Textile Composites
TE 201 Textile Engineering Science
TE 201L Textile Engineering Science Laboratory
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Research Interests:
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Zhang's research interests focus on nanostructured and multifunctional polymer, composite, fiber, and textile materials with an emphasis on energy-related applications. His research encompasses both fundamental materials studies such as synthesis and physical characterization, as well as energy system design and fabrication. Examples of research topics are described below:
1. Fuel Cells
Among various energy technologies, fuel cells are considered promising candidates for generating power in a clean manner for our future because they provide electricity without combustion and the pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels. One project in Zhang's group is to synthesize catalyst-loaded energy-conversion nanofibers, which can be fabricated into nonwoven fabrics for use as ultrathin nanoscale electrode layers in fuel cells. These nanofiber-based electrodes have advantages of high-catalyst utilization, facile reactant transfer, and good fuel efficiency.
Organic-inorganic hybrid fuel cell membranes with high conductivity, increased operating temperature, and good dimensional stability are also being developed in Zhang's group.
2. Lithium and Lithium-Ion Batteries
In addition to fuel cells, rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries are attractive energy systems because they offer energy densities 2-3 times and power densities 5-6 times higher than conventional Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries, and as a result, they weigh less, take less space, and deliver more energy. Zhang's group works on developing novel active nanofibers, which can be directly used to store energy in lithium and lithium-ion batteries. These nanofiber-based anodes eliminate the presence of non-active materials and have the advantages of large capacity, high power density, long cycle life, and good low-temperature performance.
3. Solar Cells
Dye-sensitized solar cells, constructed by using dye molecules, nanocrystalline oxides, and electrolytes, have attractive features in terms of high light-to-electricity conversion efficiency and good cost effectiveness. They can overcome the cost barrier of conventional silicon solar cells and have the potential for large-scale commercial use. Using nanofiber technology to develop low-cost, high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells is also one research topic in Zhang’s group.
4. Nano-Finishing of Textiles
Zhang's group is developing nanoparticulate-based finishing technologies for textile materials. These nano-finishing technologies can provide textiles with unique water repellent, antimicrobial, antistatic, and/or flame retardant functions.
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Current Students:
Current Group Members
| Post-Doctoral Research Associate |
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Dr. Ajit Moghe
Summer 2008 – Present
Project: Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Electrospinning Hybrid Processing
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| Ph.D. Students |
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Narendiran Vitchuli
Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2008 – Present
Project: Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Electrospinning Hybrid Processing
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Yingfang Yao
Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2008 – Present
Project: Nanofiber-Based Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Fuel Cell Membranes
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Kyung-Hye Jung
Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2007 – Present
Project: Nonwovens Containing Novel Polymer Fillers
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Bohyung Kim
Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2007 – Present
Project: Dye Synthesis for Solar Cell Applications
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Zhan Lin
Fiber and Polymer Science
Fall 2007 – Present
Project: Fabrication of Catalyst-Loaded Nanofibers for Fuel Cells
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Liwen Ji
Fiber and Polymer Science
Spring 2007 – Present
Project: Lithium Alloy-Carbon Composite Nanofibers for Energy Storage by Electrospinning and Carbonization
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| Master Students |
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Shuli Li
Textile Engineering
Fall 2008 – Present
Project: Ionic-Conducting Nanofiber-Based Separators and Electrolytes for advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries
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Edward Arthur Dalton
Textile Engineering
Spring 2008 – Present
Project: Durable Antimicrobial and Flame-Retardant Nano-Finishing
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Sudhir Sarma
Textile Technology
Spring 2008 – Present
Project: Durable Ionic-Modified Antistatic Fibers: A Combination of Nanotechnology and Atmospheric Plasma Treatment
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| Undergraduate Students |
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Mariah Dolores Woodroof
Textile Engineering
Summer 2008 - Present
Project: Performance Characterization of Nanofiber-Based Fuel Cells
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Andrew James Medford
Textile Engineering
Fall 2007 – Present
Project: Characterization of Electrospun Porous Carbon Nanofibers
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Samantha Shintay
Polymer and Color Chemistry
Spring 2007 – Present
Project: Carbonization and Characterization of Polymer-Based Carbon Nanofibers for Use in Hydrogen Fuel Cells
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Former Group Members
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Ms. Jinmei Du
Ph.D. student, Fiber and Polymer Science, 2007
Project: Nanofiber-Based Fuel Cell Electrodes
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Mr. Barry Roe
M.S., Textile Technology, 2008
Project: Durable Non-Fluorine Water-Repellent Fabric Finishing: Surface Treatment Using Silica Nanoparticulates and Mixed Silanes
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Mr. Tyrone Brandom Sturgis
B.S., Polymer and Color Chemistry, 2008
Project: Preparation of Metal Oxide-Filled Carbon Nanofibers
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Graduate Projects:
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Education:
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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
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Organizations:
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The American Chemical Society
Materials Research Society
The Electrochemical Society
Sigma XI, The National Scientific Honor Society
National Space Society
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Biography:
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Xiangwu Zhang is an assistant 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 under the supervision of Professor A. John Appleby in 2001. During 2002 - 2006, he was a postdoctoral associate under the supervision of Professor Peter S. Fedkiw 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.
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