Faculty
Prof. Tianshou Zhao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is an expert in energy science and engineering thermophysics. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, both in Engineering Thermo-physics, from Tianjin University, China, and Ph.D. degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA. He obtained State Natural Science Awards twice (2012, 2013), Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize for Scientific and Technological Advancement (2018), Highly Cited Researcher by Thomson Reuters (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020), Croucher Senior Fellowship award (2008). He is a fellow of the American Society Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. Professor Zhao combines his expertise in research and technological innovation with a commitment to creating clean energy production and storage devices for a sustainable future. He has made seminal contributions in the areas of fuel cells, advanced batteries, multi-scale multiphase heat and mass transport with electrochemical reactions, and computational modeling.
Research Area：
◆Energy Engineering: Energy transfer and conversion in advanced energy storage devices & Fuel cells.◆Heat and mass transfer: Coupling theory of thermo-fluid sciences and electrochemistry in battery systems
◆Advanced modeling: Lattice Boltzmann and Computational Fluid Dynamics methods for multicomponent/multiphase transport
Work Experience：
◆2021-present，Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering, SUSTech
◆2017-2022： The Nameed Professor of Engineering and Environment, HKUST
◆2012-2022： Director, the HKUST Energy Institute, HKUST
◆2011-2022：Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering, HKUST
◆2007-2008：Acting Head of Mechanical Engineering, HKUST
◆2006-2011：Professor of Mechanical Engineering, HKUST
◆2001-2006：Associate Professor, HKUST
◆1995-2001：Assistant Professor, HKUST
Education:
◆ 1991-1995: PhD, Mechanical Engineering, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA
◆ 1983-1986: MS, Thermophysics Engineering, Tianjin University, China
◆ 1979-1983: BS, Thermophysics Engineering, Tianjin University, China
Professional Recognition：
◆ Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 2019
◆ 2018 Science Bulletin Best Paper Award, 2019
◆ Commemorative Medal for the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, 2019
◆ Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress (何梁何利科学与技术进步奖), 2018
◆ Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher, 2020
◆ Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher, 2018
◆ Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher, 2017
◆ Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher, 2016
◆ Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher, 2015
◆ Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher, 2014
◆ Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015
◆ Distinguished Research Excellence Award, School of Engineering, HKUST, 2014
◆ State Natural Science Award (国家自然科学二等奖) (the first co-winner), 2013
◆ IAS Senior Fellow, HKUST, 2013
◆ State Natural Science Award (国家自然科学二等奖) (the third co-winner), 2012
◆ Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) Chair Professorship, Ministry of Education, China, 2010
◆ Croucher Senior Research Fellowship Award, Croucher Foundation, 2008
◆ Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 2007
◆ Overseas Outstanding Young Investigator Award, NSFC, 2006
◆ Top-25 Most Cited Article Award (2008-2009), Electrochimica Acta
◆ Top Cited Article Award (2008-2009), Electrochimica Acta
◆ Most Cited Article Award (2005 -2009), Electrochemistry Communications
◆ Most Cited Articles Award (2005 -2009), Electrochimica Acta
◆ The Bechtel Foundation Engineering Teaching Excellence Award, HKUST, 2004
◆ Teaching Excellence Appreciation Award, School of Engineering, HKUST, 2002
◆ Teaching Excellence Appreciation Award, School of Engineering, HKUST, 2000
◆ Teaching Excellence Appreciation Award, School of Engineering, HKUST, 1998
◆ Teaching Excellence Appreciation Award, School of Engineering, HKUST, 1997
◆ The Everett E. Black Scholarship for Academic Achievement, USA, 1994
◆ Guest Professor, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
◆ Guest Professor, Southeast University
◆ Guest Professor, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Representative Books and Papers:
Books and Contributed Book Chapters
Representative Papers：
1.Y.K. Lin, M.C. Wu, J. Sun, L.C. Zhang, Q.P. Jian, T.S. Zhao, 2021, “A High-Capacity, Long-Cycling All-Solid-State Lithium Battery Enabled by Integrated Cathode/Ultrathin Solid Electrolyte”, Advanced Energy Materials, 11(35), 2101612
2.S.B. Wan, X.W. Liang, H.R. Jiang, J. Sun, N. Djilali, T.S. Zhao, 2021, “A coupled machine learning and genetic algorithm approach to the design of porous electrodes for redox flow batteries”, Applied Energy, 298(), 117177
3.B. Liu, C.W. Tang, C. Zhang, G.C. Jia, T.S. Zhao, 2021, “Cost-Effective, High-Energy-Density, Nonaqueous Nitrobenzene Organic Redox Flow Battery”, Chemistry of Materials, 33 (3), 978–986
4.C. Zhao, G.L. Xu, Z. Yu, L.C. Zhang, I.H. Hwang, Y.X. Mo, Y.X. Ren, L. Cheng, C-J. Sun, Y. Ren, X. B. Zuo, J-T. Li, S.G. Sun, K. Amine, T.S. Zhao, 2021, "A high-energy and long-cycling lithium–sulfur pouch cell via a macroporous catalytic cathode with double-end binding sites", Nature Nanotechnology, 16(2021), 166-173
5.L.C. Zhang, C. Zhao, M.C. Wu, T.S. Zhao, 2020, "An energy-dense, flowable suspension of hollow carbon nanoshell-hosted sulfur as an electroactive material for flow batteries", Journal of Power Sources, 478(2020), 228750
6.Q.P. Jian, Y.H. Wan, J. Sun, M.C. Wu, T.S. Zhao, 2020, "A dendrite-free zinc anode for rechargeable aqueous batteries", Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 8(2020), 20175-20184
7.K. Liu, M.C. Wu, H.R. Jiang, Y.K. Lin, T.S. Zhao, 2020, "An ultrathin, strong, flexible composite solid electrolyte for high-voltage lithium metal batteries", Journal of Materials Chemistry, 8(2020), 18802-18809
8.L. Zeng, Y.X. Ren, L. Wei, X.Z. Fan, T.S. Zhao, 2020, "Asymmetric porous polybenzimidazole membranes with high conductivity and selectivity for vanadium redox flow batteries", Energy Technology, 8(10), 2000592.
9.C. Xiong, G.Y. Zhu, H.R. Jiang, Q. Chen, T.S. Zhao, 2020, "Achieving Multiplexed Functionality in a Hierarchical MXene-based Sulfur Host for High-rate, High-loading Lithium-Sulfur Batteries", Energy Storage Materials, 33(2020), 147-157.
10.Y.X. Ren, L. Zeng, H.R. Jiang, W.Q. Ruan, Q. Chen, T.S. Zhao, 2019, “Rational design of spontaneous reactions for protecting porous lithium electrodes in lithium–sulfur batteries”, Nature Communications, 10 (2019) 3249
11.L. Shi, A. Xu, D. Pan, T.S. Zhao, 2019, "Aqueous proton-selective conduction across two-dimensional graphyne," Nature Communications 10 (2019) 1165.
12.H.R. Jiang, L. Wei, X.Z. Fan, W. Shyy, T.S. Zhao, 2019, "A novel energy storage system incorporating electrically rechargeable liquid fuels as the storage medium," Science Bulletin 64 (2019) 270-280.
13.B.W. Zhang, Y. Lei, B.F. Bai, A. Xu, T.S. Zhao, 2019, "A two-dimensional mathematical model for vanadium redox flow battery stacks incorporating nonuniform electrolyte distribution in the flow frame," Applied Thermal Engineering 151 (2019) 495-505.
14.L. Wei, M.C. Wu, T.S. Zhao, Y.K. Zeng, Y.X. Ren, 2018, "An aqueous alkaline battery consisting of inexpensive all-iron redox chemistries for large-scale energy storage," Applied Energy 215 (2018) 98-105.
15.M. Liu, D. Zhou, H.R. Jiang, Y.X. Ren, F.Y. Kang, T.S. Zhao, 2016, "A highly-safe lithium-ion sulfur polymer battery with SnO2 anode and acrylate-based gel polymer electrolyte," Nano Energy 28 (2016) 97-105.
16.X.B. Zhu, T.S. Zhao, P. Tan, Z.H. Wei, M.C. Wu, 2016, "A high-performance solid-state lithium-oxygen battery with a ceramic-carbon nanostructured electrode," Nano Energy 26 (2016) 565-576.
17.X.L. Zhou, Y.K. Zeng, X.B. Zhu, L. Wei, T.S. Zhao, 2016, "A high-performance dual-scale porous electrode for vanadium redox flow batteries," Journal of Power Sources 325 (2016) 329-336.
18.H.R. Jiang, Z.H. Lu, M.C. Wu, F. Ciucci, T.S. Zhao, 2016, "Borophene: A promising anode material offering high specific capacity and high rate capability for lithium-ion batteries," Nano Energy 23 (2016) 97-104.
19.P. Tan, Z.H. Wei, W. Shyy, T.S. Zhao, X.B. Zhu, 2016, "A nano-structured RuO2/NiO cathode enables the operation of non-aqueous lithium–air batteries in ambient air," Energy & Environmental Science, 2016, 9, 1783-1793.
20.X.B. Zhu, T. S. Zhao, Z. H. Wei, P. Tan, L. An, 2015, "A high-rate and long cycle life solid-state lithium-air battery," Energy & Environmental Science, 2015, 8, 3745 - 3754.
21.Y.K. Zeng, T.S. Zhao, L. An, X.L. Zhou, L. Wei, 2015, "A comparative study of all-vanadium and iron-chromium redox flow batteries for large-scale energy storage," Journal of Power Sources 300 (2015) 438-443.
22.X.B. Zhu, T.S. Zhao, Z.H. Wei, P. Tan, G. Zhao, 2015, "A novel solid-state Li-O2 battery with an integrated electrolyte and cathode structure," Energy & Environmental Science, 2015, 8, 2782-2790.
23.L. Zeng, T.S. Zhao, L. An, G. Zhao, X.H. Yan, 2015, "A high-performance sandwiched-porous polybenzimidazole membrane with enhanced alkaline retention for anion exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy & Environmental Science, 2015, 8, 2768-2774.
24.Q. Xu, T.S. Zhao, 2015, "Fundamental models for flow batteries," Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 49 (2015) 40–58.
25.X.L. Zhou, T.S. Zhao, L. An, L. Wei, C. Zhang, 2015, "The use of polybenzimidazole membranes in vanadium redox flow batteries leading to increased coulombic efficiency and cycling performance," Electrochimica Acta 153 (2015) 492–498.
26.L. Zeng, T.S. Zhao, 2015, "Integrated inorganic membrane electrode assembly with layered double hydroxides as ionic conductors for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis," Nano Energy 11 (2015)110–118.
27.Q. Xu, T.S. Zhao, C. Zhang, 2014, “Performance of a vanadium redox flow battery with and without flow fields,” Electrochimica Acta142 (2014) 61–67.
28.P. Tan, W. Shyy, L. An, Z.H. Wei, and T.S. Zhao, 2014 “A gradient porous cathode for non-aqueous lithium-air batteries leading to a high capacity,” Electrochemistry Communications 46 (2014) 111–114.
29.Z.H. Chai, T.S. Zhao, 2013, “Lattice Boltzmann model for the convection-diffusion equation,” Physical Review E 87, 063309 (2013).
30.L. An, T.S. Zhao, Y.S. Li, Q.X. Wu, 2012, “Charge carriers in alkaline direct oxidation fuel cells,” Energy & Environmental Science 2012, 5, 7536-7538.
31.J.B. Xu, P. Gao, T.S. Zhao, 2012, “Non-precious CO3O4 nano-rod electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in anion-exchange membrane fuel cells,” Energy & Environmental Science 2012,5,5333-5339.
32.S.Y. Shen, T.S. Zhao, J.B. Xu, Y.S. Li, 2010, “Synthesis of PdNi catalysts for the oxidation of ethanol in alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells," Journal of Power Sources 195 (2010) 1001-1006.
33.T.S. Zhao, C. Xu, R. Chen, W.W. Yang, 2009, “Mass transport phenomena in direct methanol fuel cells,” Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 35 (2009) 275–292.
34.Z.X. Liang, T.S. Zhao, J.B. Xu, L.D. Zhu, 2009, “Mechanism study of the ethanol oxidation reaction on palladium in alkaline media,” Electrochimica Acta 54 (2009) 2203-2208.
35.C. Xu, T.S. Zhao, 2007, “A new flow field design for polymer electrolyte-based fuel cells,” Electrochemistry Communications 9 (2007) 497-503.
36.J.G. Liu, T.S. Zhao, R. Chen, C.W. Wong, 2005, “Effect of methanol concentration on passive DMFC performance,” Featured article in Fuel Cell Bulletin, ISSN 1464-2859 February 2005.
37.H. Yang, T.S. Zhao, Q. Ye, 2005, “In situ visualization study of CO2 gas bubble behavior in DMFC anode flow fields,” Journal of Power Sources, 139(1-2) pp. 79-90.
38.Q. Ye, T.S. Zhao, H. Yang, J. Prabhuram, 2005, "Electrochemical reactions in a DMFC under open circuit conditions," Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, 8 (1) A52-A54 (2005).
39.Z.L. Guo, T.S. Zhao, 2002, “Lattice Boltzmann model for incompressible flows through porous media,” Physical Review E, 66, 036304 (2002).
40.S.M. Liao, T.S. Zhao, 2002, “Measurements of Heat Transfer Coefficients from Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Flowing in Horizontal Mini/Micro Channels,” J. Heat Transf.-Trans. ASME 2002, 124 (3), 413-420.