Post Doctorate Research Associate
Post Doctorate Research Associate

Biography

Dr. Lienfeng Zou is a post-doctoral researcher working with the Physiochemical Transformations team in PNNL’s Environmental Molecular Sciences Division and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) user program. Zou completed his BS in polymer science and engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China, after which he received his MS and PhD from the State University of New York at Binghamton, with a focus on the surface and interface dynamics of alloys under various external stimuli using environment transmission electron microscopy. At PNNL and EMSL, he is using microscopies to study the correlation between materials structures and battery performance. 

Research Interest

  • Characterization and modeling of the cathode materials in Li ion batteries 

Education

  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, 2017 

  • MS in Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, 2012 

  • BS in Polymer Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, 2009 

Publications

2021 

Cao, X., L. Zou, B. E. Matthews, L. Zhang, X. He, X. Ren, M. H. Engelhard, S. D. Burton, P. Z. El-Khoury, H. S. Lim, C. Niu, H. Lee, C. Wang, B. W. Arey, C. Wang, J. Xiao, J. Liu, W. Xu, and J. G. Zhang. 2021. “Optimization of Fluorinated Orthoformate Based Electrolytes for Practical High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries.” Energy Storage Materials 34: 76-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2020.08.035.  

2020 

Fan, X., G. Hu, B. Zhang, X. Ou, J. Zhang, W. Zhao, H. Jia, L. Zou, P. Li, and Y. Yang. 2020. “Crack-Free Single-Crystalline Ni-Rich Layered NCM Cathode Enable Superior Cycling Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries.” Nano Energy 70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104450.  

Li, L., E. C. Self, D. Darbar, L. Zou, I. Bhattacharya, D. Wang, J. Nanda, and C. Wang. 2020. “Hidden Subsurface Reconstruction and Its Atomic Origins in Layered Oxide Cathodes.” Nano Letters 20 (4): 2756-2762. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c00380.  

Zhang, X., H. Jia, Y. Xu, L. Zou, M. H. Engelhard, B. E. Matthews, C. Wang, J.-G. Zhang, and W. Xu. 2020. “Unravelling High-Temperature Stability of Lithium-Ion Battery with Lithium-Rich Oxide Cathode in Localized High-Concentration Electrolyte.” Journal of Power Sources Advances 5: 100024. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powera.2020.100024.  

Zhang, X., L. Zou, Y. Xu, X. Cao, M. H. Engelhard, B. E. Matthews, L. Zhong, H. Wu, H. Jia, X. Ren, P. Gao, Z. Chen, Y. Qin, C. Kompella, B. W. Arey, J. Li, D. Wang, C. Wang, J. G. Zhang, and W. Xu. 2020. “Advanced Electrolytes for Fast-Charging High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries in Wide-Temperature Range.” Advanced Energy Materials 10 (22). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202000368.  

Zhao, W., L. Zou, H. Jia, J. Zheng, D. Wang, J. Song, C. Hong, R. Liu, W. Xu, Y. Yang, J. Xiao, C. Wang, and J. G. Zhang. 2020. “Optimized Al Doping Improves Both Interphase Stability and Bulk Structural Integrity of Ni-Rich NMC Cathode Materials.” ACS Applied Energy Materials 3 (4): 3369-3377. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.9b02372.  

Zou, L., P. Cao, Y. Lei, D. Zakharov, X. Sun, S. D. House, L. Luo, J. Li, Y. Yang, Q. Yin, X. Chen, C. Li, H. Qin, E. A. Stach, J. C. Yang, G. Wang, and G. Zhou. 2020. “Atomic-Scale Phase Separation Induced Clustering of Solute Atoms.” Nature Communications 11 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17826-w.  

Zou, L., Y. He, Z. Liu, H. Jia, J. Zhu, J. Zheng, G. Wang, X. Li, J. Xiao, J. Liu, J. G. Zhang, G. Chen, and C. Wang. 2020. “Unlocking the Passivation Nature of the Cathode–Air Interfacial Reactions in Lithium Ion Batteries.” Nature Communications 11 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17050-6.  

Zou, L., W. Zhao, H. Jia, J. Zheng, L. Li, D. P. Abraham, G. Chen, J. R. Croy, J.-G. Zhang, and C. Wang. 2020. “The Role of Secondary Particle Structures in Surface Phase Transitions of Ni-Rich Cathodes.” Chemistry of Materials 32 (7): 2884-2892. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b04938.  

2019 

Cao, X., X. Ren, L. Zou, M. H. Engelhard, W. Huang, H. Wang, B. E. Matthews, H. Lee, C. Niu, B. W. Arey, Y. Cui, C. Wang, J. Xiao, J. Liu, W. Xu, and J. G. Zhang. 2019. “Monolithic Solid–Electrolyte Interphases Formed in Fluorinated Orthoformate-Based Electrolytes Minimize Li Depletion and Pulverization.” Nature Energy 4 (9): 796-805. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-019-0464-5.  

Jia, H., L. Zou, P. Gao, X. Cao, W. Zhao, Y. He, M. H. Engelhard, S. D. Burton, H. Wang, X. Ren, Q. Li, R. Yi, X. Zhang, C. Wang, Z. Xu, X. Li, J. G. Zhang, and W. Xu. 2019. “High-Performance Silicon Anodes Enabled by Nonflammable Localized High-Concentration Electrolytes.” Advanced Energy Materials 9 (31). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201900784.  

Jin, Y., L. Zou, L. Liu, M. H. Engelhard, R. L. Patel, Z. Nie, K. S. Han, Y. Shao, C. Wang, J. Zhu, H. Pan, and J. Liu. 2019. “Joint Charge Storage for High-Rate Aqueous Zinc–Manganese Dioxide Batteries.” Advanced Materials 31 (29). https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201900567.  

Peng, Z., J. Song, L. Huai, H. Jia, B. Xiao, L. Zou, G. Zhu, A. Martinez, S. Roy, V. Murugesan, H. Lee, X. Ren, Q. Li, B. Liu, X. Li, D. Wang, W. Xu, and J. G. Zhang. 2019. “Enhanced Stability of Li Metal Anodes by Synergetic Control of Nucleation and the Solid Electrolyte Interphase.” Advanced Energy Materials 9 (42). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201901764.  

Ren, X., L. Zou, X. Cao, M. H. Engelhard, W. Liu, S. D. Burton, H. Lee, C. Niu, B. E. Matthews, Z. Zhu, C. Wang, B. W. Arey, J. Xiao, J. Liu, J. G. Zhang, and W. Xu. 2019. “Enabling High-Voltage Lithium-Metal Batteries under Practical Conditions.” Joule 3 (7): 1662-1676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2019.05.006.  

Ren, X., L. Zou, S. Jiao, D. Mei, M. H. Engelhard, Q. Li, H. Lee, C. Niu, B. D. Adams, C. Wang, J. Liu, J. G. Zhang, and W. Xu. 2019. “High-Concentration Ether Electrolytes for Stable High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries.” ACS Energy Letters 4 (4): 896-902. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.9b00381.  

Zou, L., J. Li, Z. Liu, G. Wang, A. Manthiram, and C. Wang. 2019. “Lattice Doping Regulated Interfacial Reactions in Cathode for Enhanced Cycling Stability.” Nature Communications 10 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11299-2.  

2018 

Chen, X., D. Wu, L. Zou, Q. Yin, H. Zhang, D. N. Zakharov, E. A. Stach, and G. Zhou. 2018. “In Situ Atomic-Scale Observation of Inhomogeneous Oxide Reduction.” Chemical Communications 54 (53): 7342-7345. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8cc03822h.  

Luo, L., M. Su, P. Yan, L. Zou, D. K. Schreiber, D. R. Baer, Z. Zhu, G. Zhou, Y. Wang, S. M. Bruemmer, Z. Xu, and C. Wang. 2018. “Atomic Origins of Water-Vapour-Promoted Alloy Oxidation.” Nature Materials 17 (6): 514-518. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-018-0078-5.  

Self, E. C., L. Zou, M. J. Zhang, R. Opfer, R. E. Ruther, G. M. Veith, B. Song, C. Wang, F. Wang, A. Huq, and J. Nanda. 2018. “Synthesis and Electrochemical and Structural Investigations of Oxidatively Stable Li2MoO3 and xLi2MoO3·(1 - x)LiMO2 Composite Cathodes.” Chemistry of Materials 30 (15): 5061-5068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.8b01408.  

Zhao, W., J. Zheng, L. Zou, H. Jia, B. Liu, H. Wang, M. H. Engelhard, C. Wang, W. Xu, Y. Yang, and J. G. Zhang. 2018. “High Voltage Operation of Ni-Rich NMC Cathodes Enabled by Stable Electrode/Electrolyte Interphases.” Advanced Energy Materials 8 (19). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201800297.  

Zhao, W., L. Zou, J. Zheng, H. Jia, J. Song, M. H. Engelhard, C. Wang, W. Xu, Y. Yang, and J. G. Zhang. 2018. “Simultaneous Stabilization of LiNi0.76Mn0.14Co0.10O2 Cathode and Lithium Metal Anode by Lithium Bis(Oxalato)Borate as Additive.” ChemSusChem 11 (13): 2211-2220. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201800706.  

Zou, L., Z. Liu, W. Zhao, H. Jia, J. Zheng, Y. Yang, G. Wang, J. G. Zhang, and C. Wang. 2018. “Solid-Liquid Interfacial Reaction Trigged Propagation of Phase Transition from Surface into Bulk Lattice of Ni-Rich Layered Cathode.” Chemistry of Materials 30 (20): 7016-7026. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.8b01958.  

Zou, L., W. A. Saidi, Y. Lei, Z. Liu, J. Li, L. Li, Q. Zhu, D. Zakharov, E. A. Stach, J. C. Yang, G. Wang, and G. Zhou. 2018. “Segregation Induced Order-Disorder Transition in Cu(Au) Surface Alloys.” Acta Materialia 154: 220-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2018.05.040.  

Zou, L., C. Yang, Y. Lei, D. Zakharov, J. M. K. Wiezorek, D. Su, Q. Yin, J. Li, Z. Liu, E. A. Stach, J. C. Yang, L. Qi, G. Wang, and G. Zhou. 2018. “Dislocation Nucleation Facilitated by Atomic Segregation.” Nature Materials 17 (1): 56-62. https://doi.org/10.1038/NMAT5034.  

Zou, L., W. Zhao, Z. Liu, H. Jia, J. Zheng, G. Wang, Y. Yang, J. G. Zhang, and C. Wang. 2018. “Revealing Cycling Rate-Dependent Structure Evolution in Ni-Rich Layered Cathode Materials.” ACS Energy Letters 3 (10): 2433-2440. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.8b01490.  

2017 

Zou, L., J. Li, D. Zakharov, W. A. Saidi, E. A. Stach, and G. Zhou. 2017. “Atomically Visualizing Elemental Segregation-Induced Surface Alloying and Restructuring.” Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 8 (24): 6035-6040. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b02947.  

Zou, L., J. Li, D. Zakharov, E. A. Stach, and G. Zhou. 2017. “In Situ Atomic-Scale Imaging of the Metal/Oxide Interfacial Transformation.” Nature Communications 8 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00371-4.  

2016 

Luo, L., L. Zou, D. K. Schreiber, D. R. Baer, S. M. Bruemmer, G. Zhou, and C. M. Wang. 2016. “In-Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Study of Surface Oxidation for Ni-10Cr and Ni-20Cr Alloys.” Scripta Materialia 114: 129-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2015.11.031.  

Luo, L., L. Zou, D. K. Schreiber, M. J. Olszta, D. R. Baer, S. M. Bruemmer, G. Zhou, and C. M. Wang. 2016. “In Situ Atomic Scale Visualization of Surface Kinetics Driven Dynamics of Oxide Growth on a Ni-Cr Surface.” Chemical Communications 52 (16): 3300-3303. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5cc09165a.  

Zhu, Q., L. Zou, G. Zhou, W. A. Saidi, and J. C. Yang. 2016. “Early and Transient Stages of Cu Oxidation: Atomistic Insights from Theoretical Simulations and in Situ Experiments.” Surface Science 652: 98-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susc.2016.03.003.  

2013 

Yang, K., C. Xu, L. Huang, Y. Liu, L. Zou, and H. Wang. 2013. “Low-Temperature Solution Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanotubes.” Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic and Nano-Metal Chemistry 43 (10): 1501-1505. https://doi.org/10.1080/15533174.2012.762790.  

2012 

Zheng, M., L. F. Zou, H. Wang, C. Park, and C. Ke. 2012. “Engineering Radial Deformations in Single-Walled Carbon and Boron Nitride Nanotubes Using Ultrathin Nanomembranes.” ACS Nano 6 (2): 1814-1822. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn2048813.  

Zheng, M., L. F. Zou, H. Wang, C. Park, and C. Ke. 2012. “Quantifying the Transverse Deformability of Double-Walled Carbon and Boron Nitride Nanotubes Using an Ultrathin Nanomembrane Covering Scheme.” Journal of Applied Physics 112 (10). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4766758.