PNNL

Lili Liu is a research scientist in the Materials Science group of the Physical Sciences Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She is widely recognized for her expertise in semiconductor materials and two-dimensional heterostructure materials, with a focus on studying the fundamental formation mechanisms using in-situ, cryo, and ex-situ microscopy techniques. Having joined PNNL as a postdoctoral researcher in 2017, Lili Liu has dedicated her research efforts to investigating the fundamental mechanisms of nucleation and non-classical crystal growth in semiconductor materials. Her work leverages cutting-edge in-situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and in-situ liquid cell scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques to gain valuable insights into these processes. Liu has more than 30 papers published in professional journals. 

• Crystal growth, self-assembly, and dissolution
• Particle interactions
• 2D heterostructure synthesis and characterization

• In-situ/Cryo TEM
• 2D Hetero-Materials Synthesis
• SEM
• TEM

• PhD in mechanical engineering, Texas Tech University, 2016
• MS in analytical chemistry, Shanxi University, 2012
• BS in Chemistry, Shanxi University, 2009

• Session Co-Chair, Materials Research Society Symposium
• Editorial Board Member, Frontiers in Energy Research

• Doctor Dissertation Scholarship of Graduate School, Texas Tech University

2025

• �edajovÁ; V., M. Kim, R. Langer, G. Kumar, L. Liu, Z. Badura, and J.V. Haag, et al. 2025. "2D Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Materials for Noble Gas Separation." Small 21, no. 6:rt. No. 2408525. PNNL-SA-194350. doi:10.1002/smll.202570045

2024

• Butreddy P., J. Heo, N. Rampal, T. Liu, L. Liu, W.T. Smith, and X. Zhang, et al. 2024. "Ion correlations decrease particle aggregation rate by increasing hydration forces at interfaces." ACS Nano 18, no. 38:26047-26055. PNNL-SA-194700. doi:10.1021/acsnano.4c05563
• Liu L., S.B. Yadav, A. Feng, D. Li, T.C. Droubay, P. Pauzauskie, and G.K. Schenter, et al. 2024. "Effect of solvent composition on non-DLVO forces and oriented attachment of zinc oxide nanoparticles." ACS Nano 18, no. 26:16743-16751. PNNL-SA-195665. doi:10.1021/acsnano.4c01797
• Liu T., N. Rampal, E. Nakouzi, B.A. Legg, J. Chun, L. Liu, and G.K. Schenter, et al. 2024. "Molecular Mechanisms of Sorbed Ion Effects During Boehmite Particle Aggregation." Langmuir 40, no. 17:8791-8805. PNNL-SA-192747. doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03532
• Wang X., Y. He, L. Liu, D. Song, L. Kovarik, M.E. Bowden, and M.H. Engelhard, et al. 2024. "Uncovering the Size-dependent Thermal Solid Transformation of Akagan�ite." Small 20, no. 46:Art. No. 2402717. PNNL-SA-201487. doi:10.1002/smll.202402717
• Zhao Y., P. Chen, X. Wang, H. Hlushko, J.A. Laverne, L. Liu, and C.I. Pearce, et al. 2024. "Effect of 60Co Irradiation on Boehmite Dissolution in Caustic Solutions." Environmental Science & Technology 58, no. 49:21760-21769. PNNL-SA-205742. doi:10.1021/acs.est.4c07544

2023

• Liu J., Z. Zhang, X. Li, M. Zong, Y. Wang, S. Wang, and P. Chen, et al. 2023. "Machine Learning Assisted Phase and Size-Controlled Synthesis of Iron Oxide Particles." Chemical Engineering Journal 473. PNNL-SA-188720. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2023.145216
• Liu L., B.A. Legg, W.T. Smith, L.M. Anovitz, L.M. Anovitz, X. Zhang, and R.J. Harper, et al. 2023. "Predicting outcomes of nanoparticle attachment by connecting atomistic, interfacial, particle, and aggregate scales." ACS Nano 17, no. 16:15556-15567. PNNL-SA-182308. doi:10.1021/acsnano.3c02145
• Liu L., M. Sassi, X. Zhang, E. Nakouzi, L. Kovarik, S. Xue, and B. Jin, et al. 2023. "Understanding the mechanisms of anisotropic dissolution in metal oxides by applying radiolysis simulations to liquid-phase TEM." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 120, no. 23:Art. No. e2101243120. PNNL-SA-180523. doi:10.1073/pnas.2101243120
• Liu L., P. Chen, X. Zhang, L. Kovarik, J.J. De Yoreo, J. Liu, and M.L. Sushko. 2023. "Solution synthesis of two-dimensional zinc oxide (ZnO)/molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) heterostructure through reactive templating for enhanced visible-light degradation of rhodamine B." Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials 6, no. 6:Art. No. 223. PNNL-SA-187731. doi:10.1007/s42114-023-00780-8

2022

• Liu L., K. Kruska, G.B. Hall, R.A. Clark, D.E. Meier, and E.C. Buck. 2022. "Formation and growth of cerium (III) oxalate nanocrystals by liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy." Scripta Materialia 219. PNNL-SA-172359. doi:10.1016/j.scriptamat.2022.114856
• Wang Y., S. Xue, Q. Lin, D. Song, Y. He, L. Liu, and J. Zhou, et al. 2022. "Particle-based hematite crystallization is invariant to initial particle morphology." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 119, no. 11:Art. No. e2112679119. PNNL-SA-170142. doi:10.1073/pnas.2112679119

2021

• Jin B., Z. Liu, C. Shao, J. Chen, L. Liu, R. Tang, and J.J. De Yoreo. 2021. "Phase Transformation Mechanism of Amorphous Calcium Phosphate to Hydroxyapatite Investigated by Liquid-Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy." Crystal Growth & Design 21, no. 9:5126-5134. PNNL-SA-164157. doi:10.1021/acs.cgd.1c00503
• Zhang H., X. Zhang, T.R. Graham, C.I. Pearce, H. Hlushko, J.A. Laverne, and L. Liu, et al. 2021. "Crystallization and Phase Transformations of Aluminum (Oxy)hydroxide Polymorphs in Caustic Aqueous Solution." Inorganic Chemistry 60, no. 13:9820-9832. PNNL-SA-162038. doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c01111

2020

• Han Y., M.A. Sinnwell, R.G. Surbella, W. Xue, H. Huang, J. Zheng, and B. Peng, et al. 2020. "Postsynthetic Oxidation of the Coordination Site in a Heterometallic Metal-Organic Framework: Tuning Catalytic Behaviors." Chemistry of Materials 32, no. 12:5192-5199. PNNL-SA-148450. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c01267
• Liu L., D. Song, B. Jin, M.A. Sinnwell, J. Liu, J.J. De Yoreo, and M.L. Sushko. 2020. "Role of solvent-surfactant duality of ionic liquids in directing two-dimensional particle assembly." Journal of Physical Chemistry C 124, no. 44:24215-2422. PNNL-SA-155329. doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c07221
• Liu L., E. Nakouzi, M.L. Sushko, G.K. Schenter, C.J. Mundy, J. Chun, and J.J. De Yoreo. 2020. "Connecting energetics to dynamics in particle growth by oriented attachment using real-time observations." Nature Communications 11, no. 1:1045. PNNL-SA-148131. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-14719-w
• Lucero J., J.B. Jasinski, M. Song, D. Li, L. Liu, J. Liu, and J.J. De Yoreo, et al. 2020. "Synthesis of porous organic cage CC3 via solvent modulated evaporation." Inorganica Chimica Acta 501. PNNL-SA-155960. doi:10.1016/j.ica.2019.119312
• Sinnwell M.A., Q. Miller, L. Liu, J. Tao, M.E. Bowden, L. Kovarik, and D. Barpaga, et al. 2020. "Kinetics and Mechanisms of ZnO to ZIF-8 Transformations in Supercritical CO2 Revealed by in situ X-ray Diffraction." ChemSusChem 13, no. 10:2602-2612. PNNL-SA-149718. doi:10.1002/cssc.202000434
• Sinnwell M.A., Q. Miller, L. Palys, D. Barpaga, L. Liu, M.E. Bowden, and Y. Han, et al. 2020. "Molecular Intermediate in the Directed Formation of a Zeolitic Metal-Organic Framework." Journal of the American Chemical Society 142, no. 41:17598-17606. PNNL-SA-154537. doi:10.1021/jacs.0c07862

2019

• Han Y., K. Liu, M.A. Sinnwell, L. Liu, H. Huang, and P.K. Thallapally. 2019. "Direct Observation of Li+ Ions Trapped in a Mg2+-Templated Metal- Organic Framework." Inorganic Chemistry 58, no. 14:8922-8926. PNNL-SA-147562. doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01207
• Han Y., M.A. Sinnwell, S.J. Teat, M.L. Sushko, M.E. Bowden, Q. Miller, and H.T. Schaef, et al. 2019. "Desulfurization Efficiency Preserved in a Heterometallic MOF: Synthesis and Thermodynamically Controlled Phase Transition." Advanced Science 6, no. 7:1802056. PNNL-SA-136448. doi:10.1002/advs.201802056
• Jin Y., L. Zou, L. Liu, M.H. Engelhard, R.L. Patel, Z. Nie, and K. Han, et al. 2019. "Joint charge storage for high-rate aqueous zinc-manganese dioxide batteries." Advanced Materials 31, no. 29:Article No. 1900567. PNNL-SA-140329. doi:10.1002/adma.201900567
• Liu L., M.L. Sushko, E.C. Buck, X. Zhang, L. Kovarik, Z. Shen, and J. Tao, et al. 2019. "Revisiting the Growth Mechanism of Hierarchical Semiconductor Nanostructures: The Role of Secondary Nucleation in Branch Formation." The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 10, no. 21:6827-6834. PNNL-SA-147896. doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02110

2018

• Liu L., S. Zhang, M.E. Bowden, J. Chaudhuri, and J.J. De Yoreo. 2018. "In Situ TEM and AFM Investigation of Morphological Controls during the Growth of Single Crystal BaWO4." Crystal Growth & Design 18, no. 3:1367-1375. PNNL-SA-132351. doi:10.1021/acs.cgd.7b01216
• Yan F., L. Liu, T.R. Walsh, Y. Gong, P.Z. El-Khoury, Y. Zhang, and Z. Zhu, et al. 2018. "Controlled synthesis of highly-branched plasmonic gold nanoparticles through peptoid engineering." Nature Communications 9. PNNL-SA-118537. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04789-2