Faculty Directory

Wang, Chunsheng

Wang, Chunsheng

Professor
Distinguished University Professor
R.F. and F.R. Wright Distinguished Chair
UMD Director of Center for Research in Extreme Batteries (CREB)
Affiliate Fellow (REFI)
Fellow, Electrochemical Society
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Maryland Energy Innovation Institute
Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
3236 Kim Engineering Building (KEB)
Website(s):

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Zhejiang University, China, 1995

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Distinguished University Professor, 2025

  • Highly Cited Researcher (Top 1%) in Chemistry and Materials, Clarivate Web of Science, 2018-2024,

  • Exemplary Research Recognition, 2024

  • A. James Clark School of Engineering Senior Faculty Outstanding Research Award, University of Maryland, 2024

  • Fellow, The Electrochemical Society, 2023
  • Battery Division Research Award, 2021, The Electrochemical Society
  • UMD’s Invention of the Year, 2015, 2021
  • 2020: Top 10 Battery Researchers to Watch, The Electrochemical Society
  • Robert Franklin and Frances Riggs Wright Distinguished Chair, 2018
  • Junior Faculty Outstanding Research Award, 2013 
  • Sigma Xi (Tennessee Technological University Chapter) Research Award, 2006
  • NASA Technology Brief Patent Application and Software Release Award, 2004

 

 

Rechargeable batteries, Applied electrochemistry, Fuel cells, electroanalytical technologies, Nanostructured materials, Electrochemical gas separation and compression


Professor Wang's research interests are electroanalytical technologies, advanced materials for rechargeable batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors. He has published over 400 papers in peer-reviewed journals including Science, Nature, Nature Energy, Nature Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Chemistry, Nature Sustainability, Nature Chemical Engineering, Nature Reviews Materials, Nature Reviews Chemistry, Nature Communications, Science Advances, Joule, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Advanced Materials, with a citation count of 106540 and an H-index of 175. You can view dynamic citations and the H-index by clicking the Researcher ID or Google Scholar.
 
In collaboration with ARL scientists, he achieved scientific breakthroughs in electrolyte materials with the invention of water-in-salt electrolytes for Li-ion batteries (Science 2015) and transition metal-free cathode chemistry based on halide-graphite conversion-intercalation (Nature 2019), and Zn-air batteries (Nature Materials, 2018), which opened an entirely new area of high-voltage aqueous electrochemistry and batteries that never existed before, and has inspired many researchers to follow.  He also developed a fluorinated electrolyte to form a LiF-rich solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the anode and a cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) on the high-voltage cathode to stabilize electrodes (Nature Nanotechnology, 2018). This new SEI design philosophy lays the foundation for new battery chemistries for years to come.
 

For more information about current research projects, please visit Professor Wang's web site.

Professor Wang currently teaches or has taught the following courses:

  • CHBE 301; Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I
  • ENCH 473: Electrochemical Energy Engineering
  • ENCH 437: Chemical Engineering Laboratory
  • ENCH 808/ENPM 808/ENCH648k: Advanced Fuel Cells and Batteries

Professor Wang also advises the department's  undergraduate Chem-E Car team, which took first place at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) mid-Atlantic Regional Conference's Chem-E Car Competition in 2011, and second place at the regional competition in 2012.

Selected Publications as a corresponding author

Click on the Researcher ID or Google Scholar to view all publications, citations, and H-index

  1. Z. Li, C.-X. Zhao, Y. Niu, D. Dong, T. Wang, Y. Li, N. Zhang, Y. Chen, P. Li, W. Zhang, J. B. Roschella, X. Chen, F. Chen, Y. Liu, A.-M. Li, C. Wang, Science 2026, 393, eaee1630.
  2. S. Ko, Q. Zhang, C. Wang, and A. Yamada, Electrolyte design for future batteries. Nat. Rev. Mater.​ 2026, DOI: 10.1038/s41578-026-00958-8.
  3. N. Zhang, J. Zhang, W. Zhang, Z. Wang, C.-X. Zhao, A.-M. Li, Y. Liu, K. Xia, C. Mesirow, Y. Yang, B. L. Lucht, E. Hu, X. Ji, D.-e. Jiang, J. Xu, C. Wang, Lithium–disulfur dichloride batteries. Nat. Energy 2026, DOI: 10.1038/s41560-026-02120-8. (TechXplore news)
  4. X. Ji, Y. Liu, X. He, S. Hou, J. Xu, K. S. Reeves, M. J. Zachman, J. Chen, T. Deng, J. Zhang, M. Chi, C. Wang, Void suppressive lithium anodes for all-solid-state batteries. Nat. Mater., 2026, DOI: s41563-026-02729-w.
  5. Y. Chen, F. Huang, Q. Zhang, L. Zheng, A.-M. Li, D. Dong, K. Xia, T. Lee, W. Zhang, Z. Li, X. Zhang, C.-X. Zhao, F. Chen, J. Rao, K. Gaskell, E. Hu, C. Wang, Solvent-bridged electrolytes for high-energy Li-ion batteries under extreme conditions. Nat. Chem. 2026, DOI: 10.1038/s41557-026-02221-7.
  6. C. Zhao, P. Li, Q. Zhang, K. Guyett, N. Zhang, J. Roschella, P. Albertus, C. Wang, Conversion cathodes for batteries towards 1,000 Wh kg−1. Matter 2026, 102882.
  7. C. Zhao, Q. Zhang, T. Wang, P. Li, C. Wang, Battery electrolyte design using process engineering principles. Nat. Chem. Eng. 2026, DOI 10.1038/s44286-026-00411-1.
  8. Y. Liu, W. Zhang, Z. Wang, J. Rao, B. Bhargava, H. Wan, T. Wang, Z. Fang, X. Zhang, N. Zhang, Z. Li, X. He, C. M. Quinn, M. Chi, F. Chen, P. Albertus, C. Wang, Nanoengineered doping overcomes sintering and grain-boundary limitations in all-solid-state lithium batteries with garnet electrolytes. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2026, DOI 10.1038/s41565-026-02226-w.
  9. C. Zhao, Y. Chen, X. Zhang, C. Wang, Morphology-Driven Impedance Asymmetry of Lithium Metal During Stripping and Plating, J. Electrochem. Soc. 2026, DOI 10.1149/1945-7111/ae7f76.
  10. C.-X. Zhao, Z. Li, D. Zhang, N. Zhang, Q. Zhang, Z. Wang, Y. Li, Y. Chen, C. Wang, Dynamic solvent exchange for fast-charging lithium batteries and beyond, Nat. Sustain. 2026, DOI 10.1038/s41893-026-01871-2. (Research briefing)
  11. G. Li, S. Zhang, J. A. Yuwono, X. Li, J. Q. Shi, C. Wang, Z. Guo, Hydrophobic liquid electrolyte interphases for efficient aqueous zinc batteries, Nat. Nanotechnol. 2026, DOI 10.1038/s41565-026-02187-0.
  12. Q. Zhang, S. Ko, T. Sakata, S. Nishimura, N. Takenaka, A. Kitada, C. Wang, A. Yamada, Metal electrode potential diverges with ion additions, Nat. Chem. 2026, DOI 10.1038/s41557-026-02150-5.
  13. J. Hao, Y. Zhu, Y. Jiao, H. Wu, C. Wang, Reshaping static aqueous Zn─Br battery chemistry without liquid Br2 for intrinsic safety and cycle durability, Science Advances, 2026, 8075, 1.
  14. D. Dong, J. Heo, Z. Li, Q. Zhang, X. Zhang, K. Xia, Y. Niu, Z. Wang, E. Hu, C. Wang, Aqueous electrolyte solutions with anion-bridged secondary solvation sheaths for highly efficient zinc metal batteries, Nat. Nanotechnol. 2026, DOI 10.1038/s41565-026-02148-7.
  15. C. Ye, S. Tu, S.-J. Zhang, C. Wang, S.-Z. Qiao, Harnessing interfacial solvation structure for next-generation secondary batteries, Nat. Energy 2026, 1 .
  16. W. Zhang, N. Zhang, Z. Wang, A.-M. Li, S. Liu, T. Lee, Y. Chen, Y. Liu, Z. Li, H. Wan, S.-C. Liou, J. Rao, J. Roschella, L. Zheng, Z. Zhang, H. He, B. L. Lucht, C. S. Johnson, C. Wang, Mechanistic understanding of interphase-driven aging in silicon anodes, Nat. Energy 2026, DOI 10.1038/s41560-026-01967-1.
  17. X. Zhang, Travis P.Pollard,Sha Tan, Nan Zhang, Li+(ionophore) nanoclusters engineered aqueous/non-aqueous biphasic electrolyte solutions for high-potential lithium-based batteries, Nature Nanotechnology, 2025
  18. A. M. Li, P. Y. Zavalij, F. Omenya, X. Li, and C. Wang, Salt-in-presalt electrolyte solutions for high-potential non-aqueous sodium metal batteries, Nature Nanotechnology, 2025, Doi:10.1038/s41565-024-01848-2.
  19. W. Zhang, Z. Wang, H. Wan, A.-M. Li, Y. Liu, S.-C. Liou, K. Zhang, Y. Ren, C. Jayawardana, B. L. Lucht, and C. Wang, Revitalizing interphase in all-solid-state Li metal batteries by electrophile reduction, Nature Materials, 2025, 24, 414-423.
  20. L. Cao, F. A. Soto, D. Li, T. Deng, E. Hu, X. Lu, D. A. Cullen, N. Eidson, X.-Q. Yang, K. He, P. B. Balbuena, C. Wang, Pd-Ru pair on Pt surface for promoting hydrogen oxidation and evolution in alkaline media, Nature Communications, 15(1), 2024, 7245.
  21. A.-M. Li, Z. Wang, T. Lee, N. Zhang, T. Liu, W. Zhang, C. Jayawardana, M. Yeddala, B. L. Lucht, C. Wang, Asymmetric electrolyte design for high-energy lithium-ion batteries with micro-sized alloying anodes, Nature Energy, 2024, 9, 1551–1560
  22. A.-M. Li, O. Borodin, T. P. Pollard, W. Zhang, N. Zhang, S. Tan, F. Chen, C. Jayawardana, B. L. Lucht, E. Hu, X.-Q. Yang, C. Wang, Methylation enables the use of fluorine-free ether electrolytes in high-voltage lithium metal batteries, Nature Chemistry, 16(6), 2024, 922-929 (research brief)
  23. D. Lu, R. Li, M. M. Rahman, P. Yu, L. Lv, S. Yang, Y. Huang, C. Sun, S. Zhang, H. Zhang, J. Zhang, X. Xiao, T. Deng, L. Fan, L. Chen, J. Wang, E. Hu, C. Wang, X. Fan, Ligand-channel-enabled ultrafast Li-ion conduction, Nature, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07045-4
  24. W. Zhang, V. koverga, S. Liu, J. Zhou, J. Wang, P. Bai, S. Tan, N. K. Dandu, Z. Wang, F. Chen, J. Xia, H. Wan, X. Zhang, H. Yang, B. L. Lucht, A.-M. Li, X.-Q. Yang, E. Hu, S. R. Raghavan, A. T. Ngo, C. Wang, Single-phase local-high-concentration solid polymer electrolytes for lithium-metal batteries, Nature Energy, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-023-01443-0
  25. Z. Wang, J. Xia, X. Ji, Y. Liu, J. Zhang, X. He, W. Zhang, H. Wan, C. Wang, Lithium anode interlayer design for all-solid-sate lithium-metal batteries, Nature Energy, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-023-01426-1
  26. H. Wan, J. Xu, C. Wang, Designing electrolytes and interphases for high-energy lithium batteries, Nature Reviews Chemistry, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-023-00557-z
  27. H. Wan, Z. Wang, W. Zhang, X. He, C. Wang, Interface design for all-solid-state lithium batteries, Nature, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06653-w
  28. J. Xu, J. Zhang, T. P. Pollard, Q. Li, S. Tan, S. Hou, H. Wan, F. Chen, H. He, E. Hu, K. Xu, X.-Q. Yang, O. Borodin, C. Wang, Electrolyte design for Li-ion batteries under extreme operating conditions, Nature, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05627-8
  29. H. Wan, Z. Wang, S. Liu, B. Zhang, X. He, W. Zhang, C. Wang, Critical interphase overpotential as a lithium dendrite-suppression criterion for all-solid-state lithium battery design, Nature Energy, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-023-01231-w. Research Briefing.
  30. C. Yang, J. Xia, C. Cui, T. P. Pollard, J. Vatamanu, A. Faraone, J. A. Dura, M. Tyagi, A. Kattan, E. Thimsen, J. Xu, W. Song, E. Hu, X. Ji, S. Hou, X. Zhang, M. S. Ding, S. Hwang, D. Su, Y. Ren, X.-Q. Yang, H. Wang, O. Borodin, C. Wang, All-temperature zinc batteries with high-entropy aqueous electrolyte, Nature Sustainability, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-01028-x
  31. X. Yang, B. Zhang, Y. Tian, Y. Wang, Z. Fu, D. Zhou, H. Liu, F. Kang, B. Li, C. Wang, G. Wang, Electrolyte design principles for developing quasi-solid-state rechargeable halide-ion batteries, Nature Communications, 2023, 14:925
  32. R. Jain, A. S. Lakhnot, K. Bhimani, S. Sharma, V. Mahajani, R. A. Panchal, M. Kamble, F. Han, C. Wang, N. Koratkar, Nanostructuring versus microstructuring in battery electrodes, Nature Reviews Materials, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-022-00454-9.
  33. W. Feng, J. Hu, G. Qian, Z. Xu., G. Zan, Y. Liu, F. Wang, C. Wang, Y. Xia, Stabilization of garnet/Li interphase by diluting the electronic conductor, Science Advances, 2022, 8, eadd8972
  34. M. Liao, X. Ji, Y. Cao, J. Xu, X. Qiu, Y. Xie, F. Wang, C. Wang, Y. Xia, Solvent-free protic liquid enabling batteries operation at an ultra-wide temperature range, Nature Communications, 2022. 13:6064
  35. S. Hou, L. Chen, X. Fan, X. Fan, X. Ji, B. Wang, C. Cui, J. Chen, C. Yang, W. Wang, C. Li, C. Wang, High-energy and low-cost membrane-free chlorine flow battery, Nature Communications, 2022. 13:1281.
  36. J. Xu, X. Ji, J. Zhang, C. Yang, P. Wang, S. Liu, K. Ludwig, F. Chen, P. Kofinas, C. Wang, Aqueous electrolyte design for super-stable 2.5V LiMn2O4||Li4Ti5O12 pouch cells, Nature Energy, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00977-5
  37. T. Deng, X. Ji, L. Zou, O. Chiekezi, L. Cao, X. Fan, T. R. Adebisi, H-J. Chang, H. Wang, B. Li, X. Li, C. Wang, D. Reed, J-G. Zhang, V. L. Sprenkle, C. Wang, X. Lu Interfacial-engineering-enabled practical low-temperature sodium metal battery, Nature Nanotechnology, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-021-01036-6
  38. S. Hou, X. Ji, K. Gaskell, P. Wang, L. Wang, J. Xu, R. Sun, O. Borodin, C. Wang, Solvation Sheath Reorganization Enabled Divalent Metal Batteries with Fast Interfacial Charge Transfer Kinetics, Science, 2021, 374, 172-178.
  39. W. Sun, F. Wang, B. Zhang, M. Zhang, V. Kupers, X. Ji, C. Theile, P. Bieker, K. Xu, C. Wang, M. Winter, A rechargeable zinc-air battery based on zinc peroxide chemistry. Science, 2021, 371, 46-51.
  40. L. Suo, O. Borodin, T. Gao, M. Olguin, J. Ho, X. Fan, C. Luo, C. Wang, K. Xu. Water-in-Salt Electrolyte Enables High Voltage Aqueous Li-ion Chemistries. Science, 2015, 350, 938.
  41. C. Yang, J. Chen, X. Ji, T. P. Pollard, X. Lü, C. Sun, S. Hou, Q. Liu, C. Liu, T. Qing, Y. Wang, O. Borodin, Y. Ren, K. Xu, C. Wang, Aqueous Li-ion Battery Enabled by Halogen Conversion-Intercalation Chemistry in Graphite, Nature, 2019, 569, 245.
  42. J. Chen, X. Fan, Q. Li, H. Yang, M.R. Khoshi, Y. Xu, S. Hwang, L. Chen, X. Ji, C. Yang, H. He, C. Wang, E. Garfunkel, D. Su, O. Borodin, C. Wang, Electrolyte Design for LiF-rich Solid-Electrolyte Interfaces to Enable High-performance Microsized Alloy Anodes for Batteries. Nature Energy, 2020, 5, 386–397.
  43. X. Fan, X. Ji, L. Chen, J. Chen, T. Deng, F. Han, J. Yue, N. Piao, R. Wang, X. Zhou, X. Xiao, L. Chen, C. Wang, All-temperature batteries enabled by fluorinated electrolytes with non-polar solvents, Nature Energy, 2019, 4, 882.
  44. F. Han, A. Westover, J. Yue, X. Fan, F. Wang, M. Chi, D. Leonard, N. Dudney, H. Wang, C. Wang, High Electronic conductivity as the origin of lithium dendrite formation within solid electrolytes, Nature Energy, 2019, 4, 187-196.
  45. L. Wang, A. Menakath, F. Han, Y. Wang, P. Zavalij, K. Gaskell, O. Borodin, D. Luga, S. Brown, C. Wang, K. Xu, B. Eichhorn, Identifying the components of the solid–electrolyte interphase in Li-ion Batteries, Nature Chemistry, 2019, 11, 789.
  46. L. Cao, D. Li, T. Pollard, T. Deng, B. Zhang, C. Yang, L. Chen, J. Vatamanu, E. Hu, M. J. Hourwitz, L. Ma, M. Ding, Q. Li, S. Hou, K. Gaskell, J. T. Fourkas, X-Q. Yang, K. Xu, O. Borodin, C. Wang, Fluorinated interphase enables reversible aqueous zinc battery chemistries, Nature Nanotechnology, 2021,1730
  47. X. Fan, L. Chen, O. Borodin, X. Ji, J. Chen, S. Hou, T. Deng, J. Zheng, C. Yang, S. Liou, K. Amine, K. Xu, C. Wang, Non-flammable Electrolyte Enables Li-Metal Batteries with Aggressive Cathode Chemistries, Nature Nanotechnology, 2018, 13, 715-722
  48. F. Wang, O. Borodin, T. Gao, X. Fan, W. Sun, F. Han, A. Faraone, J. Dura, K. Xu and C. Wang, Highly Reversible Zinc-Metal Anode for Aqueous Batteries, Nature Materials, 2018, 17, 543-549.
  49. L. Chen, L. Cao, X. Ji, S. Hou, Q. Li, J. Chen, C. Yang, N. Edison, C. Wang, Enabling Safe Aqueous Lithium-ion Open Batteries by Suppressing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Nature Communications, 2020, 11, 1-8.
  50. X. Fan, E. Hu, X. Ji, Y. Zhu, F. Han, S. Hwang, J. Liu, S. Bak, Z. Ma, T. Gao, S.-C. Liou, J. Bai, X.-Q. Yang, Y. Mo, K. Xu, D. Su, C Wang, High Energy-Density and Reversibility of Iron Fluoride Cathode Enabled Via an Intercalation-Extrusion Reaction, Nature Communications, 2018, 9, 1-12.
  51. Y. Wen, K. He, Y. Zhu, F. Han, Y. Xu, I. Matsuda, Y. Ishii, J Cumings, and C. Wang. Expanded Graphite as Superior Anode for Sodium-Ion Batteries. Nature Communications, 2014, 5, 4033.
  52. X. Fan, X. Ji, F. Han, J. Yue, J. Chen, L. Chen, T. Deng, J. Jiang, C. Wang, Fluorinated solid electrolyte interphase enables highly reversible solid-state Li metal battery, Science Advances, 2018, 4, eaau9245.

To view a complete list of Professor Wang's publications, citation metrics, and H-Index, please consult his entry on ResearcherID.

Three Nature Journal Studies in Electrochemistry Offer New Insights on Next-Generation Batteries

Distinguished University Professor Chunsheng Wang's research team revealed new insights on faster-charging, more efficient, and durable batteries.

University of Maryland Engineers Design New Electrolytes for Aqueous Zinc Batteries

Distinguished University Professor Chunsheng Wang reveals new insights in a Nature Nanotechnology study published today.

UMD Battery Study Addresses Key Barrier to Electrifying Transportation

Chemical engineers design solution to fast-charge lithium-ion batteries for EVs.

Maryland Engineers Recognized with Faculty Honors

Annual Convocation event celebrates academic and service excellence and achievement.

Chemical Engineers Reveal Progress Towards Sodium Batteries for Grid Energy

Researchers involved with SAGES present results for solid-state batteries in Nature Nanotechnology. 

Researchers’ Solid-State Battery Milestone Reaches New Heights

UMD researchers introduce new solid-state battery chemistry for safer and high energy EVs.

UMD Joins $50M Sodium-Ion Battery Innovation Partnership

New research consortium led by Argonne National Laboratory seeks to accelerate sustainable solutions for electric vehicle energy storage.

UMD Joins Sodium-Ion Battery Alliance for Renewable Grid Energy Storage

Battery research partnership could advance sustainable solutions for growing energy demand.

Next-Generation Batteries Could Come with Lower Production Costs, Less Environmental Impact

New technologies could replace conventional batteries to power electric vehicles and enable long-distance transportation.

Maryland Researchers Awarded $1.5 Million to Pioneer Batteries for Electric Rail and Maritime Transportation

New technologies could reduce the carbon footprint attributed to the freight transportation sector.

Lighter, Safer and Stronger Batteries Could Power the Smart Devices of Tomorrow

Chemical engineers develop a new technology that could increase energy density and safety of consumer electronics.

Safer Electric Vehicles Could Come Soon After this Recent Breakthrough in Battery Research

Study shows how lithium dendrites forms in solid-state batteries to unveil new design solution. 

Wang Develops New Battery Technology That Could Lead to Safer, High-Energy Electric Vehicles

Researchers Develop Way to Prevent Damage That Plagues Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

Safe Lithium Batteries Get a Boost

UMD researchers have developed lithium dendrite suppression parameters and electrolytes for longer-lasting batteries that can operate under extreme conditions.

New Electrolyte Design Could be the Answer for Safer Rechargeable Batteries even in Extreme Cold

UMD published in Nature paper on electrolyte design for high energy batteries capable of operating under extreme temperature conditions.

Novel engineering method enables low-temp sodium metal battery

Study, led by University of Maryland research team, published in Nature Nanotechnology.

Nine Maryland Engineers Recognized as Being "One in 1,000"

Clark School researchers among the "who's who" of influential researchers, according to Clarivate.

Student Researchers Recognized with Wylie Dissertation Fellowships

Fourteen Clark School students pursuing their Ph.D.s in engineering have been awarded Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowships by the University of Maryland Graduate School.

'Fluorinated interphase' bolsters water-based zinc battery chemistry

Wang Research Group collaborating with ARL publishes study in Nature Nanotechnology.

Seven UMD Engineers Recognized as Highly Cited Researchers

Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers have published multiple papers frequently cited by their peers over the last decade.

MEI² Scientists Named Highly Cited Researchers in 2019

Hu and Wang identified by Web of Science


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