Research Field

My research interests include micro/nanoscale heat transfer, thermal functional materials/devices, thermal management, thermal insulation, thermoelectric energy conversion, carbon neutrality, and energy sustainability. My long-standing research goal is to engineer thermal energy materials/devices for a green and sustainable future based on material innovation and design. My research efforts over the past several years lie in pushing the frontiers of understanding of thermal transport in energy and nano materials, filling the knowledge gaps between their structures, phonons, and thermal transport properties, and advancing their applications in energy saving, efficiency, and sustainability. My research is/was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and US funding agencies and companies, including the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and 3M Company. My innovative research achievements are summarized below: