Zhu Honored with 2027 ACS ENFL Research Excellence Award
Hongli (Julie) Zhu, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, has been named the 2027 recipient of the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Energy and Fuels (ENFL) Division’s Research Excellence Award in Electrochemical Energy Storage.
Sponsored by CAPCHEM Technology USA Inc., the award honors mid-career scientists whose significant, original contributions have advanced electrochemical energy storage. Selection recognizes research excellence, leadership in the field, and service to ACS and the ENFL Division.
Zhu’s research spans sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries, flow batteries, and battery systems designed for fast charging and high energy density. Her group combines materials and interface engineering with real-time neutron imaging to reveal lithium transport and interfacial dynamics in working batteries, guiding the design of more reliable solid-state batteries. The group also develops sustainable, biomass-derived multifunctional materials for applications in electronics, energy, and bioengineering.
The ENFL Division will honor Zhu with a dedicated award symposium at an ACS national meeting. The award also includes an honorarium and a commemorative plaque.