Seminars in Materials Science and Engineering

The department hosts lectures by renowned researchers, authors, and professionals each year.

Current Seminar

Interface and Electrolyte Engineering for Next-generation Metal Batteries

Yue Zhou, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Texas at Dallas

Friday, March 27, 2026,
2:00p.m. - 3:00p.m.
NH108

Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss recent advances made in my group on the understanding of the correlation between mechanics and electrochemistry in advanced materials, and their applications in next generation energy storage devices. Firstly, I will present several techniques developed in my lab to manufacture advanced materials with controllable morphology and properties for energy storage devices by performing bottom-up investigations to unravel the process-property-performance relationship. Next, I will discuss our recent studies on the electro-chemo-mechanical correlation to regulate ion transport in next generation batteries such as lithium metal batteries. Despite the great promise of the Li metal electrode, the accurate mechanism of suppressing dendrite growth and stabilizing the electrode at the interface is less understood and not well established. I will discuss our findings to develop new understandings of the key mechanical and chemical factors of the interface that leads to stable charge/discharge processes of the Li metal electrode by integrating experimental efforts, in-situ observation, and multi-scale simulations. The strategies to break the conventional tradeoff of mechanical and electrochemical properties at the interface to improve the safety and performance of Li metal batteries will be also discussed.

Biography: Yue Zhou is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas. Before that, he was an Assistant Professor at South Dakota State University, and was a Postdoctoral Associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology after receiving his Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University. His research and teaching interests mainly focus on next generation energy storage devices, energy conversion, advanced material manufacturing, and biomedical devices. His research and teaching have been recognized with several awards, such as NSF Early Career Award, ONR Young Investigator Award, UTD research award, conference awards, and recognitions such as IEEE Senior Membership. He also received grant supports from various private, state, and federal agencies such as NSF, DOW, ONR, ARO, NASA, EDA, USDA, Welch Foundation, and industry sponsors. 

Spring 2026 MSE Seminars

  • 3/27 - Interface and Electrolyte Engineering for Next-generation Metal Batteries - Yue Zhou, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Texas at Dallas
  • 3/20 - GaN Power Device Technology and Reliability - Dong Seup Lee, Ph.D., Technology Lead, Texas Instruments

Fall 2025 MSE Seminars

  • 9/12 - Metasurfaces and Nanomaterials for Thermal Radiative Regulation - Dr. Richard Z. Zhang, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of North Texas
  • 10/31 - Beyond the Degree: How Adaptability Shapes Your Career Journey - Dr. Allison Theresa Osmanson, Reliability Engineer, Microsoft
  • 11/14 - Nano Insights into 2D Metal Halide Perovskites Stressed by Mechanical and Electrical Fields Dr. Qing Tu Assistant Professor Department of Materials Science and Engineering Texas A&M University
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Administration

Dr. Efstathios "Stathis" Meletis
Department Chair
817-272-2559
meletis@uta.edu

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