Dr Zhenyu Zhang

Zhenyu Zhang is a lecturer of renewable energy in the University of Exeter, Cornwall campus since 2023. After obtained PhD in Material Science from City University of Hong Kong (2016), he worked as a postdoc research associate of Faraday institution at University College London (2018-2022), focusing on electrochemical energy storage. 

He is an experienced researcher with a multi-disciplinary academic background of physics, chemistry and materials. His research covers synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, graphene and other inorganic materials, solid state electrolyte materials and their energy conversion and storage applications.

Research interest: 

• Synthesis, characterization and practical application of solid state electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries, sustainable materials for solid electrolytes.
• Extraction of lithium from brine and seawater via electrochemcial methods.
• Degradation mechanism study of electrode/electrolyte bulk materials and interfaces in batteries, by various in situ/ex situ microscopy, spectroscopy and electrochemical methods.
• Graphene materials and their application in electrochemical energy conversion, such as hydrogen evolution and redox flow batteries.
• Inorganic nanomaterials and their energy conversion and storage applications, such as lithium/beyond lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors and electrochemical catalysis.

Teaching:

• Programme lead of Renewable Energy BEng/MEng
• ENE1015 Fundamentals of Materials (Module convenor)
• ENE1017 Fundamentals of Engineering
• ENEM014 Energy Storage Materials and Systems (Module convenor)
• ENE3007 Energy Storage Technology
• ENE1003 Science for Energy Engineering (Module convenor)
• ENEM105 Low Carbon Vehicles and transport
• ENE3011 Renewable Energy Dissertation
• ENEM104 MSc disertation

Grants:

2026 Visiting Academic Program Grants, Exeter – UBCO Sustainability & Resilience Partnership

2025 GW-SHIFT High Impact Sprint Project. Title: Development of testing protocols for critical catalyst materials for green hydrogen production

2024 Network GW4 Generator Fund. Title: All Solid State lithium-ion batteries with cellulose enhanced solid polymer electrolytes 

2024 ESE Global Partnerships Mobility Funding Awards

Publication: Google Scholar, Research Outputs

PhD Studentship Opportunities
China Scholarship Council PhD Scholarships 

EPSRC Funded PhD Studentships at the University of Exeter