Group Members
Current Members
FabLab Research Staff Scientist-Nanocenter
Nam Soo Kim
Bio: I am currently the FabLab Director at UMD. I went to UMD for undergraduate chemistry program and then Dr. Lee’s group in 2013 for my Ph.D. program. My dissertation was on utilizing well ordered nanostructures to explore the impact of architecture on energy storage capabilities in Li ion battery systems, mainly using anodized aluminum oxide nanostructures. Recently, my research topic has been aimed at changing the paradigm of battery fabrication, from traditional roll-to-roll method to the already-highly mature microfabrication methods. I am also part of Ionic Devices, a recently formed company with the goal of transitioning our research to commercialization of high performance solid state batteries.
Email: nsk0248@umd.edu
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Yang Wang
Bio: I am currently a postdoc and formerly a PhD student graduated from the Lee group at the University of Maryland. My current research areas include the fabrication, modification, and characterizations of sulfide solid state electrolyte, surface chemistry and fundamental electrochemistry of Li and Mg metal in rechargeable battery systems, and the development of new beyond-Li chemistry for energy storage devices. I received my B.S. in Chemistry at Xiamen University, China.
Email: ywang16@umd.edu
5th Year Ph.D Chemistry Candidate
George Christopher Caceres
Bio: I am a doctoral candidate in my fifth year of graduate studies with the Lee group here at the University of Maryland and with the Inorganic Chemical Metrology Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. I am working on the development of single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) for the measurement of microplastic particles. My research is currently focused on targeting inherent residual elemental signatures within microplastics to expand current measurement limitations of spICP-MS and offer solutions for the present gaps in knowledge with respect to the analysis of microplastic particles.
Email: gcaceres@umd.edu
4th Year Ph.D Chemistry Candidate
Zihan Sun
Bio: I am a fourth year PhD candidate in the Chemistry Department. I completed his Master of Science in Chemistry at Wuhan University in 2020. My research focuses on two main areas: developing high-performance batteries using nanomaterials, and creating highly ion-conductive polymers for solid-state battery applications.
Email: zsun12@umd.edu
3rd Year Ph.D Chemistry Candidate
Osma Josefina Gomez
Bio: I am a third-year doctoral candidate in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and holds the prestigious Dolphus E. Milligan Graduate Fellowship. A Southern California native, I earned both my Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemistry from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). My research focuses on developing magnesium metal solid-state rechargeable battery systems for energy storage applications..
Email: ogomez12@umd.edu
2nd Year Chemistry Ph.D. Student
Steven Michael Douglass
Bio: I am a second-year PhD student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Originally from New Jersey, I completed my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Rowan University in 2023. My research focuses on energy efficiency applications through atomic layer deposition techniques.
Email: smd29@umd.edu
Undergraduate Students
Senior Undergraduate Student
Adam Antar
Bio: I am a senior in Mechanical Engineering with a passion for chemistry and specifically building solid state batteries to power the future.
Email: adamant@terpmail.umd.edu
Junior Undergraduate Student
Celine Oh
Bio:
Email: coh26@terpmail.umd.edu
Sophomore Undergraduate Student
Joshua Wu
Bio: I am a second year undergraduate student majoring in chemistry and minoring in applied math. I am from Baltimore County Maryland, and I graduated from Eastern Tech High School. Outside of school I enjoy working out, playing volleyball, gaming, and learning things for fun.
Email: jwu12331@terpmail.umd.edu
Visiting Scholars
KAIST - PhD Candidate
Hyunjoon Yoo
Bio: I am a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST, currently a visiting student at the University of Maryland. I completed my Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at KAIST in 2023. My research focuses on developing high-energy-density all-solid-state batteries for powering miniaturized devices.
KAIST - Master's Student
Eekyung Kim
Bio: I'm a Master's student and visiting scholar from KAIST, South Korea. I earned my bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering and have been focusing on research using 3D-patterned electrodes with solid electrolytes. I do love Brahms, wine, and my research!
KAIST - PhD Candidate
Haeun Lee
Bio: I am currently an exchange researcher at UMD and a Ph.D. candidate at KAIST in South Korea. My research focuses on advanced energy storage and conversion technologies, with particular emphasis on the effects of external pressure on various battery systems. Specifically, I am investigating how external pressure affects the performance and stability of lithium metal batteries and Li-ion batteries, particularly under high C-rates. In addition, I am developing innovative pressurizing and pressure monitoring systems that can be integrated into lithium metal batteries to enhance their safety, efficiency, and overall performance.
KAIST - Master's Student
Samuel Kim
Bio: I'm a Master's student and visiting scholar from KAIST, South Korea. Currently, I am a visiting researcher at UMD, and my research focuses on structural batteries utilizing composite materials.
Alumni
Joshua Seo
Ryan Lim
Robert Henry
My research involved developing Anodized Aluminum Oxide as a substrate for 3D batteries. I worked with both aluminum foil and aluminum deposited on Si wafers. I received my B.S. in Material Science and Engineering from UMD in 2023 and I'm currently working at Modern Microsystems Inc.
Marco Casareto
Shoukang Hong
My research focuses on the development and architecture of planar and 3D structures for high energy density all-in-one Li-ion and Li metal batteries. I received my M.S. in Chemistry from UMD in 2022 and B.S. in Chemistry from Nanjing University, China in 2019.
Dr. Hakeem Henry
My research interests are in the area of materials for electrochemical energy storage, specifically, new high voltage cathodes for magnesium-ion batteries. I received my Ph.D. in Chemistry from UMD in 2021. I went to Colgate-Palmolive as a postdoctoral Research Scientist after graduation.
Brandon Johnston
I did electrochemical processing and battery electrode development in the Lee Group and received my B.S. degree in 2021. I went to Harvard University as a Chemistry Ph.D. student after graduation.
Darrin Liau
My research interests include molecular layer deposition for energy storage applications, and novel materials for catalysis and electrochemical applications. I received my M.S. in Chemistry from UMD in 2020. I work as an associate Scientist after graduation.
Dr. Emily Sahadeo
My research interests include studying nanostructured energy storage materials for rechargeable Mg batteries. I received my Ph.D. in Chemistry from UMD in 2020. I am now a visiting Assistant Professor at Swarthmore College.
Dr. Caleb Luvonga
My area of research interest is in food safety, especially environmental pollutants and other chemical contaminants in food. My current research at NIST is in speciation of organoarsenicals in seafoods for the evaluation of human dietary exposure.
Dr. Nicole Schneck
My research interests lie on the bio/nano interface of the group and I am apart of the UMD-NIST PREP Program. I am currently interested in developing methods to quantify clinically relevant protein biomarkers using magnetic-based immunoaffinity techniques and targeted mass spectrometry. I received my B.S. degree in chemistry and a minor in administrative business from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA in 2011
Dr. Jaehee Song
My research interests include the design and development of electrical energy storage devices. I am currently focusing on developing high voltage cathode materials for Li-ion battery and investigating the charge storage mechanisms of supercapacitor materials. I received my B.S. in chemistry at the University of Maryland in 2010.
Dr. Eleanor Gillette
My research involves both experiments and computation exploring electrochemical reactions in high aspect ratio nanostructures, especially focused on the mechanisms of charge storage in batteries and supercapacitors. I received my B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010.
Dr. Junkai Hu
My research interests include the design and develop of nanostructured materials for the applications in energy fields. I received my B.S. and M.S. degree in chemistry from Fudan University, China.
Dr. Zhe Gui
My research interests includes the design and synthesis of hybrids nanostructured materials for applications in energy storage devices with facilitated charge transfer processes. I received my B.S. degree in chemistry from Wuhan University, China, 2008.
Dr. Lauren Graham
My research interests includes the development of a nanodetoxification system and the synthesis of transition metal nanotubes. My current work focuses on the surface-directed growth mechanism of metal nanotubes during template-assisted electrodeposition. I received my B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 2009.
Dr. Jonathon Duay
My research interests include the synthesis of one-dimensional heterogeneous nanowire arrays for high power energy storage applications with an emphasis on the electrodeposition mechanism of these such nanocomposites. I received my B.S. degree in chemistry from Weber State University in Ogden, UT in 2008.
Dr. Thao Nguyen
I've designed and constructed a PEDOT nanotube patch that is capable of fast and controlled transdermal delivery. The theory behind the fast release is the electronic attraction and repulsion between the positive PEDOT backbone and negatively charged model drug molecules. We were able to achieve in vivo release within 10 minutes and drug saturation in the blood system within 30 minutes. The nanotube patch is ideal as a universal drug delivery system since we are able to fine tune the length and wall thickness of the nanotubes and functionalize the nanotubes accordingly, to upload and release drugs of interests.
Dr. Stefanie Sherrill
My research interests include the design and development of electrical energy storage devices. I am currently focusing on heterogeneous nanostructured devices for high energy and high power devices. I received my B.S. in chemistry at the University of Florida in 2007.
Dr. Ran Liu
My research interests are in the template synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications, with an emphasis on developing new approaches to synthesize electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries. For example, my recent publication in JACS develops a one-step method of fabricating coaxial MnO2-PEDOT nanowires. The nano-dimensions and synergic properties of MnO2 and PEDOT enable the coaxial nanowires to have high energy densities at high power densities.
Dr. Xia Bai
My research objective is to investigate the feasibility and transfection efficiency of magnetic silica nanotubes as drug carriers. With the unique tubular structure, the nanotubes can be used to create a diverse set of multifunctional diagnostic and therapeutic devices, such as nanoscale platform. The platform can integrate the functions of therapeutic molecules with targeting, imaging and reporter.
Dr. Bo He
My expertise in nanomaterials synthesis and electrochemistry forms the foundation of my research program. We are in general interested in the synthesis of 1-D nanotubular and nanowire structures with various materials since the 1-D structure has many attributes that other nanostructures do not have. With the fundamental study on the nanotubes, very importantly, we are also interested in application of these various 1-D naostructures at biomedical, materials, and energy fields.
Dr. Rui Xiao
My research interest is mainly focused on the template synthesis of many kinds of nanostructures such as conducting polymers, metals and the mechanism study for the nanostructure synthesis of various polymers. I am also studying the fabrication and characterizations of electrochromic display devices. The nanotube, nanorod of conducting polymers and metals are of very high importance in a lot of domains such as academic, industrial and government.
Dr. Sang Jun Son
Spherical shape of nanoparticles has been used for the most nanobiotechnology because spherical shape is easy to make. However, when multifunctionality is especially required on their surfaces, spherical nanoparticles still need to be improved for controlling multifunctionalization of surfaces, and their environmental compatibility due to the structural limitation of spherical particles. Since it has a single surface, every surface modification for the multifunctionality should take place at the same surface. This may lead to malfunction or interruption between the multifunctional components. In that sense, tubular structure of nanoparticles has become highly attractive for the multifunctional nanoparticles due to their structural attributes, such as the distinctive inner and outer surfaces, over conventional spherical nanoparticles. Inner voids can be used for capturing, concentrating, and releasing species ranging in size from large proteins to small molecules because tube dimensions can be easily controlled by the template synthesis. In addition, inner and outer surface modifications can be performed by totally separated processes so that inner surface modification can be carried out just to satisfy requirement in deliver of biomolecular cargos without any consideration of outer surface