Advances in technologies are often driven by the discovery of new materials or phases. Topological textures are particle-like objects not only have mathematical beauty but also hold promises for next generation nanodevices. These exotic textures often emerge as a result of the interplay between spin, lattice, charge, polarization degrees of freedom. Using newly-developed electron microscopy methods, we are now able to directly image these "hidden" order parameters at atomic scale, hence explore the microscopic origin of functionalities and possible topological phase transitions.

The exceptional strength of medium/high entropy alloys has been attributed to hardening in random solution alloys. Recent research efforts have revealed chemical short-range ordering, severe lattice distortions, suggesting nanometer-scale, non-random chemical mixing and fluctuations in strain. We employ data mining approaches to correlate chemical information with local lattice deformation, and seek to provide quantitative, direct imaging of lattice disorder and embryonic phases. 

Our advances in in-situ multimodal electron microscopy have enabled us to image highly beam-sensitive materials during the reaction process and uncover structural information at unprecedented resolution. For batteries involving lithium cathodes, it is crucial to understand the structural changes upon cycling. In fuel cells it is the interfaces between nanograins and their crystallographic orientations, strain distribution that are critical.