Zhong Lin Wang (Chinese: 王中林; pinyin: Wáng Zhōnglín; born November 1961[1]) is a Chinese-American physicist, materials scientist and engineer specialized in nanotechnology, energy science and electronics. He is one of the most influential scientists in the field, being awarded the Albert Einstein World Award of Science in 2019, and is often dubbed the ‘father of nanogenerators’.

Zhong Lin Wang
王中林
Wang in 2022
BornNovember 1961 (age 62–63)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Alma materArizona State University
Xidian University
AwardsAlbert Einstein World Award of Science (2019),
ENI award in Energy Frontiers (2018),
Router Citation Laureate in Physics (2015)
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
Materials Science and Engineering
Nanoscience and technology
Energy and sensors
InstitutionsGeorgia Institute of Technology
Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems
Websitehttp://www.nanoscience.gatech.edu/

He received his PhD from Arizona State University in 1987. He is the Hightower Chair in Materials Science and Engineering and Regents' Professor Chair Emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology, US.[2] In 2024, it was reported that Wang had moved to work in China full-time at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems. It was widely speculated that this was due to US government persecution of Chinese-American scientists through the China Initiative as well as the rise of anti-Asian attacks in the United States.[3]

Education

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He came to the US for graduate school through CUSPEA program organized by Tsung-Dao Lee.

Career

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Wang was a visiting Lecturer at Stony Brook University from 1987 to 1988. After working as a research fellow in the following year at Cavendish Laboratory in the University of Cambridge, Wang joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a research scientist from 1990 to 1994. He was hired by Georgia Institute of Technology as an associate professor in 1995; he was promoted to full Professor in 1999, Regents' professor in 2004, and the Hightower Chair in Materials Science and Engineering in 2010. Wang was the Director of the Georgia Tech's Center for Nanostructure Characterization from 2000 to 2015. He is the Founding Director, Director, and Chief Scientist at Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2012.[4]

Science and technology of nanogenerators

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Wang invented piezoelectric nanogenerators in 2006,[5] for generating electricity from tiny mechanical energy offered by ZnO nanowire arrays.

Before the invention of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) by Wang in 2011,[6] mechanical energy harvesting mainly relied on the electromagnetic generator (EMG) invented by Faraday in 1831. The EMG is most efficient for high-frequency mechanical motions, such as more than 10–60 Hz. The TENGs have advantages over EMG in harvesting low-frequency mechanical energy from the environment. The energy conversion efficiency based on TENG can reach 50-85%.[7][8] The maximum output power density obtained so far is up to 500 W/m2.[8]

Hybrid cell. Wang introduced the hybrid cell in 2009 for simultaneously harvesting two or more different types of energy, such as solar and mechanical energy.[9]

Pyroelectric nanogenerator. In 2012, based on the pyroelectric effect, Wang invented the pyroelectric nanogenerator.[10]

Blue energy. In 2014, Wang proposed the idea of blue energy, in which using millions of TENG units to form a TENG network floating on water surface for large-scale wave energy harvesting.[11] If one TENG unit can generate a power of 10 mW, the total power for the area equal to the size of Georgia state and 10 m depth of water is theoretically predicted to be 16 TW, which can meet the energy needs of the world.[12]

Theory of nanogenerators from the Maxwell's displacement current. In 1861, Maxwell proposed the term ε𝜕𝑬/𝜕𝑡 as the Maxwell's displacement current. Wang suggested adding an additional term 𝜕𝑃𝑠/𝜕𝑡 into the Maxwell's displacement current for the cases when the surface polarization is present.[13][14] Recently, Wang has proposed expanding Maxwell's equations for moving charged media.[15]

Origins of contact electrification. Wang has argued[16][17][18] that electron transfer between atoms/molecules in contact electrification is due to electron cloud overlap (or wave function overlap) between the repulsive region, because interatomic potial barrier can be reduced. Then, a hybrid layer model has been proposed to reveal the formation process of electric double layer between liquid and solid.[19] The photon emission due to interface electron transfer and transition has been observed, resulting in the birth of the contact-electrification induced emission spectroscopy (CEIIS).[20] Furthermore, the electron transfer between liquid and solid surfaces can be used for contact-electro catalysis (CEC).[21]

Energy for the new era and high entropy energy. Wang proposed the idea of "energy for the new era" in 2017 to distinguish the distributed energy sources from the well-known new energy.[14] Recently, Wang studied the entropy theory of energy distribution and utilization for the era of internet of things.[22] The "ordered" energy transmitted from power plants is used to solve the "ordered" applications for fixed sites and part of "disordered" distributed power applications, while the "disordered" energy harvested from the environment is mainly to solve distributed applications.

Piezotronics and piezo-phototronics of the third generation semiconductors

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Piezotronic effect and piezotronics. When applying a stress on a material with a non-centrosymmetric crystal structure, a piezoelectric potential (piezopotential) can be produced. For a ZnO nanowire, the Schottky barrier height between the nanowire and its metal contact can be effectively tuned by the created internal field. Such phenomenon is called as the piezotronic effect, which was discovered by Wang in 2007.[23] The field of piezotronics represents the electronics in which the piezopotential acts as a gate voltage.[24] Recently, the piezotronic effect in 2D materials was also demonstrated.[25]

Piezo-phototronic effect and piezo-phototronics. When applying a strain, the piezopotential created by interface polarization charges can greatly tune the local band structure and shift the charge depletion zone at a pn junction. The separation or recombination of charge carriers at the junction can be enhanced as excited by photon. Such phenomenon is called as the piezo-phototronic effect, discovered by Wang in 2009,[26] in which the optoelectronic processes are tuned and controlled by the created piezopotential. By using this effect, the pressure/force sensor arrays based on individual-nanowire LED have been fabricated, which can map strain at a high resolution and density[27] and enhance the efficiency of LED.[28]

Piezophotonic effect. Wang theoretically predicted the piezoelectric-induced photon-emission effect (piezophotonic effect) in 2008.[29] The photo emission can occur, resulting from the drop of trapped charges from the vacancy/surface states back to the valence band, under the existence of the piezoelectric potential. Such effect has been experimentally observed and verified in his later work.[30]

Tribotronics. The field of tribotronics represents the electronics in which the triboelectric acts as a gate voltage.[31]

Growth and understanding ZnO nanostructures

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Wang discovered oxide nanobelts in 2001.[32]

In-situ nanomeasurements in TEM

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In 1999 Wang and co-workers used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to measure the properties of individual carbon nanotubes, including the mechanical, electrical and field emission ones.[33] Wang demonstrated a nanobalance technique and an approach toward nanomechanics.[34]

Theory of inelastic scattering in electron diffraction and imaging

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Wang did some research to understand inelastic scattering in electron diffraction and imaging. He published a textbook on Elastic and Inelastic Scattering in Electron Diffraction and Imaging (Plenum Press, 1995)[27]. In scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), the high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) (referred as Z-contrast) is dominated by the thermal diffuse scattering (TDS) and a dynamic theory for including TDS in image simulation of HAADF was proposed.[35]

Honors and recognition

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  • Global Energy Prize, 2023
  • Celsius Lecture Laureate, 2020, Sweden
  • Albert Einstein World Award of Science, conferred by the World Cultural Council (2019)
  • 2019 Diels-Planck lecture award[36]
  • 2018 ENI award in Energy Frontiers [37]
  • American Chemical Soc. Publication most prolific author (2017)
  • Global Nanoenergy Prize (2017), The NANOSMAT Society, UK (2017)
  • Distinguished Research Award, Pan Wen Yuan foundation (2017)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Research Innovation award, Georgia Tech (2016)
  • Distinguished Scientist Award from (US) Southeastern Universities Research Association (2016)
  • Thomson-Reuters Citation Laureate in Physics (2015)[38]
  • Distinguished Professor Award (Highest faculty honor at Georgia Tech) (2014)
  • NANOSMAT prize (United Kingdom) (2014)
  • China International Science and Technology Collaboration Award (2014)
  • World Technology Award (Materials) (2014)
  • The James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials from American Physical Society (2014)
  • ACS Nano Lectureship (2013)
  • Edward Orton Memorial Lecture Award, American Ceramic Society (2012)
  • MRS Medal from Materials Research Society (2011)
  • Foreign Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2009)
  • Purdy award, American Ceramic Society (2009)
  • John M. Cowley Distinguished Lecture, Arizona State University (2012)
  • NanoTech Briefs, Top50 award (2005)
  • Sigma Xi sustain research awards, Georgia Tech (2005)
  • Georgia Tech faculty outstanding research author award (2004)
  • S.T. Li Prize for Distinguished Achievement in Science and Technology (2001)
  • Outstanding Research Author Award, Georgia Tech (2000)
  • Burton Medal, Microscopy Society of America (1999)

References

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  1. ^ a b "王中林(Zhong Lin Wang)". Archived from the original on 2019-06-05. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  2. ^ "Zhong Lin Wang | School of Materials Science and Engineering". www.mse.gatech.edu/people/zhong-lin-wang.
  3. ^ "Top US scientist and nanotech 'world leader' resigns to work in China". South China Morning Post. 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  4. ^ "中国科学院北京纳米能源与系统研究所". www.binn.cas.cn.
  5. ^ Wang, Zhong Lin; Song, Jinhui (2006-04-14). "Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Based on Zinc Oxide Nanowire Arrays". Science. 312 (5771): 242–246. Bibcode:2006Sci...312..242W. doi:10.1126/science.1124005. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 16614215. S2CID 4810693.
  6. ^ Fan, Feng-Ru; Tian, Zhong-Qun; Lin Wang, Zhong (March 2012). "Flexible triboelectric generator". Nano Energy. 1 (2): 328–334. Bibcode:2012NEne....1..328F. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2012.01.004. S2CID 59434593.
  7. ^ Xie, Yannan; Wang, Sihong; Niu, Simiao; Lin, Long; Jing, Qingshen; Yang, Jin; Wu, Zhengyun; Wang, Zhong Lin (2014-08-25). "Grating-Structured Freestanding Triboelectric-Layer Nanogenerator for Harvesting Mechanical Energy at 85% Total Conversion Efficiency". Advanced Materials. 26 (38): 6599–6607. Bibcode:2014AdM....26.6599X. doi:10.1002/adma.201402428. ISSN 0935-9648. PMID 25156128. S2CID 30685667.
  8. ^ a b Zhu, Guang; Zhou, Yu Sheng; Bai, Peng; Meng, Xian Song; Jing, Qingshen; Chen, Jun; Wang, Zhong Lin (2014-04-01). "A Shape-Adaptive Thin-Film-Based Approach for 50% High-Efficiency Energy Generation Through Micro-Grating Sliding Electrification". Advanced Materials. 26 (23): 3788–3796. Bibcode:2014AdM....26.3788Z. doi:10.1002/adma.201400021. ISSN 0935-9648. PMID 24692147. S2CID 22199444.
  9. ^ Xu, Chen; Wang, Xudong; Wang, Zhong Lin (2009-04-01). "Nanowire Structured Hybrid Cell for Concurrently Scavenging Solar and Mechanical Energies". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 131 (16): 5866–5872. doi:10.1021/ja810158x. ISSN 0002-7863. PMID 19338339. S2CID 40091940.
  10. ^ Yang, Ya; Guo, Wenxi; Pradel, Ken C.; Zhu, Guang; Zhou, Yusheng; Zhang, Yan; Hu, Youfan; Lin, Long; Wang, Zhong Lin (2012-06-13). "Pyroelectric Nanogenerators for Harvesting Thermoelectric Energy". Nano Letters. 12 (6): 2833–2838. Bibcode:2012NanoL..12.2833Y. doi:10.1021/nl3003039. ISSN 1530-6984. PMID 22545631.
  11. ^ Wang, Zhong Lin (2014). "Triboelectric nanogenerators as new energy technology and self-powered sensors – Principles, problems and perspectives". Faraday Discuss. 176: 447–458. Bibcode:2014FaDi..176..447W. doi:10.1039/c4fd00159a. ISSN 1359-6640. PMID 25406406. S2CID 22048783.
  12. ^ Wang, Zhong Lin (2017-02-09). "Catch wave power in floating nets". Nature. 542 (7640): 159–160. Bibcode:2017Natur.542..159W. doi:10.1038/542159a. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 28179678. S2CID 4461713.
  13. ^ Wang, Zhong Lin (February 2020). "On the first principle theory of nanogenerators from Maxwell's equations". Nano Energy. 68: 104272. Bibcode:2020NEne...6804272W. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104272. ISSN 2211-2855. S2CID 210249178.
  14. ^ a b Wang, Zhong Lin; Jiang, Tao; Xu, Liang (September 2017). "Toward the blue energy dream by triboelectric nanogenerator networks". Nano Energy. 39: 9–23. Bibcode:2017NEne...39....9W. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.06.035. ISSN 2211-2855.
  15. ^ Wang, Zhong Lin (December 2021). "On the expanded Maxwell's equations for moving charged media system – General theory, mathematical solutions and applications in TENG". Materials Today. 52: 348–363. doi:10.1016/j.mattod.2021.10.027. ISSN 1369-7021. S2CID 245105522.
  16. ^ Xu, Cheng; Zi, Yunlong; Wang, Aurelia Chi; Zou, Haiyang; Dai, Yejing; He, Xu; Wang, Peihong; Wang, Yi-Cheng; Feng, Peizhong; Li, Dawei; Wang, Zhong Lin (April 2018). "On the Electron-Transfer Mechanism in the Contact-Electrification Effect". Advanced Materials. 30 (15): 1706790. Bibcode:2018AdM....3006790X. doi:10.1002/adma.201706790. PMID 29508454. S2CID 3757981.
  17. ^ Xu, Cheng; Wang, Aurelia Chi; Zou, Haiyang; Zhang, Binbin; Zhang, Chunli; Zi, Yunlong; Pan, Lun; Wang, Peihong; Feng, Peizhong; Lin, Zhiqun; Wang, Zhong Lin (2018-08-09). "Raising the Working Temperature of a Triboelectric Nanogenerator by Quenching Down Electron Thermionic Emission in Contact-Electrification". Advanced Materials. 30 (38): 1803968. Bibcode:2018AdM....3003968X. doi:10.1002/adma.201803968. ISSN 0935-9648. PMID 30091484. S2CID 51940860.
  18. ^ Wang, Zhong Lin; Wang, Aurelia Chi (November 2019). "On the origin of contact-electrification". Materials Today. 30: 34–51. doi:10.1016/j.mattod.2019.05.016. ISSN 1369-7021. S2CID 189987682.
  19. ^ Lin, Shiquan; Chen, Xiangyu; Wang, Zhong Lin (2021-06-23). "Contact Electrification at the Liquid–Solid Interface". Chemical Reviews. 122 (5): 5209–5232. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00176. ISSN 0009-2665. PMID 34160191. S2CID 235609525.
  20. ^ Li, Ding; Xu, Cheng; Liao, Yanjun; Cai, Wenzhe; Zhu, Yongqiao; Wang, Zhong Lin (2021-09-24). "Interface inter-atomic electron-transition induced photon emission in contact-electrification". Science Advances. 7 (39): eabj0349. Bibcode:2021SciA....7..349L. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abj0349. ISSN 2375-2548. PMC 8462885. PMID 34559569. S2CID 237628400.
  21. ^ Wang, Ziming; Berbille, Andy; Feng, Yawei; Li, Site; Zhu, Laipan; Tang, Wei; Wang, Zhong Lin (2022). "Contact-electro-catalysis for the Degradation of Organic Pollutants Using Pristine Dielectric Powder". Nature Communications. 13 (1): 130. Bibcode:2022NatCo..13..130W. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-27789-1. PMC 8748705. PMID 35013271. S2CID 245839613.
  22. ^ Wang, Zhong Lin (April 2019). "Entropy theory of distributed energy for internet of things". Nano Energy. 58: 669–672. Bibcode:2019NEne...58..669W. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.02.012. ISSN 2211-2855. S2CID 139527230.
  23. ^ Wang, Z. L. (2007-03-19). "Nanopiezotronics". Advanced Materials. 19 (6): 889–892. Bibcode:2007AdM....19..889W. doi:10.1002/adma.200602918.
  24. ^ Wu, Wenzhuo; Wen, Xiaonan; Wang, Zhong Lin (2013-05-24). "Taxel-Addressable Matrix of Vertical-Nanowire Piezotronic Transistors for Active and Adaptive Tactile Imaging". Science. 340 (6135): 952–957. Bibcode:2013Sci...340..952W. doi:10.1126/science.1234855. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 23618761. S2CID 206547682.
  25. ^ Wu, Wenzhuo; Wang, Lei; Li, Yilei; Zhang, Fan; Lin, Long; Niu, Simiao; Chenet, Daniel; Zhang, Xian; Hao, Yufeng; Heinz, Tony F.; Hone, James (October 2014). "Piezoelectricity of single-atomic-layer MoS2 for energy conversion and piezotronics". Nature. 514 (7523): 470–474. Bibcode:2014Natur.514..470W. doi:10.1038/nature13792. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 25317560. S2CID 4448528.
  26. ^ Hu, Youfan; Chang, Yanling; Fei, Peng; Snyder, Robert L.; Wang, Zhong Lin (2010-01-15). "Designing the Electric Transport Characteristics of ZnO Micro/Nanowire Devices by Coupling Piezoelectric and Photoexcitation Effects". ACS Nano. 4 (2): 1234–1240. doi:10.1021/nn901805g. ISSN 1936-0851. PMID 20078071.
  27. ^ Pan, Caofeng; Dong, Lin; Zhu, Guang; Niu, Simiao; Yu, Ruomeng; Yang, Qing; Liu, Ying; Wang, Zhong Lin (2013-08-11). "High-resolution electroluminescent imaging of pressure distribution using a piezoelectric nanowire LED array". Nature Photonics. 7 (9): 752–758. Bibcode:2013NaPho...7..752P. doi:10.1038/nphoton.2013.191. ISSN 1749-4885. S2CID 4128581.
  28. ^ Yang, Qing; Liu, Ying; Pan, Caofeng; Chen, Jun; Wen, Xiaonan; Wang, Zhong Lin (2013-01-24). "Largely Enhanced Efficiency in ZnO Nanowire/p-Polymer Hybridized Inorganic/Organic Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diode by Piezo-Phototronic Effect". Nano Letters. 13 (2): 607–613. Bibcode:2013NanoL..13..607Y. doi:10.1021/nl304163n. ISSN 1530-6984. PMID 23339573.
  29. ^ Wang, Zhong Lin (2008-11-24). "Towards Self-Powered Nanosystems: From Nanogenerators to Nanopiezotronics". Advanced Functional Materials. 18 (22): 3553–3567. doi:10.1002/adfm.200800541. ISSN 1616-301X. S2CID 43937604.
  30. ^ Wang, Xiandi; Zhang, Hanlu; Yu, Ruomeng; Dong, Lin; Peng, Dengfeng; Zhang, Aihua; Zhang, Yan; Liu, Hong; Pan, Caofeng; Wang, Zhong Lin (2015-02-25). "Dynamic Pressure Mapping of Personalized Handwriting by a Flexible Sensor Matrix Based on the Mechanoluminescence Process". Advanced Materials. 27 (14): 2324–2331. Bibcode:2015AdM....27.2324W. doi:10.1002/adma.201405826. ISSN 0935-9648. PMID 25711141. S2CID 205259440.
  31. ^ Zhang, Chi; Tang, Wei; Zhang, Limin; Han, Changbao; Wang, Zhong Lin (2014-08-26). "Contact Electrification Field-Effect Transistor". ACS Nano. 8 (8): 8702–8709. doi:10.1021/nn5039806. ISSN 1936-0851. PMID 25119657.
  32. ^ Pan, Z. W.; Dai, Z. R.; Wang, Z. L. (2001-03-09). "Nanobelts of semiconducting oxides". Science. 291 (5510): 1947–1949. Bibcode:2001Sci...291.1947P. doi:10.1126/science.1058120. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 11239151. S2CID 16880233.
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  34. ^ Gao, Ruiping; Wang, Zhong L.; Bai, Zhigang; de Heer, Walter A.; Dai, Liming; Gao, Mei (2000-07-17). "Nanomechanics of Individual Carbon Nanotubes from Pyrolytically Grown Arrays". Physical Review Letters. 85 (3): 622–625. Bibcode:2000PhRvL..85..622G. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.85.622. hdl:1853/9276. ISSN 0031-9007. PMID 10991355.
  35. ^ Wang, Z.L.; Cowley, J.M. (December 1989). "Simulating high-angle annular dark-field stem images including inelastic thermal diffuse scattering". Ultramicroscopy. 31 (4): 437–453. doi:10.1016/0304-3991(89)90340-9. ISSN 0304-3991.
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