Jianfeng Mao

School of Chemical Engineering

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Dr. Jianfeng Mao received a PhD in Materials Engineering from the Institute for Superconducting & Electronic Materials (ISEM) at the University of Wollongong (UOW). His PhD research was focused on hydrogen storage materials. It was recognized by a Postgraduate Thesis Award as the best thesis from the Faculty of Engineering of UOW, and followed by the postdoctoral appointment at the Max Planck Institute and the University of Glasgow, UK. He has then developed his career in the field of batteries at the University of Maryland, USA. He has published over 90 papers (50+ as the first or corresponding author) in the leading discipline journals, including J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Mater., Adv. Energy Mater., Energy Environ. Sci., Sci. Adv., and so on. 18 publications have been listed as ESI highly cited papers.

His current research interests are in developing functional materials and electrolytes for next generation batteries, and understanding their fundamentals of electrochemical processes in electrodes and at electrode/electrolyte interfaces.

Selected publications since 2020:

  1. Y. Q. Lyu, J. A. Yuwono, P. T. Wang, Y. Y. Wang, F. H. Yang, S. L. Liu, S. L. Zhang, B. F. Wang, K. Davey, J. F. Mao*, Z. P. Guo*, Organic pH Buffer for Dendrite-Free and Shuttle-Free Zn-I2 Batteries, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2023, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303011.
  2. S. L. Liu, J. Vongsvivut, Y. Y. Wang, R. Z. Zhang, F. H. Yang, S. L. Zhang, K. Davey, J. F. Mao*, Z. P. Guo*, Monolithic Phosphate Interphase for Highly Reversible and Stable Zn Metal Anode, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2023, 62, e202215600.
  3. J. F. Mao, C. Ye, S. L. Zhang, F. X. Xie, R. Zeng, K. Davey, Z. P. Guo, S. Z. Qiao, Toward practical lithium-ion battery recycling: adding value, tackling circularity and recycling-oriented design, Energy & Environmental Science, 2022, 15, 2732-2752.
  4. H. J. Huang, D. M. Xie, J. C. Zhao, P. H. Rao*, W. M. Choi*, K. Davey, J. F. Mao*, Boosting reversibility and stability of Zn anodes via manipulation of electrolyte structure and interface with addition of trace organic molecules, Advanced Energy Materials, 2022, 12, 2202419. Front cover.
  5. X. H. Zeng, K. X. Xie, S. L. Liu, S. L. Zhang, J. N. Hao, J. T. Liu, W. K. Pang, J. W. Liu, P. H. Rao, Q. H. Wang*, J. F. Mao*, Z. P. Guo*, Bio-inspired design of an in-situ multifunctional polymeric solid-electrolyte interphase for Zn metal anode cycling at 30 mA cm-2 and 30 mA h cm-2, Energy & Environmental Science, 2021, 14, 5947-5957.
  6. S. L. Liu, J. F. Mao*, L. Zhang, W. K. Pang, A. J. Du, Z. P. Guo*, Manipulating the solvation structure of non-flammable electrolyte and interface to enable unprecedented stability of graphite anode beyond two years for safe potassium-ion batteries, Advanced Materials, 2021, 33, 2006313.
  7. X. H. Zeng, J. F. Mao*, J. N. Hao, J. T. Liu, S. L. Liu, Z. J. Wang, Y. Y. Wang, S. L. Zhang, T. Zheng, J. W. Liu, P. H. Rao, Z. P. Guo*, Electrolyte design for in-situ construction of highly Zn2+-conductive solid electrolyte interphase to enable high-performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries under practical conditions, Advanced Materials, 2021, 33, 2007416.
  8. J. N. Hao, X. L. Li, X. H. Zeng, D. Li, J. F. Mao*, Z. P. Guo*, Deeply understanding the Zn anode behaviour and corresponding improvement strategies in different aqueous Zn-based batteries, Energy & Environmental Science, 2020, 13, 3917-3949.
  9. S. L. Liu, J. F. Mao*, Q. Zhang, Z. J. Wang, W. K. Pang, L. Zhang, A. J. Du, V. Sencadas, W. C. Zhang, Z. P. Guo*, An intrinsically non-flammable electrolyte for high performance potassium batteries. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2020, 59, 3638-3644.
  10. X. H. Zeng, J. T. Liu, J. F. Mao*, J. N. Hao, Z. J. Wang, S. Zhou, C. D. Ling, Z. P. Guo*, Towards a Reversible Mn4+/Mn2+ Redox Reaction and Dendrite-Free Zn Anode in Near-Neutral Aqueous Zn/MnO2 Batteries via Salt Anion Chemistry, Advanced Energy Materials, 2020, 10, 1904163.
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    University of Wollongong Australia PhD
    Chinese Academy of Sciences China Master
    Jilin University China Bachelor
  1. Lead CI, ARC Discovery Project, Low cost aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries for grid-scale energy storage, DP200101862, 2020-2023, 510,000 AUD.
  2. Lead CI, ECMS Faculty ECR/MCR SEED Grant, A green and valuable closed loop process for the recycle of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries, 2021-2022, 10,000 AUD.
  3. Lead CI, Australian Synchrotron Access Program, Unraveling the potassiation-depotassiation mechanism of SnSb and the influence of eletrolytes on the electrochemical reactions, Beamline, 2019.
  4. Second CI, ARC Linkage Project, High energy density, long life, safe lithium Ion battery for electric cars, LP160101629, 2017-2021, 420,000 AUD.

Materials engineering for energy (CHEM ENG 7106)

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 Co-Supervisor MXene as a Multifunctional Additive in Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Safe and High Energy Density Lithium Metal Batteries Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Caoyu Wang
    2021 Co-Supervisor Research towards anode protection in Li metal batteries and Zn ion batteries. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Yanyan Wang
    2021 Co-Supervisor Deep Eutectic Solvent for Li-Battery Cathode Recycle Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Yanqiu Lyu

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