Prof. Wanting Zhu is a distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Wuhan University of Technology (WUT), where she conducts advanced research at the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing. Her expertise lies in thermoelectric materials and device engineering, with a particular focus on artificially tilted-structure transverse thermoelectric devices. She has pioneered high-throughput screening methods and established key design principles for these systems across various application scenarios. With over ten SCI-indexed publications, including recent works in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces and Journal of Power Sources, Prof. Zhu is a recognized leader in optimizing thermoelectric performance and device stability.
Author Profile
Education
Prof. Wanting Zhu’s academic journey in materials science began with a strong inclination towards fundamental research and practical engineering applications. From the outset of her education, she demonstrated a profound interest in energy materials, particularly those that contribute to sustainable and efficient thermal-to-electric energy conversion. Her early academic training equipped her with a solid foundation in thermodynamics, solid-state physics, and electronic materials, laying the groundwork for what would become a career at the intersection of cutting-edge materials research and real-world technological applications. Her curiosity and drive for innovation during her formative academic years eventually led her to explore thermoelectric materials—an area both scientifically rich and highly relevant to global energy challenges.
Experience
Currently serving as a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Wuhan University of Technology (WUT), Prof. Zhu is affiliated with the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing. In this role, she actively leads high-impact research focused on the design, fabrication, and optimization of thermoelectric devices, especially those with artificially tilted multilayer structures. She has emerged as a leading figure in her field, bridging theoretical insight and experimental prowess.
Her lab not only conducts fundamental research but also engages in the development of functional materials for real-world applications in electronics, energy harvesting, and thermal management systems. Prof. Zhu also plays a vital role in mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, fostering a collaborative and innovation-driven research environment. Her commitment to scientific advancement is evident in her hands-on leadership, guiding both applied research and long-term academic training.
Research Focus
She has made pioneering contributions in developing artificially tilted multilayer thermoelectric systems, which exhibit transverse thermoelectric effects. Her research elucidates both the structural design principles and manufacturing techniques necessary for tailoring these devices to specific energy and thermal environments. Prof. Zhu developed an innovative high-throughput screening method for optimizing the performance of thermoelectric devices, significantly accelerating materials discovery and device fabrication. This method enables rapid identification of effective material combinations and geometric configurations, increasing the efficiency of research and reducing production costs. She has also extended her research into materials with broadband infrared radiation capabilities, such as spinel ferrites, for thermal regulation in electronics—demonstrating the versatility and interdisciplinary reach of her work.
Her publications, appearing in Journal of Power Sources, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and Ceramics International, are a testament to her deep expertise and forward-thinking approach.
Award and Recognition
Prof. Zhu has authored more than 10 SCI-indexed publications as a first or corresponding author, and her research has been widely cited in the fields of thermoelectricity and materials engineering. Her scientific contributions have positioned her as a thought leader in thermoelectric device design in China and internationally.
Her work has gained attention not just for its academic rigor but also for its potential applications in next-generation wearable electronics, energy harvesters, and electronic cooling systems. She is frequently invited to collaborate and review for leading journals, reflecting her growing influence and professional standing in the global research community.
Publications
📘Enhancing electrical properties of flexible BiSbTe/epoxy composite films via liquid-phase extrusion – Journal of power resources(2024).
📘Optimizing Room‐Temperature Thermoelectric and Magnetocaloric Performance via Constructing Multi‐Scale Interfacial Phases in LaFeSi/BiSbTe Thermo‐Electro‐Magnetic Refrigeration Materials – Advanced functional materials(2024).
📘Excellent thermoelectric performance of Fe2NbAl alloy induced by strong crystal anharmonicity and high band degeneracy – Quantum Materials(2024).